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Dogpatch Sour
Almanac Beer Co.


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Almanac Beer Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Wild Ale
Ranked #261 - ABV:
- 7.5%
- Score:
- 94
Ranked #2,581 - Avg:
- 4.22 | pDev: 7.58%
- Reviews:
- 129
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 07, 2022
- Added:
- Jul 25, 2013
- Wants:
- 155
- Gots:
- 252
SCORE
94
Outstanding
94
Outstanding


Notes:
This barrel-aged wild ale is named for our San Francisco neighborhood and pays tribute to the Flanders Red style of beer. Aged in wine barrels, this lightly tart ale is brewed with California Rainier cherries using a house blend of wild yeasts, bacteria and SF sourdough yeast. Pair this complex ale with ripe figs & blue cheese or seafood bouillabaisse.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by Hallnmarks from California
4.8/5 rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.8/5 rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Just the right amount of red and sour.
Sep 09, 2020Reviewed by beersampler6 from Michigan
3.75/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Interesting wild ale with 6/8/20 canned date printed on bottom of can. Interesting slightly rusty honeyed murky color with a little fluffy white head and some spotty lingering lacing. Smells of surprisingly faint tart cherries, raspberries, malt, a little oak and bread. Tastes similarly, fairly tart with a little bit of saltiness at the end. The stronger oak notes also came through clearly. Mild, slightly thin mouthfeel with good carbonation. Not really my style of beer but this one was not bad at all.
Jul 16, 2020Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
3.28/5 rDev -22.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.28/5 rDev -22.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Batch no. 4. 2015 vintage; drank 9/6/15 @ Yuss Haus Mach II.
Murky orange rust appearance.
Minimal off-white head; no lace.
Mildly tart dried cherry notes in the nose.
Medium mouthfeel.
Dried cherry flavor up front; tart finish. Simple & kinda dull, but certainly drinkable.
Mar 04, 2019Murky orange rust appearance.
Minimal off-white head; no lace.
Mildly tart dried cherry notes in the nose.
Medium mouthfeel.
Dried cherry flavor up front; tart finish. Simple & kinda dull, but certainly drinkable.
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.9/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.9/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a hazy yellow with bright white but thin 1/5" head on it. Yummy chewy sour cherries in the nose, mild funkiness.
Taste is a bright sour and plenty of cherry, the hazy aspect of the beer, I dunno, but this is pretty smooth while remaining sour and avoid a bitter or acidic acidity through the entire bottle. The cherry is well done. The vanilla version is a nicer even more smooth touch, but if you're looking to get more of that apply cherry sour, this is the one to go with. Has a dryness to it on the backend, but I don't really get anything in the way of wooden notes.
Its a relatively straight forward and simplistic cherry wild ale, but it does the trick and is available.
Jan 14, 2018Taste is a bright sour and plenty of cherry, the hazy aspect of the beer, I dunno, but this is pretty smooth while remaining sour and avoid a bitter or acidic acidity through the entire bottle. The cherry is well done. The vanilla version is a nicer even more smooth touch, but if you're looking to get more of that apply cherry sour, this is the one to go with. Has a dryness to it on the backend, but I don't really get anything in the way of wooden notes.
Its a relatively straight forward and simplistic cherry wild ale, but it does the trick and is available.
Reviewed by wedge from North Carolina
3.91/5 rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.91/5 rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Batch No 4 | Bottled May 2015
Clear deep amber color with a loose bubbly head. Spicy woody aromas...slight acetone, fragrant cherry, dusty straw. Slick cherry tartness, oaky red wine, lemon juice acidity, spicy dry hay, light graham cracker crust. Sour, acidic, medium-light feel. Pretty good, but aggressively sour.
Jan 14, 2018Clear deep amber color with a loose bubbly head. Spicy woody aromas...slight acetone, fragrant cherry, dusty straw. Slick cherry tartness, oaky red wine, lemon juice acidity, spicy dry hay, light graham cracker crust. Sour, acidic, medium-light feel. Pretty good, but aggressively sour.
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont
3.75/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This was poured into a tulip. The appearance was a slight hazy burnt orange to burnt red color with a one finger white foamy head that quickly dissipated and left no lacing. The smell started off with sour and tart cherries invading some light citrus and a light malty background. The taste was mostly the same as the aroma. Tart and sour cherries roll into sour to bitter citrus rind all rolling about and feeling out the aftertaste with a sly sour and dry feel in the finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a decent sipping quality about it. Carbonation feels good and right at par for the AWA style. Nice bitter harshness pounds on my tongue, but not overbearing. Overall, as an AWA, it works, hmmmm, as a Sour Red/Brown ale, I’d say I guess it works.
Jun 09, 2017Reviewed by jbertsch from Massachusetts
3.27/5 rDev -22.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.25
3.27/5 rDev -22.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.25
While this beer has a pleasant tartness and enjoyable cherry notes, it's ultimately one note. Its a tart, sour cherry beer with no underlying complexities, no body, and little soul. It grows tiresome quickly. Some underlying funk would do this beer wonders. Bes to be paired with food rather than drank alone.
May 28, 2017Reviewed by kitch from Hong Kong
4.27/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A 375ml bottle, Batch No.4, bottled in May 2015. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: A clear copper amber colour with a one finger off white head that dissipated quickly while leaving sparse lacing.
Aroma: Cherry, hard candy, wine and barrel.
Taste: Tart, sour cherry, red wine, acidic, vinegar and oak.
Mouthfeel: Dry, medium bodied with moderate to high carbonation.
