Sour #9
Hermit Thrush Brewery

Canned 8/29/19 "Happy 25th!" stamped on the side of the can

This is probably the beer I'm most excited for from my massive Hermit Thrush haul. Magic Hat #9 was the 10th beer I ever reviewed on BA. I didn't enjoy it all that much, but I do remember drinking a decent amount of it that summer. A sour version of that beer sounds like a great way to improve it. When I ordered it I wasn't aware that these cans were nearly 5 years old but oh well, apricots tend to age well. Funnily enough this was canned exactly a month after I reviewed the OG #9. If only I knew of its existence back then. Let's crack it open and see what it has to offer

Pours a cloudy deep orange with a finger of soapy off white head that fades to a ring and leaves minimal lacing

This seems promising based on the nose, it's vibrant and tart. I'm picking up on aromas of jammy apricot, sharp oak, mango skin, bready malt, lemon zest, honey, lime zest, apple cider vinegar, and light caramel

Things are a bit subdued in taste, obviously a function of its age, but I can't really complain this is still good. On the front end of the sip I'm tasting jammy apricot, orange juice, mango skin, lemon zest, bready malt, sweet honey, smooth oak, and light wet hay. The swallow brings notes of jammy apricot, orange juice, lime zest, bready malt, mango skin, wildflower honey, tannic white wine, and apple skin

A light medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a slick and sharp beer. Finishes mostly dry and refreshing

Obviously this is well past its prime, but I still love this for what it is and will be happy finishing the rest of the four pack

 

From a 16oz can, undated. Served in a willi becher pub glass.

Pours a lightly hazed orange with a scant finger of fizzy suds. Retention is on the order of a few seconds, leaving a fizzy cap and a super-slippery sheet of soapy lacing.

Nose is tart with a sort of savory-sweet character. Aromas of apricot and mildew.

Taste is entirely in line with the nose sparing me the effort of thinking up a lot of new words: sour, sweet-savory, and acidic. Meaty apricot flesh, wet bread and punky, mildewed wood… and raspberry SweetTarts.

Feel is juicy-slick and medium bodied - maybe a bit flabbier than expected in the style - with ample fine, prickly carbonation. Mouthcoating slickness.

I’m often surprised that ‘sours’ aren’t really sour, just sort of sweet, and vaguely tart. Not this time: this puppy’s legitimately sour. I had just mowed the lawn and wanted something light and refreshing so I grabbed one of mammosilenus’ sours - not exactly what I was expecting, being slightly on the thick-and-slick side and, as noted, actually sour.

Poured from the can. Opaque amber color looks great in the glass. Slight fizzy head on the pour, but completely fades. Smell is dried apricot and acidic like a cider. Sour apricot flavor. Can tell it was foudre aged from the imparted flavors and more sharp sour attributes. Slight bitterness on the sides of the tongue. Light bodied, but the carbonation and acidity build it up after the sip. Overall, an enjoyable experience.

It pours a beautiful aged brass color, very clear, with about a two inch fluffy soapy head. The head falls slowly, leaving a nice layer covering the top, slight cling to the glass. Replenishment occurring from a stream of small bubbles from the bottom.

Yup...apricot smell in spades, no doubt about it. Slight caramel sweetness, a nice bit of malt. Some floral notes and a touch of grassiness. I'm thinking that is the base #9 all jacked up up on the apricots added to the refermentation. Then a cidery sour smell, some woodiness. Interesting mash up, maybe a little apricot heavy.

The taste more or less follows. The initial sip landed me on slightly sweet, I think driven by the apricot. Then a modest, restrained level of sour came in almost like a Cider, layered over a nice bready malt that is slightly sweet. Not a huge hop presence, but a little of that floral/grassy floats on top. And oh here comes the oak...very nice level of woodiness here with a bit of tannin and phenolic zing. Overall, the effect is actually pretty mellow. It isn't aggressively sour, nor is it tremendously complex, but what is in there plays perfectly well together.

Dry...really dry. Fairly thin mouth feel. The acid tingles just a bit on repeated sips, but remains nicely restrained. Carbonation is moderate despite the regeneration thing.

This is a very nice, tasty beer that is well made.

 

 

 

 

A: The beer is somewhat hazy dark yellow in color and has hints of amber hues along with a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a short white head that quickly settled down, leaving a narrow collar around the edge of the glass and delicate wisps of bubbles on the surface.
S: Light to moderate aromas of sour apricots are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell but has stronger flavors of apricots and isn't as sour as one might expect based on the smell.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and somewhat tart on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer doesn't seem to be up to the same level compared to other beers by this brewery but is a nostalgic way to enjoy the classic taste of Magic Hat #9 with some added sourness.

Serving type: can