Sour Wench
Ballast Point Brewing Company

 

 

 

I bought a 4 pack of Sour Wench in the fall, and the first time I tried it I wasn't impressed, but each bottle I tried, I liked it more. It's a solid sour, not in elite company, but still very enjoyable, especially if allowed to warm up a bit before drinking. Glad to see more sours popping up around San Diego!

Bottled 1/11/19, enjoyed side by side with the white wine BA version that I've had before

Pours a deep red, about of finger of slightly pink-white head that settles to a ring really quick

Mild acidity in the nose, with jammy blackberries and blueberries, a bit of vinegar, and medium malt

The taste is immediately sweet berry before giving a tartness for a brief second, and then it's straight back to sweet, more strawberries this time around than anything

Pretty mild carbonation here, really drinks more like a wine cooler or something than a beer, super light, especially for the abv, and way more sweet than tart

It was tasty, but not something I would get again. Compared side by side to the BA version, this is nothing. The barrel aging really transforms this into something special, more like a beer than this, it's much more tart and authentic. I get none of the classic Berliner tartness here

 

 

Served on tap in a pint glass
Appearance – The beer is served a pinkish-purple color with a tiny fizzy pinkish head. The head fades very fast leaving just a trace of lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma of the brew is very heavy of a tart apple cider vinegar smell mixed with a big tart blackberry aroma. Along with these smells comes some notes of sweet red grapes a touch of musty smell.
Taste – The taste begins with a tart green apple flavor mixed with a moderate showing of a sour blackberry flavor. There is a touch of hay upfront as well and a little bit of plum. The tart blackberry grows stronger and stronger as the taste moves forward, brining with it more tartness and some other fruit flavors of raspberry and cherry. These flavors all take the taste to its end where one is left with a sour and tart fruity taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel- The body of the brew is light and crisp with a carbonation level that is rather high. For the mix of tart blackberry and sour green apple flavors, the light feel is wonderful and makes this brew approachable and refreshing.
Overall – A rather nice and refreshing Weiss that hides the alcohol extremely well. I am not a connoisseur of sour/tart brews, but this one is good.

A great sour ale this one is! Or at least, I’m not being proper with the description: it is not sour as in a “sour ale” but sour as in it is tart, as a nice Berliner Weisse should be. But it isn’t salty or pucker, it feels like it has been infused with blackberries and the sourness comes from the acidity of the fruit. Very well done! Very drinkable, I backed it down in about five minutes @ Poki Fry in Guam while waiting for my food. Love Ballast Point, there’s nothing they would do wrong!

 

One of my favorite summer beers. This beer has everything I love about beer and sours intertwined! The sour berry flavor and then the hoppy taste in the middle. I love the lingering after taste of the berries! A must try for sour beer drinkers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the teku it is a red/orange color. There is a tiny white head that disappears rapidly.
Aroma of sweet fruit, oak, and wine.
Berry, cherry, and oak taste.
Nicely tart, refreshing.
Tart and tasty. I would drink this again.