Thai Trail
West Sixth Brewing Company

Bright, floral, earthy and acidic. Those words could be used to easily describe sour ale. But they could also be used in describing Thai cuisine. So it makes sense that some of the ingredients of those dishes find themselves in the brewer's pantry and West Sixth Brewing Company.

Thai Trail strikes the nose with its radiant citric and lactic tart scent. Bright straw and faintly hazed, the beers delicate froth continues to deliver a bright scent of basil along with the scant earthiness of cumin and damp cork. Supple on sweetness, the early palate is crisply malty with hints of sourdough and taffy playing a subtle role.

As the middle palate unfolds, the sweetness and breadiness retreats and the sourness seeps into the tastebuds. Cleanly sour with grapefruit, lime, lemon and crabapple, the flavors sharpen and remain brisk. Herbal basil adds a grassy, floral and bright flavor that bounces off the minuscule hops for a light balance to any lasting grain but to also add complexity and another layer of depth to the finish.

Medium bodied for sour ale but light on the palate overall, the beer's carbonation adds a bounce to the texture and keeps the mouthfeel light and refreshing. Crisply acidic, the sourness strips the thirst with ease and ushers in a great sense of drinkability with a brief afterglow of basil and citrus.

One of the best at W6 in my opinion

 

 

 

Lightly lemony aroma, with basil adding a floral, perfume-like quality.

Flavor is much more tart than indicated in the aroma, and the woody notes from the basil play an interesting role. Very odd.