Crimson Mask
3 Floyds Brewing Co.

12 oz. bottle pours a cloudy reddish brown with a slight off-white fizz that vanishes immediately and isn't enough to qualify as a head. Aroma is mostly cherries, followed by barnyard yeast, vinegar, oak, and vanilla. Taste is sour but not punishingly so, with just enough non-cherries to keep it interesting. Body is medium without too much carbonation. The taste, feel, and complexity of this beer make up for its horrible looks and smell. Not a style I try often, and not a beer I'll try again,

Popping the cap released an apple cider vinegar and yeast smell that - needless to say - was a little on the funky side. In the glass, what little head there was subsumed so quickly that I couldn't really gage a color. The ale itself is a very vibrant reddish copper, but the aroma... the above with some foot sweat and wild plum mixed in. I like vinegar, but I've had to swear off due to a developed sensitivity. So, I hesitate before tasting this. Yes, this is exactly like drinking vinegar, only a little bitter. I won't risk an asthma attack for any further description, and - unfortunately - I don't have an AI drain to give me its two cents about what it thinks.

 

 

 

 

Pours a pale red with just a bit of fizz. Cherry and sour aroma. Taste is same, fairly well balanced between sour and sweet. Not much subtle here, it's fairly straightforward but tasty for that.

 

 

6 oz mini-snifter draft pour at Lures Bar & Grille. Pours light red/brown with a moderate off-white head. Aroma and flavor feature tart cherries, oak, vanilla, leather, tannins, and bready malt. Light bitterness, moderate acidity, touch of sweetness, moderate funk. Nice cherry flavor, complexity, and balance. Very tasty.

Just last week I had Battle Priest from 3 Floyds, a Wild Ale that was very strange and not very tart. That being said, this cherry one was calling my name since the strawberry one, Foeder Fiend, was very good. Hopefully this one can live up to those expectations. Let’s find out

Pours a cloudy reddish orange with a finger of pinkish white head that quickly fades to a ring and leaves minimal lacing

The cherry in the nose seems to have a nice balanced tartness, bringing an almost pastry vibe. I’m picking up on aromas of tart cherry, juicy strawberry, pie crust, lemon meringue, brown sugar, vanilla, and light toasted oak

In taste it turns a bit sweeter than I would’ve expected, but I still dig it. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting black cherry, vanilla, lemon zest, dark bread, brown sugar, and light oak. The swallow brings notes of juicy strawberry, pie crust, tart cherry, lemon zest, brown sugar, light toffee, and sweet vanilla

A medium body pairs with gentle tingling carbonation, resulting in a sharp yet surprisingly rich and creamy beer. Finishes neutral with a balanced sweetness

This is solid stuff. Not quite up to the par set by Foeder Fiend, but I dig the creaminess of this one