Harvest Graff
Cascade Brewing / Raccoon Lodge & Brewpub

2018 vintage, really righteous brew in a style i wish more brewers would mess around with, especially this time of year. this is such a cool take on it, and a real nice change of pace from the marzen lagers, pumpkin ales, and wet hop beers that dominate this time of year (not that i am complaining about fall beers, dont get me wrong!). this is a blend of sour blonde and red ales aged in wine and bourbon barrels, similar to what cascade does with many of their offerings, but then this is fermented with raw apple juice and given some fall spices. its a super unique beer overall, dark amber in color without a lot of head from the tap and a little murkiness to it. smells like subtle cinnamon, red wine vinegar, vanilla bean, crisp red apple, fresh pressed cider, and heaps of oak, very autumnal but in a new way, i didnt expect sourness to be a specifically fall thing, but they have somehow made it that way here. when i drink it, the beer isnt too sour, there is some real natural apple sweetness balancing it out, and the acidity that is present is very clean. the beer is also mellowed by bourbon sweetness and lots of wood, seems very mature to me, only slightly vinous, some dark berry notes in the background, and a little funk as well. not overly spiced at all either, hints of nutmeg and cinnamon, but it all seems in service of the apple, and i dont think its out of place. some apple tartness too here, but also an almost baked apple note when combined with the malt, which is quite sturdy throughout. a very neat coming together of a bunch of fall characteristics, oddly strong, but you dont think about that while you are drinking it. incredibly unique, perhaps lacking the expert refinement that the best of the cascade beers have, but no complaints from me, this is brilliantly thought out and executed, a cool beer and cider hybrid, and a perfect and distinctive fall offering. stoked to have found this one! this style needs to come into vogue...