Cherry Berry Sour
Almanac Beer Co.

bottled 3/1/2019

 

 

 

 

Decent head production and retention for the style. Brew is a fairly hazy, barely translucent dark orange.

Musty, funky aroma is evident from the pour. Up close, juicy, tart berries are added to the mix, in particular cherries and raspberries. Light syrup and flowers, a touch of brown sugar, vinegar, oak, vanilla, and a slightly cheesy aspect to the funk.

Flavor is far more sour than sweet, carrying a strongly puckering punch. Plenty of oak and vinegar accompany hay, basil, and caramel grains. Fruity berries really emerge on the back third, suddenly emerging from the vinegar-like sour swirl, with notes of cherry skins and pits, accompanied by woody oak. Lasts well throughout the finish.

Relatively slow sipper due primarily to the level of sourness, but also owing to the long finish. Just a little bit of alcohol heat.

A tough beer to accurately rate. I feel it's lacking a touch in funky complexity and depth to the berries, but the level of sourness is outstanding, and the overall profile quite pleasing. I don't quite think it lives up to Russian River's sours, or the complex offerings from Hill Farmstead or the best Belgian Lambics.

 

The taste is mint yogurt with tart cherries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries on top. The mint is what get me, leaving the aftertaste to be minty and woody instead of the lovely berry tartness. That being said the tartness, which really helps the feel of the beer, start almost overwhelming but then suddenly collapses. Berries do lead the smell with some vanilla, most pleasant aspect by far

 

 

2018-07-17
375ml bottle served in a small Cantillon glass. 3/1/18.

Pours a fairly clear brassy color, small head, medium carbonation. Smell is sweettarts.

Taste is sweettarts, but with less sweetness.

Mouthfeel is very dry an light. Overall, not bad.