Truthful Statement
Almanac Beer Co.
Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- Wild Ale
- ABV:
- 9%
- Score:
- 92
- Avg:
- 4.14 | pDev: 8.94%
- Reviews:
- 35
- Ratings:
- From:
- Almanac Beer Co.
- California, United States
- Avail:
- Retired (no longer brewed)
- Wants
- 9
- Gots
- 32
SCORE
92
Outstanding
92
Outstanding
Notes:
This dark sour ale was inspired by classic Old Fashioned cocktails. We fermented a velvety imperial stout with our house sour culture, then aged it in Woodford Reserve Bourbon barrels alongside sweet Bing cherries and freshly zested oranges to create a rich, tart stout that’s perfect for sipping on cold winter nights.
Reviews: 35
| Ratings: 146
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Reviews by Jae61:
Jae61 from Arizona
3.77/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Jan 23, 2016
3.77/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Jan 23, 2016
More User Reviews:
erjaq from California
4.14/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Apr 23, 2016
4.14/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Apr 23, 2016
lemmy187 from Missouri
4.3/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Feb 17, 2016
4.3/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Feb 17, 2016
TomMorris from Connecticut
4.31/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Sep 05, 2017
4.31/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Sep 05, 2017
Phil-Fresh from California
3.79/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Bottle.
A: Moderate roasted malts that have a light chocolate character, faintly woody finish.
A: Black color, totally opaque, with a very fine khaki colored head that disappears to nothing.
T: Moderate bourbon flavor, coupled with moderately light malts, light orange peel,with faint cherry character. The beer has a moderately sour finish that is quite acidic.
M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. The beer has moderate acidity; which is too prominent and takes away from some of the beer’s features (orange peel, cherries) and more nuanced aromas and flavors.
O: Solid; while the beer has a nice bourbon character, the other features: orange peel and cherries are nearly non-existent in the aroma and very light in the flavor. However (and more importantly), the beer’s acidity is too prominent in the taste and mouth-feel. While a great concept, this one still has a ways to go on execution.
Dec 29, 2015
3.79/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Bottle.
A: Moderate roasted malts that have a light chocolate character, faintly woody finish.
A: Black color, totally opaque, with a very fine khaki colored head that disappears to nothing.
T: Moderate bourbon flavor, coupled with moderately light malts, light orange peel,with faint cherry character. The beer has a moderately sour finish that is quite acidic.
M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. The beer has moderate acidity; which is too prominent and takes away from some of the beer’s features (orange peel, cherries) and more nuanced aromas and flavors.
O: Solid; while the beer has a nice bourbon character, the other features: orange peel and cherries are nearly non-existent in the aroma and very light in the flavor. However (and more importantly), the beer’s acidity is too prominent in the taste and mouth-feel. While a great concept, this one still has a ways to go on execution.
Dec 29, 2015
Skellbop from New York
3.25/5 rDev -21.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Apr 01, 2016
3.25/5 rDev -21.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Apr 01, 2016
50marathons from Pennsylvania
3.89/5 rDev -6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Great cherry flavor with a nice bite.
Jan 30, 2016
3.89/5 rDev -6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Great cherry flavor with a nice bite.
Jan 30, 2016
dddddddd from Washington
3.79/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Dec 30, 2015
3.79/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Dec 30, 2015
jheimbigner from Washington
4.21/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Jan 09, 2017
4.21/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Jan 09, 2017
drummerdwzp from Connecticut
4.07/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Aug 26, 2017
4.07/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Aug 26, 2017
BSecaida from California
3.79/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
May 04, 2016
3.79/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
May 04, 2016
ernnizzle from Nevada
4.35/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Great balance of both worlds. Soft yet bold. Like a cherry dipped in chocolate.
May 25, 2016
4.35/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Great balance of both worlds. Soft yet bold. Like a cherry dipped in chocolate.
