Dry Hopped Oak Theory - Amarillo & Motueka
Casey Brewing & Blending and Barrel Cellar

6.21.16

 

Leaning lemony, tangy and bright, the oaked sour ale of Casey that plays the hops field, stops in for a Ménage à trois with his good pals of Amarillo and Motueka lupulin varieties.

With a zesty pop of the cork and a funky fresh perfume swirling about the moment, a party is on the way. Canary straw, foggy and frothy, the beer leads with the spritzy tang of citrusy lemon with strong suggestions of white wine, cork must and weathered woods. Its taste is supple and wheaten with hints of confectioner's sweetness and pastry racing across the tongue.

Graciously tart and swooning the senses, the sweetness and breadiness drifts away effortlessly and allows for the beer's more winey personality to show. White grape and riesling brings a sparkling white wine character to the forefront of complementary citrus flavors of white grapefruit, tangy under ripened oranges and limey citrus. Dried pineapple, gooseberry, passionfruit and kiwi bring a more exotic nuanced set of complexities that develops effortlessly into a leathery, hay-like finish.

Medium bodied yet trending dry, spicy and sour, the ale's creamy starch from malt makes a return in finish for a kiss of sourdough and lemon meringe, albeit bitter with grapefruit peel and dry hay. Wood spices with hints of white pepper help to create a sense of dryness that facilitates the sourness and piquant alcohol heading into a brisk aftertaste of bitter wine and sea brine.

 

From a 750 ml bottle (bottled June 21, 2016) to a tulip glass.

A-The corked and caged bottle opens with a healthy pop but there is no gush. A normal pour produces about a half a finger of white head that fades immediately to a thin film that hangs around for a while. No lacing. The beer is very cloudy and bright banana-yellow in color.

S-The aroma is a pungent and tart mixture of dry hopped Amarillo and Motueka flavors. I sniff sour lemon, pineapple, a light vague pine bitterness, some tangerine or mandarin orange, and a bit of floral flavors. It leans towards tropical, but not overly so. This smell indicates a decent bit of acidity.

T-The taste follows through on that acidic promise. Lots of pucker, but the acidity is fruity and the flavors play well together. I taste lemon, mandarin orange, some lime (especially on the finish), pineapple, lychee, and a bit of floral character. There is a pithy orange-rind bitterness as the beer warms.

M-The body is moderate in heft with a higher volume of carbonation. It dries out on the finish and the sourness pulls at my glands.

O-This is a pretty tart example of a dry hopped beer, but a tasty one, regardless. I like both of these hops and I can taste them clearly despite the high level of acidity. Good stuff.

750 mL bottle. Hazy orange. Almost no head. Smells of pungent hops. Orange, lime, woody, and a little acidic. Tastes sour right up front. Strong oak. Lime sourness. Strong orange hop flavor. Oaky finish. Medium body with low carbonation. Very tasty, as always from Casey.

 

Bottled on 06/21/2016, enjoyed on 11/20/2016.

Thanks Keith!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

L: Slightly Hazy, straw gold color with a small white head and no lacing.

T: Lemon and Brett, mixed with a nice pine sap, pine needle note. Tart and sour.

S: Lemon and some berries, mixed with a strong sour and tartness. A light toasted malt backbone.

F: Light body and high carbonation.

O: Another very nice beer from Casey.