Violet Beauregard
Ethereal Brewing

Becoming quite adept at the sour ale game, Ethereal Brewing goes all blue for a berlinerweiss of supreme tartness and a fruit filled flavor that circulates around the blueberry.

Pouring a blend of purple and mauve, Violet Beauregard crowns with a loose and frothy cap. Tantalizing aromas of the blueberry weave through the common twinges of tartness of cider, wine, citrus and light mossiness. Juicy on the tongue, the fruit juices bring a candied character along with sourdough for a cobbler-like impression.

The ale really opens up once it flushes the middle palate, blossoming with lime, crabapple, white grape, gooseberry and passionfruit. But its the blueberry that commands the taste with its own unique fruitiness that brings a robust taste of rhubarb, plum and blackberry. While the beer trends dry to thwart much of its malt character, a return of sourdough brings a light balance to the bracing tartness on the late palate.

Medium light in body, the robust nature of blueberries allows a greater sense of taste and texture, keeping the sour wheat ale from the premiere sourness of authentic Berlin versions. But its drying track leads to a crisp, clean and highly refreshing session overall.