Barrel-Aged Cucumber Hibiscus Sour
Avery Brewing Company

what an ambitious and cool beer to be in a can, i didnt know avery was doing these. this is surprisingly delicious, i thought the hibiscus might be too much, or that it would be too sour for volume drinking, but thats not the case at all. the cucumber is very natural in here too, like i can smell and taste the thick waxy dark green peel in here, and it has a hotel water vibe to me. the hibiscus is fruity and soft, not like perfume at all, and it compliments the cucumber, which is the lead dog to me. the barrel treatment is also nice, woody and kind of vinous to me, a touch sweet through it, which is nice to balance the clean acidity, and there is also just a little bretty wild sort of funk to it, more and more as it warms, which certainly keeps the fermentation profile from being one dimensional. it doesnt hold much head but it has enough carbonation as i drink it, and while its boldly flavored and has some structure, its also kind of light because of the summery flavors, and it drinks easy for what it is. unlikely packaging choice for a barrel aged sour, but it also makes sense as soon as i taste this, because i want to be drinking it on a boat. nice balance, some malt support, and overall a very well built and refined ale here. avery has a winner with this one, very natural cucumber profile and restrained hibiscus is the key. this really works.

 

Poured from 16oz tall can into a dimpled mug.

Appearance: orange-pink hue with just a little hint of haze and a finger of fizzy foam; the head dissipates super quickly. An interesting-looking beer.

Smell: sweet and candylike aroma; there's definitely a cucumber character here, but the overall effect reminds me of watermelon jolly ranchers. It is crazy ... but I kinda like it. I guess -- well, it correctly executes what it says on the tin.

Taste: there's a little bit of tartness right up front, followed by a nice cucumber flavor. The combination of flavors yields almost a rhubarb-y quality. An interesting beer and very refreshing; I dig it.

Mouthfeel: light body with a good effervescence. Fizzy and refreshing.

Overall: I like this beer; it would be great to quaff one of these in the sun. It's a bit on the sweet side for me to drink a lot of them, but still a tasty treat.

 

 

 

1 pint can, with a canned on date of 4.25.19

L - Maroon red, a touch of clarity, 1/2 a finger of head that dissipates quickly.

S - Cucumber and hibiscus dominate

T - Cucumber and tartness lead up front. Tart throughout.

F - Well carbonated. Medium body

O - Cucumber dominates, tartness follows.

 

Very tart, cucumbers may be a bit out of place, but overpowered by sourness, you feel it in your cheeks, had at hop culture in Aspen.

 

 

Presentation: 16 oz. can with the canning date printed on the bottom. Served In a tulip glass.

Appearance: The pink, two finger head disappears almost immediately and leaves behind some lacing in rings and small spots. it's a beautiful, clear, bright scarlet color.

Smell: The cucumber and hibiscus are definitely there along with some fruit notes and a hint of humid, musty oak and sour funk.

Taste: There's a strong cucumber flavor but it's not overpowering. It's nicely complemented and balanced out by a flowery flavor from the hibiscus and some tart, sour fruitiness of raspberries, cherries and lemon.

Mouthfeel: It's light and very refreshing with a medium to light body and medium-high carbonation. It's not cloying at all and it goes down smooth.

Overall: A well balanced, easy to drink sour with a nice combination of flavors.

 

 

When summer comes calling, the hot season beckons for a flavor to match. Avery Brewing is doing their part with a clean, crisp and highly refreshing sour ale laced with the summery character of cucumber and hibiscus. Characterful fermentation and barrel aging ensures that there's no lack of creativity. That's just the Avery way.

Bright and rosy mauve with a modest haze, the spritzy ale rolls onto the nose with a berry, cider, winey and vividly green scent. Bold suggestions of melon and basil entice the senses while a supple sweetness of taffy, agave and fruit puree starts off the session modestly sweet.

But the real star of the show is the sourness that quickly washes any malt influences away. Echoes of cranberry, currant and raspberries seem to glide across a sour base of crabapple, gooseberry, yuzu, kiwi and white grape. Dry on the cider side, white wine influences are not far off. A light bitterness comes across more like berry skins while the aura of cucumber continues to fill the senses with a green and herbal whimsy with the juiciness of honeydew.

Light in body, the beer's crisp and clean demeanor shows a faint earthiness while the barrels simply help to dry the taste to a premierely refreshing degree. A quick aftertaste of piquant sourness leaves the palate refreshed like the driest belini but with a playful cloud of cucumber continuing to contribute fruity nuances afterwards.