Yalla Yalla (Centennial)
Half Hours On Earth

 

Appearance: Clear and effervescent golden yellow, with a generous two finger plume of chunky and fluffy white head, leisurely dissipation, and leaves behind small patches of doily-type lace all around the glass and surface.

Aromatics: More resinous and rich earth notes than it's Mosaic sibling. The fruit notes are more tart and less citrussy. There is a little of the same tart farm yard smells; but more towards a warmed grain and hint of hint of piney alcohol (I mean a hint, so subtle I would normally pass it over).

Taste: Super tart. The sweetness is only their as a taming agent if it even bothered to show up for work at all. Like a fresh squeezed lemon juice with cool refreshing spring water, almost aquifer-like in it's mineral tang on the palate.

Mouth: Medium body with a very active carbonation. As I mentioned there is a tanginess that usually comes with minerals in water and it makes for an interesting sensation like licking the ends of a nearly dead 9V battery. It's zappy bt not enough to be called electric. The finish is clean and dry. Next to no residuals aside from the moderate decline of lemon acidity.

Overall: Tried this after the Yalla Yalla Mosaic - but not as a comparison review, just to see how different and similar they were. Overall, this was a really great farmhouse sour. If you like upfront and bold sour this is a great. I think I prefer the Mosaic a bit better though - this Centennial version had a fantastic sour, but the depth of flavour was a little washed out or out-shined by the sour for me.

Pairing: This sour is sharply tart and can handle a good heat punch in the face. I'm definitely thinking something Southwestern full of a variety of peppers and chunks of slowly pit roasted smokey and tender meats (i.e. beef). A good chili or black bean soup would probably do the job just right. A good char on the meat with minimal sauce will keep the sour in the beer as a co-conspirator in the flavour enjoyment realm of things.