Tasteful Deception
Common Roots Brewing Company

 

 

Having only had hoppy beers from Common Roots thus far (and having found several of them to be very much in the realm of "needs improvement"), I'm uniquely poised to review something outside of their norm... I haven't even had their Coffee Cup imperial stout yet, as I've been banking on some consistency with their offerings before venturing into stronger territory. This, then, seems like the best litmus test for the brand... a beer fermented with a mixed culture of yeast and bacteria which has been "carefully dry-hopped." I'm excited to give it a shot!

The pour here is a dingy peach-tinged yellowish color with a thin but retentive head of crowded bubbles that form a solid crown around the rim of my glass. Though I find the completely-hazy body to be somewhat unsightly at first glance, turning my attention to the interesting color seems to negate this minor fault. It's not really a solid hue but more of a gradient when held up to light, and it looks pretty unique in all honesty. Several small islands of foam seem to accumulate and form on the surface here, and decent legs develop as the thin head fades to a quarter-finger. Pretty solid, honestly.

The scent here is chock-full of hoppy notes that bring forth suggestions of guava, passion fruit and grapefruit peel along with some dense cider-like and Sauvignon Blanc elements that are positively mouth-watering. Very fruit-forward and deft from my initial sensory experience!

As for the flavor, it's really solid and about what I expected from what the scents detailed above seemed to be suggesting to me before I even put my glass to my lips. Strong tropical elements wash over the palate, giving off strong mango, guava, papaya and passion fruit flavors while a nice, tart acidity follows through towards the finish. Lemony and clean with a sharp zing combining sourness and bright hoppy bitterness. A little bit of a pine-y note lingers after each sip for a few seconds. Great!

The feel here is nice and bright with a round body. Not as thin as it probably could have ended up, which I appreciate. This still has some solid density to it even with the acidity and pronounced hoppy/fruity flavors being focused on so adroitly. Am I a big fan of the "American Wild Ale" nomenclature when dealing with a beer that has nothing "wild" about it? Nope, not at all. Is this good in spite of that? You bet! Looks like it's time to go pick up some Coffee Cup when I next see it, as I have finally begun to fully trust this brewery. Remember: several duds or "meh" beers do not define a brewery... something I should always remember as well.

 

 

Tall can, who among us does not enjoy a well crafted "American Wild Ale" ? Some dating kinda info on the bottom of the can, but I cant make any sense of it. My father used to tell me "Write big, paper is cheap"

Hazed pour, leaves a fine bubble film and very minor spots of lacing.

The nose is loaded up with lime and lemon notes....Bright and pungent sniff.

On the palate its again a load of tart lemon/lime, crisp, biting, refreshing and brightly flavorful....About medium tart, with some drying hops in the finish. Well done and well worth a try

 

 

 

Amazingly refreshing. Slight tinge of hoppiness beautifully balances the sourness. Highly recommended.

Really innovative beer in my opinion. Great balance between sourness, hoppiness and alcohol.

 

Appearance: The slightly hazy amber liquid has a modest head that leaves a few shards

Smell: Acetic lemon tones

Taste: As with the aroma, the acetic lemon tones open up; somewhat biscuity with a sour finish

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Enjoyable and straightforward, a sour that refreshes the palate

A delicious-looking golden orange color with a slim head comes from this pour. The smell is a strong citrus with some hop undertones, and the taste follows suit. This is a delicious, sour beer and is easy-drinking for its level of sourness.