Phantasma Sour Blend #5
OEC Brewing (Ordinem Ecentrici Coctores)

FB Maple bacon porter. Salted caramel porters. Both are big sweet and what we come to think of in stouts' kissing cousin. Yet, the porter of yore was a blue collar drink: the sharp acetic notes arising from spontaneously evolving interactions with the yeast, etc. Phantasma, a sour porter pays homage to porter's humble beginnings. Cola colored pour, which appears clear; head is small to non-existent but not unexpected. The aroma is sweet: fig jam, fruit chutney, hayfields, berry bushes, and Black Balsam liquor...roasted blonde coffee, cocoa dusted fruit. The beer is naturally chewy from the tannins, but it's the opposite of cloying. Its bright feel and oily body make it relatively light. Maybe it' balsamic vinegar? No, the taste is black currant, tart cherry, licorice, star anise, yuzu, birch bark, pomegranate balsamic. Floral, peppered oak barrels with some ginger, molasses spice component...it has some pop to it.