Vitis Noble
Cascade Brewing / Raccoon Lodge & Brewpub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taster at BitterCreek. Nothing special to look at. Aroma comes in under the radar too. Gentle , fruity, welcoming . Taste gets better, very fruity, not overly tart, but packs a punch.

Brassy orange, thin but strong head of white foam. Great balance between the sourness, grapes, and big base beers. Wheaty malt serves as a strong base. Sourness is rather soft, mildly tart, very minimal funk, pretty simple lactic tartness. Grapes come through well, giving a general white wine character, though I would say it’s a stretch if you can pick out particular varietal notes, given the other competing aspects in the beer. Oakiness is nice, some new fresh oak mixed with a well-aged damp oakiness. Full-bodied, but not sweet, but certainly not nearly as dry as most sours. Very well crafted with a good balance of all components, don’t expect a big sour beer. I enjoyed The Vine much more, it was brighter and much more vibrant, but Vitis Noble is quite good. Good enough to warrant the price tag? I’m not sure about that.

 

 

a chardonnay grape based strong sour blonde ale, very classically cascade to me, partially because it reminds me of the vine they make, but also because it has their now famous bacterial and funk complexion, more acid than fruity brettiness or anything, but lots of character to it, makes my mouth water smelling it. the fruit seems to add not just a white wine character, but also a grapey fruitiness thats pre-wine to me, off the vine, ripe and sweet. i think this sugary element is nice with the richer grain profile and the wafts of stronger alcohol that come through here too! its light for its size, but the size seems almost necessary for all the flavor they have packed in here. lots of wine in the flavor, even chardonnay specifically which i really like, and a bright zesty lemon and grapefruit note in the sourness. minerals and tannins and funk too, really dialed in recipe and execution, another killer brew from cascade, who never lets me down. a treat to find this on draft too, i think the lively carbonation in here really favors the wine flavors, sort of champagne-like. mature and refined and delicious!

 

 

 

Smooth, balanced sour