Cry of the Blackbirds 2020
Barbarian Brewing

Taster at bottle share. Brownish murky pour, capped with a small airy head. Fruity, berry aroma. Taste is sweet, more mixed berries. Mildly tart and funky.

its possible i had the 2021 edition and not the 2020, didnt look closely enough, but it seems unnecessary to add the newer vintage either way, as it appears they both use wine barrels, boysenberries and blackberries, and wild yeasts. its delicious stuff, puckery and a little flanders type vinegar to it, but its not too sour to drink, as some of theirs can be, the sharpness is okay here because there is some oak tempering it, softening it enough, and the fruit is bold and jammy and sweet enough that the beer comes across as balanced enough, even though there is bold acidity all the way. pretty pinkish purple color to this, jewel tone, not much head, but the color is lovely. the nose, after the sour wave, is tangy and summery from the blackberries, juicy and strong, vinous too from the barrels with some tannins, a hint of vanilla, and something slightly herbal, rubbed sage or something, more complex than a lot of their kettle sours, good funkiness too. the flavor follows the nose, fruity all the way, a currant or elderberry note with this being astringent as it is, but mellowing wood, port wine, and brett. lots of flavor to this, complex and pretty unique, and a fun one to share around the table, maybe not quite as wild tasting as i hoped it would be, but still interesting enough on the ferment to be cool. lots going on but very cohesive funky sour here.