Small Batch Dark Sour Dreams
White Birch Brewing

Small Batch Dark Sour DreamsSmall Batch Dark Sour Dreams
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From:
White Birch Brewing
 
New Hampshire, United States
Style:
Wild Ale
ABV:
6.8%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.5 | pDev: 24.86%
Reviews:
10
Ratings:
23
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 27, 2016
Added:
Dec 21, 2014
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  4
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by deltatauhobbit:
Photo of deltatauhobbit
Reviewed by deltatauhobbit from Maine

3.99/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Bottled December 2014

Pours a dark brown color, essentially black, no head or lacing whatsoever and very little carbonation evidence.

Smell has a strong sour note to the nose which is surprising considering how dark this beer poured, there is a hint of dark roasted malt to offset the intense nose.

Taste starts out with a very vinegary kick, lactic acid sour punch to the sides of the tongue, not the strongest or vinegary of sours that I've had but probably the most surprising based on appearance, a slight soy sauce like presence which is basically coming from a mixture of the dark malt and salt, not sure why it's salty but it seems so, fortunately it's not overwhelming in that aspect to ruin it, carbonation is very low almost flat but not quite there, a little slick in the mouth with long lasting sour and soy.

It's an interesting beer, don't think I've quite had anything like. I would like to see more "black" sours now, I think there's a good niche that hasn't been tapped yet.
Jan 27, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.94 by Vonerichs from Colorado

Jan 27, 2016
Photo of OmahaKF
Reviewed by OmahaKF from Nebraska

1.75/5  rDev -50%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2
Smell is soy sauce, slight wine characteristics, dark fruit, rotting vegetation.

Taste is what I imagine a sour wine would be, fairly tart, and no carbonation.

Overall, this is one of the worst sours I have ever had.
Dec 06, 2015
 
Rated: 3.42 by Thomas_Picton from Florida

Sep 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by ScottP from New Hampshire

Aug 22, 2015
 
Rated: 3.83 by Jon411 from Massachusetts

Aug 16, 2015
Photo of Teshortall
Rated by Teshortall from Massachusetts

4.36/5  rDev +24.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Dark Brown, medium - body, 4/5 on tartness, Chocolate and peanut with a yeasty sourdough nose.
Jul 28, 2015
Photo of theandyday
Reviewed by theandyday from New Hampshire

4.96/5  rDev +41.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
Intense. Rich dark candied malt, intense dark fruit and definitely some astringency and balsamic vinaigrette notes... definitely a sipper, and probably wouldn't have more than two in a sitting but well worth seeking out for the experience.
Jun 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Dbrag from Maine

Apr 26, 2015
Photo of GStone899
Rated by GStone899 from Minnesota

1.1/5  rDev -68.6%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
Super sour n somewhat carbonated
Apr 21, 2015
Photo of gonzo000
Reviewed by gonzo000 from Massachusetts

2.98/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Sour smell , sour taste, dark beer - Dark Sour = yes Dream = debatable. Pours very dark brown, like a cola, with a small group of large soda like bubbles on the top that disappear quickly leaving little to no carbonation to speak of. The smell is sour patch kids powder mixed with a oaky Merlot. Taste is sour grapes or wine that moves to a lightly sweeter finish and an unpleasant aftertaste at first, that if you allow it to liner, has a Grape Hubba Bubble gum taste. In the middle vinegar appears, too intense for my taste. Mouthfeel is dry, again harkening back to an oaky merlot. This is not for me. First sour I have had. Will try others, but not this one again.
Mar 15, 2015
 
Rated: 2.88 by dsm45 from Massachusetts

Mar 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by 31Sam13 from New Hampshire

Mar 05, 2015
Photo of cujocon
Reviewed by cujocon from Massachusetts

3.52/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
6.8% ABV
12 oz brown beer bottle $6.25 at Provisions Northampton MA
Appearance: Dark Iced coffee, very small head ends in microscopic antarctica shaped islands of bubbles

Smell:raspberries and brown sugar, molassas, roasty but not smokey

Flavor: fantastically fruity but tart and burnt sugar-y

Overall:3.5/5 The smell is just fantastic, but the acidity is just a bit too high
Mar 05, 2015
 
Rated: 3.4 by ccurrid from Massachusetts

Feb 22, 2015
Photo of VelvetExtract
Reviewed by VelvetExtract from Massachusetts

2.06/5  rDev -41.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 1 | overall: 2
Bottle. Pours dark brown with a thin, light ring of bubbles. I've been burned by these guys before and I literally looked at this beer and cringed. Getting some serious flashbacks. Oh lord. Acetone and balsamic vinegar. Heavy, heavy, heavy acetone...Jesus. Flavor is very sour and reminiscent of balsamic vinegar. I enjoy balsamic vinegar but I wouldn't want to drink 12 ounces of it. Sour chocolate milk. Dry, tannic feel. Almost purely flat. The lack of carbonation makes this beer unbearable. Drain pour! Done with this brewery.
Feb 21, 2015
Photo of Chico1985
Reviewed by Chico1985 from Massachusetts

2.8/5  rDev -20%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Thanks to Kevin for getting me this 12oz for Xmas. Bottled December 2014.

A - Opens with a small hiss. Pour to a tulip glass is black with just a small bubbly tan ring for a head.

S - Tons of vinegar, smells like balsamic dressing in a glass. Light roast. Unfortunately we also have acetone, soy sauce and Jaegermeister lurking about.

T - Nail polish remover up front, quite distinctly I may add. Random rotten-ish flavors. Vinegar is still going strong along with sour grape. The finish is actually pretty nice with yeasty vanilla graham cracker, dark fruit and brown sugar.

M - Slick with a decent body, carbonation is low-end but definitely there. Lots of tough vinegar to deal with, but honestly really not too 'sour' per say, definitely not any funk - just weird off-flavors.

O - Er, what's the deal here? I'm guessing they were going for a flanders-type thing? It has potential (the finish is nice) but also multiple flaws - big off-flavors, mouthfeel is kinda weak, overkill with the vinegar.
Feb 11, 2015
Photo of TeamStreet
Rated by TeamStreet from Massachusetts

4.07/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Smells and tastes great, but like others have already said, the beer has virtually no carbonation.
Jan 27, 2015
Photo of TrilliumFan
Reviewed by TrilliumFan from Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From 12 oz bottle into pint glass (tulip would have been a better choice). Pours dark chocolate black-brown with virtually no head. Smell is a combination of chocolate and balsamic vinegar. Taste is an appealing blend of dark malt and lambic-like sour. Feels like a sour or fruit lambic, no carbonation, but plenty of of gum lingering sour. An unusual, but tasty beer. Would like to compare to Tart of Darkness and 2015 Zwanze, so may pick up more.
Jan 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.86 by JakerLou from New Hampshire

Jan 11, 2015
Small Batch Dark Sour Dreams from White Birch Brewing
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 23 ratings