Freak Flag
Deep Ellum Brewing Company

Been aging this for about 4 years. Brown plum color with a nose that is caramelized raspberries and vinegar. Taste is soft red wine vinegar and sour cherries. Not near as sour when I had years ago, but has held up exceptionally well during aging. The sharp acidity has softened over time. Fly your freak flag, beatches.

another solid beer in this barrelhouse series, we had it in close proximity to the brett pale, which was also nice. this is more of a flanders red type with lots of oak on it, its really sour, but the flavor is really compelling, and my brother and i both thought it was fantastic, one of the best i have ever had from deep ellum really. crimson to mahogany in color with a short tan head that settles fast. aroma of tart cherry, cranberry, raisin, red wine vinegar, and vanilla from the wood, a charred note too, and some sweetness, maybe a mix of wine and whiskey barrels on this. the flavor is really fruit forward, a ton of cherry to it, but i dont believe its been fruited. some sweetness, lots of sourness cutting it, and a puckery drying finish even with the fuller malt body, the sourness just evaporates everything off the palate so it actually finishes fast, and then the mouth immediately waters for more. i really like the woodiness, it taste mature and old worldy to me, and thats hard to achieve in this style. classically fashioned but distinctive too, not a ton of funk, clean on the bacterial souring, and just very well made overall. it continues to open and evolve as it warms too, lots of nuance to appreciate here, tobacco, raspberry, port wine, we loved this!

 

 

 

 

L
Opaque reddish brown
Thin tan head dissipates quickly, leaving thin line of bubbles around glass only
A
sour cherries, acetone, oak, over ripe dark fruit,
T
follows aroma. Over ripe sour cherries, over ripe plums, slight raisin, oak
MF
Nice Med body. Nice light-med level of carbonation. Mild Harsh and unpleasant acetic burn in back of throat, which seems to lessen slightly as it warms
O
Without the acetic burn there's a really nice sour red here. Nice fruitiness, nice level of acidity, good carb level and good oak character.