Sour Dunkelweiss
The North Brewery

 

Sample at the brewery, half growler to go. I've been waiting to try this one for a while, so I was very happy to see it on tap today. Obviously, this isn't a "Dunkelweizen" nor an American Wild Ale. It's an interesting combo, and definitely the main reason I bought it.

A - very nice looking beer. Browns and purples present, doesn't get any lighter on the periphery, even held up to a lamp. Constant carbonation on the sides, big head recedes almost instantly on the forced pour.

S - smells sour, some cheese on the nose mixed with light fruit, not unlike an extremely toned down geueze. No wheat present here, none of the dark grains I usually associate with dunkelweiss beers. There's something a little empty, but not unpleasant.

T - not my favorite. There's a really unpleasant chemical taste in the middle, surrounded on all sides by sourness. It's hard to discern particular flavors, and there's definitely nothing to present the "Dunkelweizen" side of it. It's still drinkable though, and the sourness is a nice feature. The combination of styles just doesn't hit the mark.

M - as with most sours, the mouthfeel is great. There's a little clinging bitterness mixed with sweetness, and the alcohol is completely non existent. Points off though for being too ephemeral.

O - this is a good, sessionable beer, a decently cheap wild fermentation. I wouldn't get it every time I went to The North, but I wouldn't pass on it again, despite the off putting taste.