Meemaw
Fonta Flora Brewery

4.09/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First of all, awesome name. Second, I had this at the Firestone Walker Invitational 2017. One of the silver linings of being shitfaced at 4am just 8 hours before the festival started for us plebes, is that I didn't mind standing in line in all the highly sought after small brewery project lines with Sheldon.

Anyways, since Sheldon rocked my world with that Crooked Stave sour cherry pie beer, only seemed fitting to check this one out. Definitely has a cherry impression in the appearance color wise. Looks very similar. Very thin off white head 1/6". Aroma hit those cherry pie notes. If you like expectations firmly met thus far, you're happy.

Taste was much in the same, mild pie crust base, minimal funk or oak impressions, mostly some lemon and lime like sour qualities with cherry pie filling on the top. Sourness was middle of the road, I'd say about a 6 on the 10pt scale. Carbonation right on point. They came in with high expectations, and they're totally worthy. I mean, I wouldn't stand in line unless I was hung over, but I can see why there was a line.

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4.12/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This sexy Meemaw has a hot magenta body with an effervescent pink champagne-like fizz that's somehow uncharacteristically creamy. The head loudly dies off with a persistent hiss, taking a bit longer than you'd expect.

Smell is cheesy, slightly woody funk first and foremost--that cheese is of a creamy, gooey and very aged variety--with some faint notes of cherry and lemon lime in the background.

Taste is cherry lime with toasty pie crust and a hint of char or oak or toasted sesame and a slight touch of soft aged cheese. Some cinnamon comes out as it warms.

A crisp, effervescent bouncy body of medium-light weight finishes semi-dry and tingly.

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4.35/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This is one of the better cherry sours I have had. It was really well balanced with lots of sour cherries and good carb. It was almost like a cherry pie with no sugar.

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4.21/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Pours a pink grapefruit color with modest head; strands of lacing along with bunches of soapy bubbles

Smell: Farmhouse funk from the Brett, buttressed by lactic cherry yogurt tones

Taste: The wild cherry flavors are slightly sweet as well as moderately tart and they are present in the profile from start to finish; other flavors add complexity, including farmhouse funk and lactic and acetic sourness; none of these elements are over the top but all of them combine; the tartness lingers, into the aftertaste

Mouthfeel: Medium body with low to moderate carbonation

Overall: Another nice fruited sour from Fonta Flora; nice to see them getting the recognition but miss the days of reasonable waits at their bottle releases

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4.14/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours light orange with a light pink hue. Aromas has an interesting herbal quality with cherry aromas and a moderate lacto sour aroma. Favors of cherry and an herbal bitter quality with moderate acidity.

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4.43/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Saint Somewhere wine-style glass. No freshness date.

A- Pours a bright ruby red color with a 1/2 inch white head that soon becomes a paper-thin ring around the edge of the glass and a tiny center patch of sheer surface foam. Nearly no lacing.

S- Nice fresh tart cherry nose that smells totally natural and has none of that cough syrup-like quality found in some cherry wild ales.

T- Great rush of fresh cherry with a subtle but impressive tartness following. Moderately acidic. The cherry is so vibrant and pleasing with each sip. Hard to pace myself with this one. Light funky twang. The only thing missing for me is any red wine barrel presence.

M- Surprisingly quenching for how tart it is. Medium carbonation and a lightish body.

O- Definitely worth the wait in line and $16 price tag. Look out because Fonta Flora is becoming a force to be reckoned with.

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