Sour Blackberry
Catawba Brewing Co.

On-tap at Thirsty Monk, Asheville, NC

A: The beer is clear reddish amber in color. It poured with a thin white head that died down, leaving a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface and the sides of the glass.
S: Strong aromas of sourness and barnyard funk are present in the nose. If you take a really deep whiff of this beer, it smells a little like a gueuze.
T: Like the smell, the taste is very sour but also has some noticeable hints of blackberries.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and very tart on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: I really liked the sourness and funkiness of this beer; the subtle flavors of blackberries helped keep it from going over the top and made it more drinkable.

 

Described as a sour saison, came across this one on draft at the Thirsty Monk in Asheville, and I continue to be impressed by some of the more experimental things Catawba does.

Served in a small chalice, the beer shows a medium amber in the low light with a thin layer of head. Really a lovely ale - aromas of sour blackberry vinegar lift up over a clean grain base. Something like a deep balsamic complexity. Lingering lactic tartness. Sour fruit candy. Carbonation gentle, low-medium body. Refreshingly drinkable and deep at once.