Apricots Anomalus
Ethereal Brewing

 

Hot off the press, the acclaim of fruit and kettle soured ale gains rapid traction, and the brewers at Ethereal can't sit idle any longer. The stone fruit of apricot has kindled a relationship with naturally born acidity that seems like a marriage made in heaven, and the competent brewers at Ethereal are presiding the ceremony.

Apricots Anomalus' muddled gold color and quickly dissipating head leaves it an ugly duckling, but an initial loosely-knit foam-stance attracts the eye and billows over with fruit aromatics. Leading apricot and mango bleed into lime, green apple and white grape in the way that tightens the jaws and activates the saliva glands ahead of a supple fruity sweetness draws the ire of sweetheart candies underneath the earthen sourness.

The middle palate sheds its sweetness rapidly while its sour intensity builds. The inherent earthy sweetness of apricot additions relax and the sharp sourness within comes charging through. Lemon, lime and white grapefruit buckle with crabapple, sour white grape, kiwi and under-ripened berry for a clean and dedicated sourness that low in complication or polarizing earth notes.

Dry, yet not absolute, the beer's body coddles the acidity that strips the thirst and refreshes the palate with utter ease. Its nearly still texture allows for full saturation of sourness but hinders the beer's bright zip on the tongue. Trailing with the sour stone fruit, apricot and cereal return in a quick aftertaste. Apricots Anomalus is a somewhat one-dimensional sour ale that sacrifices complexity for cleanliness and focus.