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Cartel Brewery

 

Poured a cloudy golden body with two fingers of thick white head that slowly receded leaving abundant lacing. Overall impression of appearance is of a very nice beer, fitting into a Geuze-like mold. Scents of earthy, barnyard wild yeast, moderate levels of grapefruit peel, grapefruit flesh, honey and apricot and a slight enteric off-aroma. Overall impression of aroma is of a rather nice fruity, but moderately earthy sour ale. A fairly good example of the style brought down by the enteric aroma. Flavor begins moderately sour with notes of barnyard and earthy wild yeast, hay and lactic sourness along with a soft sweetness from malt and a hint of citrus, mostly lemon. This is brought down a bit by a light enteric character that is inappropriate. Middle picks up in sourness, let also in the enteric character, mingling with notes of grapefruit flesh, lactic sourness, tart wheat malt and light grapefruit zest. Finish is sour with notes of grapefruit flesh, tart wheat, lactic sourness and a light enteric character. Aftertaste is tart with notes of grapefruit flesh and grainy wheat. Overall impression of flavor is of a fairly good American sour, with the addition of grapefruit on clear display. A very nice sour, unfortunately brought down somewhat by the enteric character. Mouthfeel is light bodied with high carbonation and a crisp, quenching feel. Overall impression of mouthfeel is of a good sour, quite nice. Overall this is a fairly good attempt at a sour by Cartel. The aroma and flavor are almost there, but unfortunately it stops short of excellent due to the enteric character. Mouthfeel is true to form and pleasant and this is worth trying overall as an interesting, almost Berliner Weisse-like American sour.