Rum Barrel Aged Tropical Gose
Blue Stallion Brewing Co.

There's no way that a sour German ale could link up well with rum barrels. Right? Never underestimate the brewing prowess that comes when Blue Stallion Brewing teams up with Wilderness Trail Distilling. On thing's for sure, that Leipzig styled gose never saw this coming.

Picking up a lot of caramelized color from the barrel, the Rum Barrel Aged Tropical Gose pours a chestnut bush color with a fairly light haze. As a short lived froth builds on the beer, the nose leads with a gentle sweetness and spiciness of rum with a twinge of citrus and tropical succulence and sourness. And that shy caramelization shows up early on the palate with a toasty, nutty taste of cashew, candy and sourdough.

As the flavors unfold on the middle palate, the caramel gives way to the natural fruit flavors of cider, wine, lime, lemon and passionfruit. As the nutty cocktail-like taste steers from the normal taste of gose, the barrel brings a surprising flavor of candied apples with a light simmer of classic rum alcohol and peppery spice.

The sour ale picks up a slight heft as it takes on new lift which jeopardizes its refreshment and effortlessness on the palate, but its added complexity is charming as it fares much better than once believed.