Cerise De Michigan
Lake Effect Brewing Co.

$ 16.23 (Including shipping)/750 mL capped bottle ($ 0.639/oz) from Tavour, Seattle, WA. Reviewed 4/18/19.
Undated bottle. Stored at 42 degrees and served at 54 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Appearance – 3.5.
Body – Dull red, opaque, effervescent.
Head – Large (Maximum 4.5 cm, aggressive center pour), pink, fizzy, gone within seconds, leaving a one to two mm ring constantly being renewed by effervescence.
Lacing – None.
First pour – Pink, hazy.
Aroma – 3.25 – Very weak cherry, salt.
Flavor – 3.5 – Not much flavor at all, just a bit of salt and acidity. I am totally unable to taste any distinct cherry or Brettanomyces funk. No alcohol (7.5 % ABV) flavor or smell, no dimethylsulfide, no diacetyl.
Palate – 3.5 – Medium, watery, soft fizzy carbonation.
Impression and interpretation – 3.5 – Overall, a very mediocre brew which wastes what were probably quite delicious cherries. At least it is non-offensive.

 

 

Poured into a snifter. Beautiful copper-red color. Clear with a frothy white head that lingered. Sweet cherries on the nose, along with barnyard funk, oak, vanilla, and grain. It was not as sour as expected: mildly tart with a dominant cherry flavor and floral, funky notes. A sticky but dry feel. Overall an interesting beer. If you like sour cherries, I'd give this one a look.

 

 

 

2014 vintage; drank 11/6/14 on draft @ Fischman's.

Murky strawberry hue.

Off-white head; decent lace.

Sweet AND tart cherry nose, with oak & red wine notes too.

Medium mouthfeel.

Cranberry & tart cherry flavors; bold, but more one-note than the nose suggested.

This is a very tart beer, even though it's not technically a sour. It's very bubbly and refreshing, champagne-like mouthfeel. Flavor is excellent, just the right amount of cherry.

 

Draft at the brewery.
Dark reddish amber with pinkish foam. Lasting retention and drippy lacing all around. Funky lactic aroma, cherry intermingles with wet wood and woolly wild funk. Taste is fruity and funky with a deep cherry essence, cinnamon and almond from the pits and skins, a dry wet wood barrel presence too. Creamy lactic feel, crisp tartness and a well rounded presence from the fruit. Overall, I loved this and can't wait until its bottled again.

If the cherries are faded, you're drinking an old bottle. Tavour sells old beer. Try again with a fresh bottle.