Sawney Bean
Blue Stallion Brewing Co.

 

 

Billed as a sour Scottish ale, the brewers at Blue Stallion show that even though their roots are of traditional Europe brewhouses that their experimentation shows no bounds.

Sawney Bean pours brightly with a golden mauve display and brilliant clarity. Though the loosely knit, white foamy cap quickly succumbs to the acidity within, its sprite personality boasts rich aromatics of red berry, strawberry, rhubarb, kiwi and lime. To taste, the light, fruity, candied sweetness is slight and wafer-thin. -none of which speak to the Scottish ale base beer.

Slowly, the sweetness gives way to sourness as those fruit impressions tighten and become tarter. Musty lemon, lime, green apple and sour cherries and grapes infiltrate the complex sour taste with a hint of candy and steely caramels lingering behind. With a hint of pepper and sandalwood rounding out the balance, the faint sweetness and moderate sourness become supported well.

Medium-light on the palate, the acidic ale pangs away gently on the tongue with its refreshing tartness and effortless drinkability. With the faintest of fruity sweetness lingering onward, its texture is slightly tacky with grain sweetness. Only a slender peated earth and peppercorn character shows its Scottish influence.