Overall: This was nice and refreshing with good tartness. Would be even better with even more cherries and perhaps slightly less acidity.
Mar 24, 2017Appearance: A clear copper amber colour with a one finger off white head that dissipated quickly while leaving sparse lacing.
Aroma: Cherry, hard candy, wine and barrel.
Taste: Tart, sour cherry, red wine, acidic, vinegar and oak.
Mouthfeel: Dry, medium bodied with moderate to high carbonation.
Overall: This was nice and refreshing with good tartness. Would be even better with even more cherries and perhaps slightly less acidity.
Reviewed by captaincoffee from Virginia
3.88/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.88/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours copper with a ruby hue, with a small soda-pop head that quickly dissipates. Nose is mild wine must and a bit of tannic wood. Not really getting cherry unless I search for it. Also some slight brett. Taste is a straightforward citric sour, with hints of red wine barrel and cherry. Not really getting the complexity I hoped for. Overall, pretty good but was expecting a bit more.
Feb 05, 2017Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia
4/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
375ml bottle poured into a tulip
A- pours a deep amber color with a ruby hue, thin creamy off-white head that has good retention
S- dark cherry and vinous red wine aromas, slight barnyard funk, dried hay, earthy wood
T- tart cherries up front with some white wine notes, plenty of tartness at the mid-palate, the finish gives a bit of oak and funk
M- medium body and carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel and a crisp dry finish
O- strong tartness throughout, but rather one-dimensional at times
Jan 28, 2017A- pours a deep amber color with a ruby hue, thin creamy off-white head that has good retention
S- dark cherry and vinous red wine aromas, slight barnyard funk, dried hay, earthy wood
T- tart cherries up front with some white wine notes, plenty of tartness at the mid-palate, the finish gives a bit of oak and funk
M- medium body and carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel and a crisp dry finish
O- strong tartness throughout, but rather one-dimensional at times
Reviewed by Marius from Netherlands
4.25/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
35cl bottle. Clear copper pour with a thin off-white head with poor retention. Notes of cherries, caramel, blue cheese, apple vinegar and tons of macerated cherries. Some vanilla and oak barrel, especially in the aroma. Medium body and carbonation with a very tart and fizzy finish.
Jan 03, 2017Reviewed by JonCorbett from Canada (BC)
4.18/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I love Almanac’s Farm to Barrel series - and this I was holding off on, but just couldn’t wait any longer now that I have a bottle of Dogpatch Grand Cru in the cellar, going to put this one into my belly.
Appearance: Cherry juice - cloudy, and ruby rose pink, lots of quick fast rising carbonation, quick forming and quick dissipating effervescent pale pink head leaving behind no ring, no cap, and no lace - (like a vindictive ex-girlfriend LOL)
Aromatics: Very acetic sour cherries and gentle farmhouse funk. A sweet semi-dry hay likes to mosey its way in along with some underlying newly risen bread and hints of wine vinegar.
Taste: Pa-Pow! Much like it’s Blueberry sibling, it packs an awesome sour punch. Full of cherries, juicy, and acidic. There is a light bready quality, and the vinous flavours are nicely melded to the fruit.
Palate: Acid and slightly worn fuzzy socks waterslide by the palate and the carbonation playing tiny fizz games in this medium body. There is an every so mild boozy kick at the tail end if you pack too much into the mouth. And the finish is tangy but still clean, and dry.
Overall: Super great. I’m almost thinking the Blueberry had one up’d it though - but so close. It has glamour and attitude that I enjoy a lot in a sour.
Pairing: Same as the other Farm to Barrels - best with a large full (and preferably holiday) type meal. Bring on the turkeys, hams, mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy… lots of gravy.
Nov 11, 2016Appearance: Cherry juice - cloudy, and ruby rose pink, lots of quick fast rising carbonation, quick forming and quick dissipating effervescent pale pink head leaving behind no ring, no cap, and no lace - (like a vindictive ex-girlfriend LOL)
Aromatics: Very acetic sour cherries and gentle farmhouse funk. A sweet semi-dry hay likes to mosey its way in along with some underlying newly risen bread and hints of wine vinegar.
Taste: Pa-Pow! Much like it’s Blueberry sibling, it packs an awesome sour punch. Full of cherries, juicy, and acidic. There is a light bready quality, and the vinous flavours are nicely melded to the fruit.
Palate: Acid and slightly worn fuzzy socks waterslide by the palate and the carbonation playing tiny fizz games in this medium body. There is an every so mild boozy kick at the tail end if you pack too much into the mouth. And the finish is tangy but still clean, and dry.
Overall: Super great. I’m almost thinking the Blueberry had one up’d it though - but so close. It has glamour and attitude that I enjoy a lot in a sour.
Pairing: Same as the other Farm to Barrels - best with a large full (and preferably holiday) type meal. Bring on the turkeys, hams, mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy… lots of gravy.
Reviewed by Derek from Canada (BC)
4.17/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Bottled May 2015.
Crystal clear, copper-red, no head.
Lots of sour cherry in the aroma, with a bit of funk.
Fairly sour with some earthy funk. Definitely some bacterial action here.
Moderate body has a moderate acidity, with a drying finish.
Oct 28, 2016Crystal clear, copper-red, no head.
Lots of sour cherry in the aroma, with a bit of funk.
Fairly sour with some earthy funk. Definitely some bacterial action here.
Moderate body has a moderate acidity, with a drying finish.
Dogpatch Sour from Almanac Beer Co.
Beer rating:
94 out of
100 with
1137 ratings
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