Wa Wa Zat
Roak Brewing Co.

 

Being from and living in Michigan I have tried a lot of beers that do their best to incorporate the cherry taste. Typically it comes across fake, like when they don’t have cherry coke at a restaurant the bartender mixes coke and grenadine together.

This beer is not that. The cherry is subtle but noticeable. It’s not fake. It tastes natural and real. The sour base to begin with is well executed. I’ve tried a few dozen new beers this year and so far this is my favorite. If you can find it I promise you will not be disappointed. It’s a 5 out of 5 across the board for me.

 

16 ounce can into tulip glass, canned in 6/2019. Pours slightly hazy golden/orange/amber color with a 1 finger fairly foamyh and fluffy off white head with poor retention, that reduces to noting pretty quickly. Minimal spotty lacing on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big sour/tart/tangy red/black cherries, fruit skin/pits, raspberry, lemon, lime, tangerine, red grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew melon, guava, blueberry, gooseberry, citrus peel/zest, red/green apple, white grape/wine, peppercorn, pine, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, light musty/lacto funk, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of cherries, fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops, and moderate pale/wheat malt notes; with big strength. Taste of big sour/tart/tangy red/black cherries, fruit skin/pits, raspberry, lemon, lime, tangerine, red grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew melon, guava, blueberry, gooseberry, citrus peel/zest, red/green apple, white grape/wine, peppercorn, pine, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, light musty/lacto funk, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate fruity/lactic tart/sourness, fruit tang; pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, grassy bitterness; and peppery Brett spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of sour/tart/tangy cherries, fruit skin/pits, raspberry, lemon, lime, tangerine, red grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew melon, guava, blueberry, gooseberry, citrus peel/zest, red/green apple, white grape/wine, peppercorn, pine, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, musty/lacto funk, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of cherries, fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops, and moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; with a great malt/tart/sourness, tangy fruit, and bitter/spiciness balance; with no puckering/astringent flavors after the finish. Moderately crisp/clean finishing. Moderate increasing dryness from lingering tart/sourness, tangy fruit, bitter/spiciness, and carbonation after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth and moderately bready/grainy/acidic/tangy/tannic balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5.2%. Overall this is an excellent sour IPA. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of cherries, fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops, and moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, clean, and pretty refreshing to drink with the modestly bitter/acidic/tangy/spicy/drying finish; not overly lactic. Feels like Citra/Mosaic dry hops. Very Juicy/jammy cherries, vibrant/dank/earthy hops, and Brett/Lacto complexity; with a great clean pale/wheat malt backbone against acidity. Minimal residual sweetness with crisp dryness. A very enjoyable offering, and impressive style example as expected.