Apricot Krisp
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

 

Pours an opaque ruddy brown, brief fizzy 1"+ cola head that quickly disappears, no head retention or lacing. Nose is oak, dried apricot (tart), some vinous notes as it warms, apple cider vinegar, maybe a trace of vanilla and biscuit. Cranberry et al by reputation only. Taste is tart up front, some red fruit (sour cherry), oaky notes, cider vinegar, dusty/musky/barny blanket on the finish. Feel is pretty moderate, some viscosity from the sugars, light and fleeting carbonation, a little slickness. Overall, this is a fine if forgettable sour that seemed to bury a fair number of their add-ins.

Teaming up with The Bruery, Firestone Walker takes a walk on the sour side with an apricot ale, spontaneous in its fermentation and layered with almond, spices and gumption for a pie-like session that'll leave the mouth puckering.

Pale straw, cloudy and yeast in its otherwise champagne-like pour, Apricot Krisp quickly falls rather still before a heavy fruit perfume decorates the nose with stone fruit, peppery spice, hints of vanilla and dough. Scantly sweet, the early palate shows a brief malt underlay of vanilla wafer, honeysuckle and sourdough.

As the flavors quickly splash the middle palate with acidity, the apricots seem less juicy, sweet and rollup-like, and more of an under ripened apricot taste with citrusy sourness, hints of grapefruit, pear, lemon, crabapple, lime, white grape and honeydew. Peppery in its late taste, the fruits balance with peppercorn, vinous tartness, straw and a light cellar-like funk to close out dry and dusty.

Medium-light on the palate, the light carbonation allows the ale to fall somewhat flat on the finish, seeming watery and dull. But the mouthfeel is saved as the aftertaste of extended oak aged wines, damp burlap and leather for a cidery, winey, apricot afterglow.

 

Bottle pour- dark amber/copper color with short white head leaving scattered lacing. Nose is a little fruity and a little funky. Taste follows with a rather smooth mouthfeel and a lingering tartness.