Cellar 3: Oculus Sauvage With Black Currants
Green Flash Brewing Co.

Cellar 3: Oculus Sauvage With Black CurrantsCellar 3: Oculus Sauvage With Black Currants
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From:
Green Flash Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Belgian IPA
ABV:
10.7%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.2 | pDev: 7.14%
Reviews:
7
Ratings:
28
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 30, 2022
Added:
Oct 08, 2015
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  5
The base beer for Green Flash Oculus Sauvage is a Belgian-style IPA/tripel hybrid, aged in red wine barrels for 21 months with Brettanomyces.

Highly nuanced, the resinous hops characteristics are refined by barrel-drawn notes of vanilla and French oak tannins. Wild yeast imparts a barnyard funk with hints of apple orchard that linger in the finish.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of TurboMon_911
Reviewed by TurboMon_911 from New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from 2016 batch 01 750ml bomber (bottled Aug 20,2016), into a tulip glass @ 52degrees. Pinkish/purple color with slight head and minimal lacing. The nose is malty/yeasty with hints of bitterness from the hops. Mouth is pleasantly funky with a slightly dry hoppy finish, medium light in body with sweetness apparent form black currant adjunct. A delightful brew that I wish was still available. Had saved this for several years in hopes that it would improve with age, was not disappointed.
Apr 30, 2022
Photo of ghostfacekilla69
Reviewed by ghostfacekilla69 from Virginia

4.02/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
2016 750ml bottle consumed on aug 20 -

beautiful purplish pour; nose of vanilla, sourness, funk, and a little bit of harsh alcohol; mellow sip with a bit of currant fruitiness and sourness - funk at the end - very mild and pleasant; great feel with medium-light body and moderate tiny bubbled carb; overall a good beer years on. very mellow and blended.
Aug 08, 2020
 
Rated: 4.19 by TheHopsman from Nebraska

Nov 09, 2019
 
Rated: 4.3 by groleau from Canada (QC)

Jul 15, 2018
 
Rated: 4.24 by KensWorld from Florida

Dec 21, 2017
Photo of Wasatch
Reviewed by Wasatch from Colorado

4.43/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
750ml
Caged/Corked
2016 Batch 01
Brewed In: June 2015
Bottled On: August 20, 2016
Bottled Conditioned
Aged 21 Months
ABV: 9.4%

Poured into a tulip a pretty nice dark red/purpleish color, pretty nice carbonation, with a quick/fizzy pinkish/white head, which leaves minimal sticky lacing behind. The nose is very nice, malty, yeasty, with some hops, red wine, funky, tart, nice oakyness, slight black currants, slight citrus. The taste is pretty nice, malty, yeasty, nice little hop note, really nice touch of oak/red wine, slight black currants/citrus, nice funkyness, tart. Medium body, ABV is hidden very very well, a nice complexity with this brew, nice little dry/bitter finish. Overall very tasty brew, nice little take on the style.
Jun 18, 2017
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: The liquid pours out the color of an older red wine, purple with tawny edges; the mauve head hangs around for a minute or so and then fades to a ringlet, leaving a few spots of foam clinging

Smell: Tart black currant with heavy oak tones; rather funky from the Brett

Taste: Tart black currant tones, up front, with Bretty funk taking over the minute; bitterness from the hops arrives, after the swallow; with subtle oak tones and a vinous, but sour, character bringing up the rear; a hint of vanilla can be detected in the finish, too

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with low to moderate carbonation

Overall: I prefer my Belgian style beers to have a livelier mouthfeel but everything else about this beer is extraordinary
May 15, 2017
 
Rated: 4.02 by rjp217 from Massachusetts

Apr 04, 2017
Photo of SomethingClever
Reviewed by SomethingClever from Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12 oz pour on tap poured into snifter

A: deep rich black ruby red light small reddish hued head very small

S: cherries deep sour cherries and wine oak barrel and vinegar

T: rich cherries and slightly acidic wine tasting oak barrels very light sourness.

M: medium bodied a little bit of a carbonation bite oak barrel

O: A pretty easy drinking sour that isn't overly sour but is well balanced with lots of cherry flavor.
Mar 05, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by oline73 from Maryland

Mar 04, 2017
Photo of clayrock81
Reviewed by clayrock81 from Florida

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured a purple body with minimal head. The woody, vinous aspect dominates aroma with only hint of sour notes in aroma. Smooth body with a sour bitterness that is mild with black cherry feel and clean finish and even touch of sweetness.
Feb 23, 2017
 
Rated: 3.88 by oriolesfan4 from Maryland

Feb 06, 2017
 
Rated: 4.16 by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts

Feb 04, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by waddellc2 from Pennsylvania

Feb 04, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by Gkruszewski from New York

Feb 04, 2017
 
Rated: 4.02 by richj1970 from Alabama

Jan 18, 2017
Photo of smcolw
Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts

4.26/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
If pours a deep ruby color. Good head but it settles quickly to rim bubbles. Nearly nothing for lace. I count for very small spots.

The smell is rich with the black current (Cassis) smell. Very close to the Belgian versions of this style smell wise.

The initial taste is soured fruit. Chewy body with muted carbonation. Blindfolded, I doubt I could tell the difference from any of Cassis brews from Belgium. I find this to be a radiant version of the style without any American "adjustments". Tart with a black cherry flavor. Long lip puckering aftertaste.

Simply put, this is the best American styled Belgian Lambic I've had.
Jan 14, 2017
 
Rated: 3.9 by brianmandell from California

Jan 08, 2017
 
Rated: 3.57 by travolta from California

Jan 05, 2017
 
Rated: 4.44 by Gagnonsux from Texas

Jan 01, 2017
Cellar 3: Oculus Sauvage With Black Currants from Green Flash Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 28 ratings