May 25, 2016
t1to98 from Massachusetts
4.41/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Apr 26, 2016
4.41/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Apr 26, 2016
hop_junkie from New Hampshire
4.04/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Mar 06, 2016
4.04/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Mar 06, 2016
Elumbeer from Wisconsin
3.94/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Feb 16, 2016
3.94/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Feb 16, 2016
THSmusicman from Pennsylvania
4.38/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
355 ml bottle poured into a tulip.
Look: As dark as a stout should be. The head is thin and dissipates rather quickly.
Smell: bourbon, pecan praline, brown sugar, red wine, slight orange and cherry, a bit of roasted coffee and milk chocolate. Smells really good!
Taste: bourbon, tart cherry, smoke, roasted coffee, chocolate, a ton of vanilla
Feel: For a sour, the mouthfeel is right on the money but it's a bit thin for a stout. It may be the Woodford barrels.
Overall: This is the best Woodford Reserve barrel-aged beer I've had! The last few (Brooklyn Black Ops and 50 50 Eclipse) were a bit thin for my liking but this beer is perfect. The vanilla and chocolate flavors meld together to create a Tootsie Roll flavor that works real well! I've only had this and Tart of Darkness in the sour stout category and this is a totally different beast. Definitely a solid beer!
Jan 11, 2016
4.38/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
355 ml bottle poured into a tulip.
Look: As dark as a stout should be. The head is thin and dissipates rather quickly.
Smell: bourbon, pecan praline, brown sugar, red wine, slight orange and cherry, a bit of roasted coffee and milk chocolate. Smells really good!
Taste: bourbon, tart cherry, smoke, roasted coffee, chocolate, a ton of vanilla
Feel: For a sour, the mouthfeel is right on the money but it's a bit thin for a stout. It may be the Woodford barrels.
Overall: This is the best Woodford Reserve barrel-aged beer I've had! The last few (Brooklyn Black Ops and 50 50 Eclipse) were a bit thin for my liking but this beer is perfect. The vanilla and chocolate flavors meld together to create a Tootsie Roll flavor that works real well! I've only had this and Tart of Darkness in the sour stout category and this is a totally different beast. Definitely a solid beer!
Jan 11, 2016
GreatStoutman from Texas
4.51/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This really captures the essence of the Old Fashioned. Most sours I prefer chilled, and this is really good on the sour/fruit side when cold, but when it warms and the bourbon starts to really come through you can taste what the brewer was going for.
Small is dominant cherry, and there isn't much in the way of typical stout characteristics except for the deep, dark brown body and a thicker mouthfeel than you would expect from a sour, but its probably more heavy than thick. Overall, this is excellent and something I will seek out again.
Aug 11, 2016
4.51/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This really captures the essence of the Old Fashioned. Most sours I prefer chilled, and this is really good on the sour/fruit side when cold, but when it warms and the bourbon starts to really come through you can taste what the brewer was going for.
Small is dominant cherry, and there isn't much in the way of typical stout characteristics except for the deep, dark brown body and a thicker mouthfeel than you would expect from a sour, but its probably more heavy than thick. Overall, this is excellent and something I will seek out again.
Aug 11, 2016
festizio from California
4.29/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Dec 04, 2017
4.29/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Dec 04, 2017
AnotherBrick00 from California
4.48/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours with a dark brown head that doesn't subside too quickly. Beautiful bourbon vanilla notes really shine on the nose. The body is only missing a hint of viscosity to be perfect for how dark it is. Cherries and orange are much more background than pronounced.
Feb 03, 2016
4.48/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours with a dark brown head that doesn't subside too quickly. Beautiful bourbon vanilla notes really shine on the nose. The body is only missing a hint of viscosity to be perfect for how dark it is. Cherries and orange are much more background than pronounced.
