Sour Inc - Apple Rhubarb Gose
New Holland Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

Welcome to the first beer in my New Super Michigan Beer Bowl Sunday (Week 728)! Hang on, 'cause it's going to be a wild ride today.

From the Bottle: "Apple*Tangy*Crisp"; "Proudly Brewed in Holland[,] Michigan".

I began by Pop!ping the cap & performing a slow, gentle C-Line pour. I was pleasantly surprised when it foamed up to form just over two fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, bone-white head with above-average retention that left nice lacing in its wake. Color was a gorgeous Golden-Amber (SRM = > 5, < 7) with NE-quality clarity, leading to a visit from The Gelt Gang of Croesus, Midas & Mammon, all hoping for a taste. Sour? Nose was certainly giving off a tanginess & when I leaned in for a sniff, I really got apple vinegar! Phew. My late Pops used to tell of a time, during his annual check-up, that he passed out. In being revived, the smelling salts melted & went up his nose, REALLY reviving him! This had a scent that was going to stick with me for a while. Phew. Mouthfeel was kinda thin & watery, but that is par for the style's course. The taste was both tart AND sour! First, my lips puckered from the tartness of the rhubarb but then I got a definite sourness in the hinges of my jaw! Once I got over the initial onslaught & the panic of not having taken my acid reflux meds, I was good. Actually, I had awakened due to pangs of GIRD & took a pill before beginning this beer. Boy howdy, the taste was like sour green apples & I'm not talking Granny Smiths. This was the sourness of underripe apples that will give you a tummyache. Tart, sour, apple vinegar with a hint of salt for good measure. Phew. This is way outta my comfort zone, which is why I generally eschew Tarts & Sours, but I can still appreciate them when they come my way. I liked the inclusion of both apples & rhubarb, an unusual combination as compared to strawberries & rhubarb. Finish was dry, almost vinous in a dry white wine way. Mymymy.

 

 

 

 

 

Gose, berlinerweiss, wild ale... as the lines between these popular sour ales continue to blur, many don't remember what the difference originally was or how to honor those flavors in the current craft beer market. But New Holland gravitate toward the reasonably sour, briny, wheaten origins that truly make gose unique, albeit with a fruity upgrade.

Foggy gold and topped with a rich cottony froth, the spirited Sour Inc (Apple Rhubarb Gose) leads with a citrusy, cidery, berry-like twang along with the brisk brine of sea air that drift along the nose. Light sweetness captures an essence of sourdough, saltwater taffy and gentle bready sweetness.

As the ale washes the middle palate, the omnipresent fruit flavors gain command of the tastebuds with the apple character bringing a strong taste of cider, white wine and agave. Underlying fruit flavors that are more natural to the ale support the apple with gooseberry, lime, lemon, passionfruit, yuzu and white grape. Deeper into taste the tangy red berry character of rhubarb shines with redcurrant, strawberry and cranberry. A rounded salinity decorates the late palate along with the sour earthiness of under ripened citrus, matcha tea and margarita.

Medium light in body but reasonably full for sour ale, the moderate attenuation of the beer allows a soft wheaten pillow of malt to continue to temper the effects of acidity from start to finish. a brief aftertaste of salt and sourdough outlasts the linger of fruit but barely while stripping the thirst with ease.

 

 

 

Decent crisp gose samples on tap at Knickerbocker New Holland. Nice golden color with a little lingering head and very spotty lacing. Smells of tart apple and a little caramel, tastes similarly along with some smooth grain and malt. I don’t really taste the rhubarb although there is definitely a nice tartness that isn’t too mouth-puckering. Just a little too sweet for me. Smooth mild mouthfeel, great carbonation.