Blodgengüch
Union Craft Brewing Company

 

Pours a clearish copper color. The head is two fingers high and eggshell in shade. Retention isn't that great, and the texture looks rough (probably due to the lacto). No lacing is left on the glass, either.

There is a nice Vienna lager lurking around aroma-wise. The malts express themselves with plenty of toast, caramel, and melanoidin; touches of noble hopping serve to balance the sweetness nicely. Oh wait, I almost forgot to talk about the sourness! Lacto is quite assertive here, natch. Greek yogurt, lemon, earth, and funk all come through equally. The nose suggests a very innovative beer that will actually work even better on the palate.

Oh dip, I nailed it. This beer first hits the palate with plenty of sour flavors - lemon, lime, and Greek yogurt. These lacto flavors are nuanced incredibly well. The mid-taste is where the base Vienna is strongest, with notes of toasted malt, caramel and toffee (it has that nice melanoidin characteristic I love in this style, too). More lacto finishes it off, focusing on almost milky/yogurt-like tones instead of sour ones. Still, because the tartness is so intense, continued consumption of this brew (for the record, I'm killing a growler) will reveal the nuanced Vienna lager underneath. Each sip seem to unfurl a different layer, and it makes me want to kill this entire growler. Easily.

The sourness helps keep this beer clean and easygoing. To nitpick, the texture of the base lager seems a touch thick and syrupy (especially on the finish), but in this instance, it's not enough to detract. Carbonation is medium.

Union seems to be one of those breweries who really know how to utilize lacto. Old Pro is great, 3rd Stone was fuckin' phenomenal, and this is also excellent. Despite the assertive tartness, it manages to integrate incredibly well with the base lager, creating something refreshing yet balanced and complex. What else can be said apart from "brew it again, guys"?

3.98/5: An ideal marriage of amber lager and sour beer

Medium Amber body with a fizzy tan head that disappears quickly. Aroma is toast and caramel with a sourness that takes over everything. Flavor is actually exactly what you would expect from the description; it's a tart Vienna lager. Toast, bread and caramel that has been soured. Feel is really nice, a bit of crispness and very drinkable. A really interesting and unique take on a typically straight-forward style.

 

 

 

Pour: On draft at Smoke and Barrel in D.C. Poured into a tulip glass. Appearance: Dark amber and clearish. Lazy bubbles rising. Big white head that reduces after settling. Light lacing. Aroma: Crazy mashup. Very malty (3 kinds of malts). Has a sour aroma as well but takes a back seat to the large malt profile. Taste: Very interesting mashup. Sour then malt then sour flavors in that order...like clock work. Balanced and works well. Clear and distinct flavor profile and how it alternates is a thing of beauty. Aftertaste: Finishes crisp and tangy sour. Overall: Consistent and like clock work on the alternating sour and malt profiles. Very good: 4 out of 5.

Had on tap at a tap takeover. This is a strange one. The vienna lager is probably pretty good and the sour is clean and nicely done. The two together just do not work very well.