Ives Blend 5
Upright Brewing Company

Bottle from the brewery.
A brilliant deep Ruby red with a light pink head that falls off quickly, this looks quite appealing in my glass. The nose has the beautiful Upright house culture with cherries added. The sugar from the cherries is gone, though the sweeter notes are present. Earthy skin tannins, almond notes from the pit work nicely with the base lactic and lemony sourness. The earthy notes from the base beer also complement the cherry notes really well. The palate opens sour and moderately fruity with a mild vinous note present. Clean, bright lemony sourness with preserved lemon to go with a mildly yogurt like lactic note. This is followed by a bright cherry flavor along with a mild almond like note. Unlike some of their other cherry beers, there isn't any pie spice here, making it distinctive. Next is an earthy, mildly tannic note with a dark cherry skin flavor. Drying, lemony on the finish with some lingering cherry flavor, this beer is medium light in body and expertly conditioned, being soft and supple on the palate. What it lacks in oomph, this beer makes up with in character and structure. Excellent, and better than when released IMO.