Carmen - Raspberries
The Bruery

 

 

 

 

 

Poured a reddish brown in color with pale brown highlights and a thin bubbly head that barely left any lacing sticking to the glass. Vinegary acidic notes were noticeable on the first whiff with a little funk, some oaky wood and slight raspberries in the background. The raspberry fruit was just as subdued on the palate alongside acidic vinegar character, oaky accents, mild citrus twang and good tart qualities. The brew was medium in body with a moderate amount of carbonation which and oaky, acidic, mild fruity, semi citrusy, subtle funky and tart finish. An ok wild but still glad I got to try it.

On-tap at The Bruery

Pours mahogany in color with a small off-white head. Nose is intensely oaky with leather and red wine vinegar in full effect. I don’t get much in the way of raspberries on this one. The flavor is moderately tannic and somewhat astringent. Again, minimal raspberry contributions. Strong leather, oak, and vinegar components. Mediocre at best, like all the Carmen variants.

On tap at the new tasting room.

A: Pours a slightly hazy dark reddish brown boardering on black with a decent tan head which persists long leaving trace lace.

N: Berries and fruits, oaky, vinegar.

T: Subtle raspberries meet the astringency and meld into oak tartness.

M: Semi-moderate body and medium carbonation. Some sweetness and tart finish.

O: This variant looks the best when compared with the others. The aroma of rasberries is faint but present.

On tap at The Bruery in Placentia, CA.

Pours a clear super dark brown with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is sour, tart, and funky with some slight berry aromas. Taste is much the same with a slight berry aftertaste. There is an acidic quality on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer but not as good as some of the other Carmen variants.

 

 

 

Pour a dark chocolate brown color that's almost black with a thin beige head that quickly dissapears. Not much in the way of lacing.

Sweet, vinous aroma with subtle earthy funk and a prominent red wine barrel presence.  Hints of oak, vanilla, grape, currant, raspberry and other dark berries.  Underneath the barrel presence there's a dark roasted malt presence with hints of chocolate, caramel and toast.

Medium bodied with tart, puckering mouthfeel that lingers over the vinous fruit and barrel character into a sweet yet dry finish.  Not acidic at all with a nice amount of sour funk adding complexity to the dark malts and barrel flavors.  Strong vinous red wine presence with hints of toasted oak, and dark fruit along with some chocolate, toffee and toast from the malt.  Really well balanced and quite flavorful.