Feb 03, 2016
DavidR_9 from California
4.29/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Beautiful looking beer. Smells of that intense astringent sour/wild aroma that almanac is know for. First sip is chocolate with a touch of oak, earthy hops and slight roasty bitterness, followed by a nice sweet fruitiness from the oranges, and ends with a lingering intense sour lemon warhead astringency mixed with sour cherries. Tartness lingers for a long time but each new sip gives you a kick of that nice roasty stout with the touch of bourbon heat. Very complex brew and well done. Not ky favorite kind of sour but I’d buy it again.
Jan 18, 2018
4.29/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Beautiful looking beer. Smells of that intense astringent sour/wild aroma that almanac is know for. First sip is chocolate with a touch of oak, earthy hops and slight roasty bitterness, followed by a nice sweet fruitiness from the oranges, and ends with a lingering intense sour lemon warhead astringency mixed with sour cherries. Tartness lingers for a long time but each new sip gives you a kick of that nice roasty stout with the touch of bourbon heat. Very complex brew and well done. Not ky favorite kind of sour but I’d buy it again.
Jan 18, 2018
Lone_Freighter from Vermont
4/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This was poured into a tulip. The appearance was a thick black color with a slim finger-ed white foamy head that dissipated nicely. Lacing is speckled. The smell takes on sour cherries sliding into subtle dark chocolate malts and creating a nice tart citrus to semi-sweet cocoa background. The taste took those flavors and combined to bring about a nice dry woody flavor riding underneath. No aftertaste but a nice dry to tart finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body. Sessionability to sipping quality runs nice over the body. Not as harsh as expected from some other "sour" ales I’ve had. Overall, Almanac pretty much knocked this one out of the park as far as a sour stout.
Jun 20, 2017
4/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This was poured into a tulip. The appearance was a thick black color with a slim finger-ed white foamy head that dissipated nicely. Lacing is speckled. The smell takes on sour cherries sliding into subtle dark chocolate malts and creating a nice tart citrus to semi-sweet cocoa background. The taste took those flavors and combined to bring about a nice dry woody flavor riding underneath. No aftertaste but a nice dry to tart finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body. Sessionability to sipping quality runs nice over the body. Not as harsh as expected from some other "sour" ales I’ve had. Overall, Almanac pretty much knocked this one out of the park as far as a sour stout.
Jun 20, 2017
GarrettB from Colorado
3.79/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
January 24th, 2016 - Here's an odd bird. It looks soft and velvety like Guinness (or any nitro stout), but tastes like raisin and fig, more like a barleywine, But the front taste is sour and even a little tangy, and the aftertaste is almost absent. Good, but a tad strange.
Mar 25, 2020
3.79/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
January 24th, 2016 - Here's an odd bird. It looks soft and velvety like Guinness (or any nitro stout), but tastes like raisin and fig, more like a barleywine, But the front taste is sour and even a little tangy, and the aftertaste is almost absent. Good, but a tad strange.
Mar 25, 2020
Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)
3.95/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottle: Poured a deep pitch-black color stout with a light brown foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of light tart notes with some dry roasted malt notes and nice bourbon and vanilla notes. Taste is also a nice mix of tart notes with some dry roasted malt notes with vanilla and bourbon with light oak notes. Chocolates notes are also noticeable. Body has a nice creamy texture with good carbonation. I think this could have been a top imperial stout without the tart notes.
Dec 31, 2016
3.95/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottle: Poured a deep pitch-black color stout with a light brown foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of light tart notes with some dry roasted malt notes and nice bourbon and vanilla notes. Taste is also a nice mix of tart notes with some dry roasted malt notes with vanilla and bourbon with light oak notes. Chocolates notes are also noticeable. Body has a nice creamy texture with good carbonation. I think this could have been a top imperial stout without the tart notes.
Dec 31, 2016
Sammy from Canada (ON)
3.99/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Jan 18, 2016
3.99/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Jan 18, 2016
travolta from California
3.61/5 rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Dec 30, 2015
3.61/5 rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Dec 30, 2015
Truthful Statement from Almanac Beer Co.
Beer rating:
92 out of
100 with
146 ratings
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