Queen Of Tarts
Karl Strauss Brewing Company

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From:
Karl Strauss Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Wild Ale
ABV:
5.7%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 10.51%
Reviews:
8
Ratings:
26
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 15, 2020
Added:
Mar 05, 2012
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  2
A dark sour ale with lightly roasted malts, dark fruit flavors, and a tart finish. Aged in American Oak barrels with Michigan tart cherries. Took home a gold medal at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival."
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Rated: 4.18 by Wontonst from California

Jan 15, 2020
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Reviewed by BillRoth from Maryland

4.38/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Had on tap at SD Taproom during recent SD Beer Safari. Really enjoyed this. To me this was an excellent alternative to RR Consecration. Can see why blind tasted GABF team loved it. Will do side by side next time. I like Karl Strauss but expectations are modest...was not expecting such a rich complex tart ale from them.
Feb 17, 2019
 
Rated: 3.69 by Ice_Cream_And_IPAs from New York

Jun 24, 2018
 
Rated: 4.27 by CScott12 from Michigan

Apr 29, 2018
 
Rated: 4.05 by mdfb79 from New York

Oct 13, 2017
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Reviewed by rickrem from California

4.15/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
On draft at Karl Strauss brewing in Anaheim.

Paired up with chocolate brownie and ice cream.

In a nutshell, adult cherry cola.

A bit lighter in color than that, slightly more amber than red.
Very slight carbonation but enough to give it a bite.

Cherry comes through with a nice tartness without being too sour nor sweet.
Sep 02, 2017
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Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.15/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
this is maybe the surprise of the year for me so far, never thought much about these types of local chain breweries, but this is outstanding. an oud bruin type, really funky and sour at the same time, super clean bacterially with a wooden funk as well, mature and dry and still very malty, aged in oak barrels with tart cherries, which add a few dimensions but dont overtake a very competently made base beer, this really impressed me, and i see why it won the gold medal that it did! some cocoa and wood on the nose, the brown ale aspect is still there despite how obviously sour this is. super citrusy sourness takes over in the taste, really puckers me up, but the cherry tartess is right there with it before the oak and the malt finally catch up. its cool because so much of the sourness is in the middle not the end. its not overly fruity, and has an almost brined character with it. sweeter to finish, and sort of thin in body with high carbonation. its cool how clear and refined this is, a lot of these look and feel sloppy, but this is majorly dialed in. i havent had many beers from these guys, but this one is awfully inspiring. gorgeous liquid, better than many old world takes on the style even. wow!
Jul 03, 2017
 
Rated: 4.1 by rand from California

May 01, 2017
 
Rated: 4.12 by Gagnonsux from Texas

Mar 12, 2017
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Reviewed by BeerStud187 from California

4.18/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Queen of tarts?!? More like Queen of Farts!!! Actually had twice. Once really good, once terrible. Not the same beer, different flavoring. The first was a well balanced, nice pumpkin sour, that highlighted the sour, not the pumpkin. The second was a sickly sweet cran/apple mess that was sour enough to be interesting, but not good enough to be memorable. I really didn't enjoy it, like I did the first time and don't believe they were the same thing. Never been a fan of KS beers, but their buildings are beautiful. I hope their beers can catch up some day.

Update: Had again at the brewery, not the seasonal release at Eureka. Very good. I rescind my former review. Maybe, not the most consistent release, as can be with many sours, but very good when done right. Nice tart cherry and oak flavor. Not sweet cherry at all, tart cherry. If you’ve only had cherry lollipops, this is a very different beast. Well done!
Jul 22, 2016
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Rated by retry4z from California

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Deep amber, moderately tart sour, with notes of cherry, pomegranate, and lime.
Jul 19, 2016
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Rated by wethorseblanket from California

3.78/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Reviewed from notes taken during Churchill's 2012 Sour Fest.
May 14, 2015
 
Rated: 3.53 by largadeer from California

Mar 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by westcoastbeerlvr from California

Mar 21, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by akang from California

Nov 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by BreweryRun from California

Nov 09, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Zbeetleman from California

Jul 08, 2013
 
Rated: 2.75 by t0rin0 from California

Apr 10, 2013
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Reviewed by jvillefan from California

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A: A dark brown with a tinge of red. No head is present.

S: Extremely mild aroma. Almost nothing comes off this beer.

T: There is a caramel body with a tinge of tart and sour.

M: Thick silky body with decent carbonation.

O: A good beer but it could be better.
Mar 04, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by tjfinkle from California

Nov 26, 2012
Queen Of Tarts from Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 26 ratings