War Llama
Ethereal Brewing

 

Looking at the board for a beer can be daunting when you don't know what you want. And as the bartender approaches, the need to speed up the ordering process starts to mount. Sour or bitter? What to choose? At Ethereal Brewing you can have both in the same glass.

War Llama and its pale gold, hazy austere teases the nose with a sparkling character of tart cider, berries and white wine while a more floral hop nose suggests citrus and tropical fruit that hovers above a fast fleeting froth. Mild sweetness of light honey, angel food cake and lychee bring a hurried sweetness to the early palate.

As the ale splashes the middle palate with acidity and bitterness, the bulk of malt sweetness is ushered away and the brisk sourness and hops dual for attention. Grapefruit, orange, passionfruit, kiwi and papaya are all pitted against green apple, white grape and gooseberry for a yin and yang tandem of tastes. As the palate dries in the end the bitter resins and sourness are even keel and moderate through a quick aftertaste and refreshing finish.

Medium light for sour ale, the beer's brisk taste is refreshing but lacking depth. The schizophrenic nature of the beer brings up the need for either the IPA or the sour ale to take the lead which they never do. Where one sees balance another sees lack of hierarchy.