Righteous GOALS
Castle Island Brewing Co.
- From:
- Castle Island Brewing Co.
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- Wild Ale
- ABV:
- 5.3%
- Score:
- 91
- Avg:
- 4.22 | pDev: 5.21%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 1
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jun 29, 2018
- Added:
- May 04, 2017
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 4
SCORE
91
Outstanding
91
Outstanding
Sour Blonde Ale with Guava
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by ichorNet from Massachusetts
4.41/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.41/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Went to Castle Island's newly-opened taproom recently (right before We're Funk'd fest, actually) with friends, and was happy to take home a can of this, a sour ale with guava clocking in at 5.2% ABV, given to me by my buddy Dan! Thanks dude!
Pours a beautiful pink-tinged golden color with almost 100% opacity and a thick, surprisingly retentive head. Lace is even really solid here. The only misgiving is that, in spite of its hazy appearance, there are quite a few specks of black matter on the bottom of the can. I assume this is guava puree that has remained throughout the brewing process, but it's a bit unsightly and takes down the overall average. However, before reading the rest of the review, you should know that this is the worst thing about this fantastic beer. Now, let's continue!
Nose is nearly pure, unadulterated guava juice with a tangy, lemony lacto quality that works perfectly with the base. I get a bit of pineapple, mandarin orange and blood orange here as well. Strong dry cereal element in the nose too... wheat and oats. Smells like Lucky Charms! Honestly, even though there isn't much here, the fact that they totally nailed the guava element is worth the price of entry on its own.
Flavor is similar, with bright, sour, tropical fruit ranging from mango to guava to passion fruit with a puckering, orange-driven acidity that lasts from the beginning of each sip to the finish. Very puckering, full acidity here. Doesn't just taste like a quick sour, even though it probably is. This almost has the complex acid profile of an Allagash-esque barrel/foeder aged sour, in my opinion, it just doesn't have as much lingering flavor as those tend to. Still, what a delicious, drinkable and expressive brew.
Feel is teetering between light and medium, with a solid and serviceable carbonation that lasts for most of each sip. Love the tangy acidity and solid treatment of the fruit flavor here. Not much to complain about here, overall. Pretty much sits within the upper echelon of fruited sours I've had recently. Would love to crush a bunch of these on a Summer day.
Jul 21, 2017Pours a beautiful pink-tinged golden color with almost 100% opacity and a thick, surprisingly retentive head. Lace is even really solid here. The only misgiving is that, in spite of its hazy appearance, there are quite a few specks of black matter on the bottom of the can. I assume this is guava puree that has remained throughout the brewing process, but it's a bit unsightly and takes down the overall average. However, before reading the rest of the review, you should know that this is the worst thing about this fantastic beer. Now, let's continue!
Nose is nearly pure, unadulterated guava juice with a tangy, lemony lacto quality that works perfectly with the base. I get a bit of pineapple, mandarin orange and blood orange here as well. Strong dry cereal element in the nose too... wheat and oats. Smells like Lucky Charms! Honestly, even though there isn't much here, the fact that they totally nailed the guava element is worth the price of entry on its own.
Flavor is similar, with bright, sour, tropical fruit ranging from mango to guava to passion fruit with a puckering, orange-driven acidity that lasts from the beginning of each sip to the finish. Very puckering, full acidity here. Doesn't just taste like a quick sour, even though it probably is. This almost has the complex acid profile of an Allagash-esque barrel/foeder aged sour, in my opinion, it just doesn't have as much lingering flavor as those tend to. Still, what a delicious, drinkable and expressive brew.
Feel is teetering between light and medium, with a solid and serviceable carbonation that lasts for most of each sip. Love the tangy acidity and solid treatment of the fruit flavor here. Not much to complain about here, overall. Pretty much sits within the upper echelon of fruited sours I've had recently. Would love to crush a bunch of these on a Summer day.
Rated by Draughtfiend from Massachusetts
4.68/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.68/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Bright sour with guava. Crushable and light. A must try.
May 24, 2017
Rated by Smcavoy from Massachusetts
4.04/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.04/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Very tart and sour finish. Notes of passion fruit. Light and crushable, but only for those who really like tart and sour ales.
May 23, 2017
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