Silhouette - Coffee & Cream
Hudson Valley Brewery

 

 

 

 

Smell: Huge earthy peppery coffee notes jump out to me at first. That is followed by some familiar sour notes. Lemon, lime juice, sour candy. The coffee is really noticeable and takes over the nose. The sour notes make it feel like I’m smelling two different coffees that have been blended together. There isn’t much of a sweet note coming of at all from the milk sugar. The nose isn’t the most pleasant that’s for sure. That peepers coffee is a bit off putting.

Taste: This is a complete switch around from the nose. The sour notes really dominate the palette upfront and into the middle back end. Upfront I’m meant with notes of lime, lemon, and orange. These notes carry into the mid palette and start to become more tart. There’s is also notes of ripe peach, kiwi, green apple, pear, and mango. There is a mellow sweetness that must be from the milk sugar. It’s just kind of there and lays a bed for the beer to rest on. At the backend of the mid palette into the finish is where you start to get the coffee notes. The coffee is really earthy but also has a natural acidity that isn’t there because this is a sour. It taste like a really bright beautiful acidic coffee on the backend. The aftertaste is a mix of acidic coffee and tart fruit. The blend of sour and coffee is unique and beautifully executed on the palette.

Feel: Medium mouthfeel with a medium amount of carbonation that adds a bubbly vibrant feel. This beer feels really bright and alive on the palette. The mouthfeel is perfect for the style.

Overall: Smelling this beer I expected this
To be bad. The nose is off putting that peppery coffee just completely takes over. The taste though is completely different. Everything works and comes together in harmony on the palette. For such a unique combination it’s crazy that Hudson Valley nailed this so well. If you like sour beer and coffee try this. This beer is awesome!