Vatted Porter 1864
The Kernel Brewery

 

 

L- Looks good. Pours black with an even 1Cm mid-tan fine-bubble foam cap.
S- Toasty 'n roasty. I've started this well chilled which might be suppressing it's smell.
T- Geesh - it's notably sour right on the front. Sour enough to make me spontaneoulsy sneeze it seems! It has a ... grapefruit aspect to it. That from a 7.2% Porter; really unexpected. Oh and there is a bit of roast in there but it's shrouded under juice.
Smell v.2 - I had to go and blow my nose, now I get the citrus note in the Smell.
F- Sharp, sour, hence warmth/body+ABV% are all not discernible. I honestly wouldn't know this contained alcohol, that's how sour it is.
O- The sourness is still giving me occasional involuntary physical shudders. Is this beer shot and off? I mean 'Vatted Porter 1864' to an apparent knave like me suggests barrel-matured, meaty and a good nod to history and tradition. This is like 50/50 grapefruit juice and any cheap beer. I say cheap as anything beer-like in the taste is entirely absent.
I am really uncomfortable writing something here almost entirely negative, but it's difficult to find balance. It looks nice, it forms lacing in the glass isn't much to offer I know. Only about 1% of beers I try impact me this instantly and poorly as I buy carefully aiming to meet my personal tastes.
Either it's off/rancid, or it's a highly unorthodox recipe. Not for me thanks, it's rare I find a beer this way.
330ml Bought from Trembling Madness in York for home delivery. BB: 18/11/23.
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^ This was blind-tasting; now I look at the bottle for clues. 'Aged in foeder [oak barrels] for 8 months'. Shame I tasted no oak. Ingredients include sugar - no other clues.