Blackberry Sournova
Almanac Beer Co.

 

 

 

Not personally a big fan of the sour beers, and thus am trying to review this objectively. Opaque purple in color from the blackberries with a fluffy head on initial pour into the glass. The can was over 1 year old, which may have contributed to the foaming on the first pour, or it could have been my sloppiness. Smells vinous, with hints of berry in the back. Wine like on the palate, and very dry. Tart finish with plenty of carbonation. I guess it's a reasonable example of a barrel aged sour, but I don't get the appeal of this type of drink for that much coin.

 

Canned 4/1/20

I’ve only had one sour with blackberries before, think it was a gose and I wasn’t all that impressed. However, I have faith in this series so here we go

Pours an opaque purple tinted brown with 2 fingers of off white head that slowly fades to a cap, carbonation flowing from the bottom of the glass and leaves decent lacing

Well the fruit isn’t distinctly blackberry in the nose, I pick up some combination of raspberry and plum. As always in this series, the barrel is evident throughout. Solid oak funk backs up the fruit to keep it in check

The taste starts with the berries, surprisingly light in flavor but quite tart, with waves of oak and vanilla coming in, finishing both funky and fruity. Not an overly complex taste but it’s damn tasty

Medium bodied with mild tingly carbonation, this finishes quite sticky, acting as a hindrance to an otherwise awesome beer. This brings the drinkability down a bit, but not enough to majorly harm it

Well this one impressed me for sure, I just wish it was a bit dryer. I’d still get it again and will continue to seek other variants

 

Yep. I think the score for this one is right on point like Gibson hitting a walk off during Game 1 of the ‘88 World Series. Now, I don’t think this beer would make Tommy Lasorda go hog wild around the infield if he took a sip, but it’s definitely good enough for a pat on the ass. It’s tart and tasty, but it also just misses that extra depth that would make any playa scream.

Yep!

 

 

Pours a murky brownish purple with a very light purple head with large, spaced out bubbles.

Aroma is berries, vanilla, and a hint of oak. The oak reminds me a bit of pencil shavings, but in a good way.

Comes accross almost light and refreshing on the palate. Nice blackberry flavors and a fantastic oakey finish. The refined woodiness and slight spiciness of the oak really amplifies this beer. Refreshingly dry finish. Tart, but not too tart.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with high carbonation. The finish is very dry and astringent and begs for you to take another sip. Alcohol warmth is unnoticed.

Overall, I really enjoyed this beer. This makes me excited that I recently started getting Almanac in my area. Would love this with grilled salmon and a fresh spinach salad with walnuts and berries.

Pours an cloudy purplish, medium amber producing not quite 1.5 fingers of short-lived, dense, foamy, purplish tinged, off-white head which recedes to a thin surface cap and collar ring without leaving a single mote or streak of lace. Fine particulates swirl from top to bottom in the beer. Aroma is acetic sour, yeast rolls, vinous blackberry wrapped around a Brett-like "Band-Aid"/surgical tape note. Take a good pull on the aroma and the acidity can be felt in the nostrils. Taste is sour but not aggressively so. A mild sweetness bleeds in from the background of dark berries and thin acetic grape overlaying a bready hint. A little spice joins the medley in the dry sour green apple and slight woody finish. The aftertaste is dry and tart with hints of oak and sour fruit. Throughout the first half of the sip there is a sour dominated balance of sweet and sour with sour rapidly becoming dominant in the lightly acidic, drying finish. The aftertaste is short-lived. The Brett-like funk, prominent in the nose and found to a lesser degree in the finish and aftertaste, I find pleasant. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with low to moderate carbonation; lightly mouth puckering and tongue crawling.

 

On tap at the Mule Bar