Peterson Gold
Hermit Thrush Brewery

This was poured into a tulip. The appearance was a glossy burnt orange with a guzzling white head. No lacing. The smell started off with a fresh green apple tartness beating upon fresh subtle vinous to bitter and sour lemon rind, light pulp. Flowing dry woodiness. The flavor takes all of the previously mentioned flavors and combines dry and puckering sour with a semi-sweet underneath. Light grassy hops display a decent balance to it. Dry vinous/tart apple aftertaste and quick semi-sour to sweet finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a nice sipping quality about it due to dry vinous qualities about it. Overall, as an American Wild ale, it works and I could come back to this.

 

First experience with this was at the brewery and the barkeep was awesome enough to crack a cellared can to share with us. It was warm-ish then, but he said it's better that way. It was buttery and oily and funky. Sweet and very good. Let's see how it stacks up cold and properly reviewed!

L - crystal clear deep gold. I mean, I'd hope it's gold based on the name. Minimal head and has surprising legs for the low ABV.

S - tart and pungent. Immediate lemongrass and straw. Developes into penetrating isopropyl alcohol that clears the sinuses right out! Fermented fruits. Apples and pears.

T - lemon candy. Warheads! But restrained on the sourness. The initial punch would suggest blow-your-balls-off tartness, but it quickly dries up and reveals the Granny Smith and Golden Delicious apples. Funky but not barnyardy, if that makes any sense. Faint hints of butter and Chardonnay and oak. Kinda sweet. Finishes hot and humid.

F - oily and slick. Coats the entire mouth with greasy lip-smacking VT-grown goodness. Low carbonation which I'm a fan of. All too often these wilds and saison are overcarbonated and it hurts to drink. This is juicy and creamy.

O - just as good as I remembered! Getting more crisp, mealy flavors when cold, and it develops into a more sweaty, sticky beer as it warms. Nice sweetness to balance with the tart. Drinkable and tasty.

 

Purchased a single pint can while visiting the brewery.
A - Pours a hazy yellow with a small white head that disappears quickly.
S - The aroma is lemony and funky.
T - The flavor follows the nose. Lots of tartness on the front end with the lemon and funk coming in at the end. The finish has a peppery bite to it.
M - Light mouth feel, medium carbonation.
O - HT calls this a single malt sour, aged in white wine barrels. Works for me!

Was poured for me, so I only can speak to how it arrived. Hazy golden in color, no head. About what you expect for this sort of beer.
Aroma is earthy, a little musty with a hint of acidity
Flavor is a lovely blend of some lemony tartness, with a surprisingly fruity backbone. Decent amount of strawberry, kiwi and grape, Maybe some banana? I presume from the wine barrel. More complex as it warms.
Feel is initially probably a bit over tart, feels a bit heavy on the tongue as well. Not huge issues though.
Very solid beer, probably one of my favorite HT offerings yet.

 

Hermit Thrush Brewery "Peterson Gold"
Pint can, no production code or freshness dating
$7.49 @ Beverage Warehouse, Winooski, VT

Appearance: Mainly clear gold until the yeast is added, at which point it becomes very hazy. The initial bubbly bright white head rises up steadily as you pour, and then settles a little bit slower as it sits. Lacing, as you might expect, is extremely limited.

Aroma: Tart fruit, wood, earth, straw, a tiny bit of "horse blanket". Really rather clean.

Flavor: As the aroma suggests: tart, fruity (apples, pear), gently oaky, and very mildly funky over a mildly sweetish grainy malt base. There are no hops to be found - they might be contributing to some of the earthiness, but none are direct (which is as it should be, this is not a hoppy sour). It's not really bitter, but the acidity and dryness of the oak are more than enough to balance it and leave a dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Light to light-medium in body with a light tingle on the tongue due to a mild carbonation level.

Overall: Remarkably easy to drink. Zippy and refreshing, but also interesting because of the oak.