Uncle Zester
Siren Craft Brew

Copenhagen 31/3 2024. 44 cl can from Meny, Rotunden, Hellerup. Yellow and orange kaleidoscopic and intricate pattern on the can. It is the 2023 edition that I am drinking.

Pours unclear - almost opaque - golden yellow with a mid-sized white head. Settle s thin, almost transparent later of foam stretching to cover the surface of the beer. Moderate lacing.

Aroma is intense with a light sweet and fruity odor soon overpowered by a strong citric scent. Honey and ripe peach. Citrus in abundance. Oranges and clementine.

Medium strong carbonation. Medium thick, oily, soft, lightly tingling texture.

Flavor is medium intense with a rather strong sweetness followed and balanced by a matching tart sourness. Aftertaste is sour. Lingers for a bit. Finish is rather dry.

Sugary and tart at the same time.

 

A 500ml bottle with a BB of June 2016, so this is well out of date. Acquired ages ago from the Brewdog webshop. The label describes it as a sour citrus braggot brewed in collaboration with B. Nektar; citrus peel was used during the brewing process. It's quite strong, so let's see how it has held up....

A: Poured into a chalice. Bottle conditioned. A rich marmalade-orange hue with faint haze and good carbonation. Yields a minute head of white froth that lasts for a moment before dissipating.

S: Aroma of earthy yeast with hints of musty funk, subtle oxidised malt, a twinge of citrus zest, faint honey and wet cardboard. Underwhelming, though unsurprising given the age.

T: Tastes of oxidised malt with notes of mild caramel, sweet honey, floral hints, earthy yeast, citric sourness, faint zest, a touch of mustiness and mild wet cardboard in the background. Quite sweet, with little bitterness to speak of. I suspect the intensity of flavour has faded somewhat over time.

M: Mouthfeel is smooth and tingly, with soft carbonation and a thick, creamy body that verges on unctuous. Quite astringent; the acidity dries the palate. Aftertaste of citrus sour, honey, oxidised malt and earthy yeast.

O: Interesting - different from most beers I've ever sampled. Looks OK, while the aroma and flavour are an understated blend of musty, earthy yeast, citric acid, honey, oxidised malt and faint cardboard. Nice body. Shame about the head retention but perhaps that's normal for the style. I have no idea how representive of braggots this example is, but it's reasonably drinkable. Probably better when fresh. An intriguing effort.

Pours a deep, clear, honeygold colour. Smells of sweet honey, with a sour tang, a little spicy, citrus and malt. Tastes sweet initially then turns a bit sour, medium-bodied, and slightly grainy at the end; there was a lingering honey-sweetness to it. Velvety, mild-carbonation.

Pours gold with a vary small head.
Aroma of honey, lili pili, funk, marzipan, hibiscus and nougat. Incredibly tempting.
Sour and sweet flavours with an acidity mixing in with the honey. More hibiscus notes too.

 

 

I ordered this not knowing what to expect from a "8.5% ABV sour braggot w/citrus". Nice hazy dark gold color, not much head, and aroma is all orange-pineapple. The funk comes alive in the flavor with bright sourness. Nice fruitiness and tons of fun. Cool colab w/ B. Nektar!