Summer Sour
West Sixth Brewing Company

 

Aroma is fairly grainy, with a hint of lacto.

Flavor is just the opposite, more sour than grainy. Very two-note, fairly sour, but approachable for newbies.

Crisp, acidic and refreshing, West Sixth knows how to deal with the dog days of summer. Their brisk and bright Summer Sour is meant for a high rate of drinkability and nourishment, so a "guilt-free" and "no-appologies-necessary" attitude is coming right up!

Canary bright and faintly translucent, the highly aesthetically charming beer casts a spritzy champagne-like head. A tangy perfume brings a light briny, melon-like scent with apple, wine and citrus medley. Its taste is lightly candied with confectioner's sugar, simple sugars and wafer-thin breadiness.

But the sweetness is a short-lived sideshow as its sugars dissolve effortlessly on the tongue. What charges in in a bracingly tart, clean and lactic middle palate that's awash with crabapple, lemon, lime and grapefruit. Juicy, tangy and dry, the beer's brisk acidity washes the thirst and provides a refreshing wine-like tang and a smooth hop bitterness in finish.

Light, clean and playfully sour, the acidity strips the thirst with ease and leaves the palate refreshed and quenched. A soft after tow of balsa, citrus peel and a sprucy bite is all that's left in a quick and effortless linger.