Razmata
Strange Roots Experimental Ales

 

Upon first sniff from the pop of the bottle, a noticeable "wild yeast" occurred, thus I opted for a tulip for the rest of my thoughts to be recorded.
The appearance was a subtle bright orange to slight pink hues topped by a quickly dissolving fizzy white head. No lace.
The aroma had some red raspberries up front with some orange rind sour to tart character. Light hints of lemon and then some super light grassy hops.
The flavor seemed to take all of the prior mentioned aromas and mesh together finely to also bring in the sour-ed wheat that I tend to expect for a true Berliner Weisse! Light aftertaste of red raspberries and a touch of sour-ed wheat.
The mouthfeel was puckering with a sly stickiness surrounding the red raspberries. I'd say between light and medium bodied, some of that "sour-wheat" trying to provide some body, nice enough. Slight tart crisp dryness then a semi-drying crisp tart to sour acidic wild yeasty sort of finish.
Overall, hey! I'm enthralled that an American brewer is actually getting this right! The real "sour-ed wheat" is actually there! I can definitely get behind this and would definitely welcome again preferably in the Summer!

 

This is listed as a Berliner Weiss but upon an inspection of the nose it is clear that there is some wild yeast action on top of whatever else us in there (presumably lacto if this is indeed a Berliner Weiss). It is fermented with raspberries but it pours totally yellow without much to give away that there are raspberries in there. The nose and taste too have very little raspberry but this is a very easy to drink sour, with mild tartness and a lambic-esque aftertaste that has notes of barnyard and of course the signature yogurt-like lacto bite. Fairly carbonated and with a watery mouthfeel which was the only thing I was not super pumped about. Very nice beer though

 

Draai Laag fruited sour is an automatic buy for me, so let's see how they handle raspberry.

Well, the color on this is pretty nice, if slightly muted compared to what I expected. It almost looks like a fruit juice/soda combo (if you've ever had the San Pellegrino fruit sodas, you'll know what I mean), with an opaque pinkish, pale body sporting a shimmering yet demure head that's barely a quarter-finger in my glass. No lace or surface haze to speak of. Very cool hue to this beer, but it's not too much of a looker overall.

Nose is a very good indicator of what you get on the tongue with this one... pure acid. A deep, intense acid and rather pungent funk are the main characteristics of this one to my senses, with a lemony twang and brutal raspberry-ish sour aspect coming forward immediately. Can't say I'm a huge fan of this kind of nose, though. It seems sweaty and a bit too in-your-face for me. Kind of artificial and doesn't feel like it captures the fruit very well, as the funk is a bit too intense. Since it's not a lambic and rather seems to be some kind of kettle-sour (I assume), the funk doesn't feel well-integrated into the whole. Still, if you're a fan of very acidic beer, this will probably be right up your alley.

Flavor is enamel-peelingly-sour, as expected. Huge sharp acid and strong raspberry flavor combined with some strawberry and blackberry-like elements. Big, front-loaded lemon and guava-like tropical fruit sour/tartness as well. Once again, though, this is just too much for me. Call me a weakling, but I prefer more subtle and nuanced flavors in my sour beers, especially in a fruited one where the fruit can be used to balance. I would be remiss if I called this a "Berliner weissbier," as it just seems like an American wild with an unrestrained lacto profile.

Feel is rather strange on this one... one would assume that a nearly 6-and-a-half percent sour raspberry beer would be kind of heavy bodied, but this feels overly-attenuated and thin. It has no real heft to it and the wheat backbone that I expect in this style is missing. Not a fan. My first miss from this exceptional brewery. Oh well.

 

 

 

 

 

Tap

Pours hazy grapefruit pink, sugar white lacing for a head.

Smells of citrus, cracker, light berry and lactic funk.

Tastes of light fruit citrus and mild berry. Juicy with saltine and gorgonzola notes.

Light body, sting of carbonation on the roof of the mouth.

Very nice light brew, drinks easy and is very sessionable. Definitely worth trying in the summer.

The color of the body is pale salmon, and there is no head at all, but it is a nice look.

Smell is fresh but not overwhelming raspberry with a touch of red wine vinegar.

Taste is slightly funkier than expected, starting with an unusual well- or river-water like flavor, then a really tart raspberry kicks in with a sort of lemon and kumquat kick, a touch of pink peppercorn, and a hint of 1980s Push Pops.