The Magic Wheel
Kuhnhenn Brewing Company

 

12 ounce bottle into a tulip glass. 2017 bottle. Had 7/29/18.

Pours a really dark amber, opaque, with a one and a half inch foamy head with very good retention and a good amount of foamy lacing. Aromas of ginger, other spices, malt, some cherries, a little vanilla. The taste is similar- malt, cherries, ginger, less spice than the nose, light chocolate and vanilla. Some tartness up front, a hint of sourness on the finish. Also get a little vinegar on the finish when warm. Smooth, a good medium body, well carbonated.

Delivers the add- ins as promised, although minimally tart and sour. While the flavor was more expansive than the aroma, it was also less intense. Enjoyable enough, once.

 

12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, 2017 vintage. Pours crystal clear dark ruby red/brown color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and rocky light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of tart/sour red/black cherries, fruit skin/pits, ginger, lemon, lime, orange, peach, plum, cranberry, currant, red/green apple, red grape/wine, hay, straw, grass, oak, caramel, brown sugar, and toasted bread; with light notes of oaken vanilla, peppercorn, leathery/musty funk, red wine vinegar, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, cherries, spices, dark/bready malts, oak barrel notes; with solid strength. Taste of tart/sour red/black cherries, fruit skin/pits, ginger, lemon, lime, orange, peach, plum, cranberry, currant, red/green apple, red grape/wine, hay, straw, grass, oak, caramel, brown sugar, and toasted bread; with light notes of oaken vanilla, peppercorn, leathery/musty funk, red wine vinegar, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness. Light fruity/lactic tartness, fruit tang, and yeast/oak spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart red/black cherries, fruit skin/pits, ginger, lemon, lime, orange, peach, plum, cranberry, currant, red/green apple, red grape/wine, hay, straw, grass, oak, caramel, brown sugar, toasted bread, light vanilla/peppercorn, leathery/musty funk, red wine vinegar, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, cherries, spices, dark/bready malts, oak barrel flavors; with a great malt/tartness and tangy fruit balance; with zero puckering flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering tartness and tangy fruit. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/grainy, fairly acidic/tangy, and lightly tannic balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5%. Overall this is a delicious sour brown ale. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, cherries, spices, dark/bready malts, oak barrel flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the mildly acidic/tangy/drying finish. Felt a touch too vinegary at first, but opened up as it warmed. Great balance of jammy cherries, Brett/Lacto complexity, spices, dark/bready malts, and oak presence. A very enjoyable offering, and well made style example as expected. Not overwhelming on any aspect.

Poured from bottle to tulip glass. Deep garnet in color with a little pink-tinged foam. Aromas of tart cherry and spice dominate with just a little sour funk coming through. Flavor is blessedly more tart than sour, with dark cherry at the forefront sprinkled with warm spices and gingery finish.