Bel Air Sour | Brooklyn Brewery
Brewed by:
Brooklyn Brewery
New York, United States
brooklynbrewery.com
Style: American Wild Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.80%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Lead by our James Beard Award-winning Brewmaster, Garrett Oliver, our brewers put their collective minds together to conjure up one tasty magic trick—a thrilling jolt of tartness up front opens onto a riot of tropical fruit, courtesy of our lacto, our ale yeast, and a generous helping of Amarillo dry-hopping. Soft barley and wheat malts keep things dry and refreshing, and the whole thing comes together to close with a fine dry finish. Brooklyn Bel Air Sour is racy and maybe even a little bit dangerous, but also effortlessly cool, breezy, and undeniably compelling.
Malts: American 2-row, Pale Wheat malt
Additions: Lactobacillus
Hops: Challenger, Perle, Mosaic, Amarillo
Yeast: Our House Ale Yeast
Original Gravity: 13° Plato
Added by HattedClassic on 03-26-2016
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 240 | Reviews: 65
4.23/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This beer pours a slightly hazy, bright golden color with a 1.5 finger, fluffy, bubbly, bright white head. Retention is well above average for the style and there are sticky chunks and patches of lacing left all over the glass.
Smell is very strong on the wheat and barley, with a hint of acidic lemon sour, and a touch of tropical hops.
Taste is a completely different beast. It starts off much more tart than I was lead to believe from the smell. It makes you pucker a bit, then the sourness and malts have a drying effect on the palate, leaving it primed for an onslaught of juicy mango, pineapple and papaya.
Feel is light, crisp and very dry. Dangerously drinkable.
Overall this beer is excellent. With how many if these I've had over the last two summers, I was shocked to realize that I still hadn't reviewed it.
823 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This beer pours a slightly hazy, bright golden color with a 1.5 finger, fluffy, bubbly, bright white head. Retention is well above average for the style and there are sticky chunks and patches of lacing left all over the glass.
Smell is very strong on the wheat and barley, with a hint of acidic lemon sour, and a touch of tropical hops.
Taste is a completely different beast. It starts off much more tart than I was lead to believe from the smell. It makes you pucker a bit, then the sourness and malts have a drying effect on the palate, leaving it primed for an onslaught of juicy mango, pineapple and papaya.
Feel is light, crisp and very dry. Dangerously drinkable.
Overall this beer is excellent. With how many if these I've had over the last two summers, I was shocked to realize that I still hadn't reviewed it.
823 characters
3.56/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
4.74/5 rDev +20.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
3.79/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Nice sour from Brooklyn. Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a flute - nice big bubbly white head with about average retention for a bubbly carbonated head. Vivid golden color that is only slightly hazy. Looks good. Aroma includes fruit (peaches and some citrus) , some floral hops and tartness from the lacto. Flavor pretty similar. There is fruity sweetness, a healthy amount of tartness and some bitterness from the floral hops. A nice mix, with the tartness being the most dominant. Mouthfeel is light, tart with a nice level of carbonation and a little bitterness. A good take of an Amer. Wild Ale
607 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Nice sour from Brooklyn. Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a flute - nice big bubbly white head with about average retention for a bubbly carbonated head. Vivid golden color that is only slightly hazy. Looks good. Aroma includes fruit (peaches and some citrus) , some floral hops and tartness from the lacto. Flavor pretty similar. There is fruity sweetness, a healthy amount of tartness and some bitterness from the floral hops. A nice mix, with the tartness being the most dominant. Mouthfeel is light, tart with a nice level of carbonation and a little bitterness. A good take of an Amer. Wild Ale
607 characters
4.06/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a grip shaped goblet: color is straw, good effervescence, head is bright white with fine to small bubbles, good 1/2 inch thickness and then lingers well with a spotty solid top and lacing on the glass.
Aroma has great depth - mild tartness with lemon like aromas, then moves to a blend of wheat malt and light spiciness with some additional citrus.
Taste follows with good depth - tart, light sweet, some malt depth and hints of yeast spice. Not a sour bomb or too sweet to cover anything up.
Mouthfeel is crisp, tart, then drying - just well done for the beers' intent.
Overall a good beer with depth of flavor, great aroma and good presence.
661 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a grip shaped goblet: color is straw, good effervescence, head is bright white with fine to small bubbles, good 1/2 inch thickness and then lingers well with a spotty solid top and lacing on the glass.
Aroma has great depth - mild tartness with lemon like aromas, then moves to a blend of wheat malt and light spiciness with some additional citrus.
Taste follows with good depth - tart, light sweet, some malt depth and hints of yeast spice. Not a sour bomb or too sweet to cover anything up.
Mouthfeel is crisp, tart, then drying - just well done for the beers' intent.
Overall a good beer with depth of flavor, great aroma and good presence.
661 characters
3.58/5 rDev -8.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.9/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A - gold to light amber, pours with a good head that sticks around for more than the first few sips. Not bad lacing. Decent activity in the beginning of the pour, less after a few sips. Faintest amount of cloudiness, but you can see through it.
S - stone fruit and an extremely pleasant hit of clove cinnamon and pie spices.
T - sour peach candy, cherry/peach pie
M - Tartness is spot on and not overly so. l, just wish the body was either a tad lighter, or there was a bit more carbonation.
O - A great option for the summer!
530 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A - gold to light amber, pours with a good head that sticks around for more than the first few sips. Not bad lacing. Decent activity in the beginning of the pour, less after a few sips. Faintest amount of cloudiness, but you can see through it.
S - stone fruit and an extremely pleasant hit of clove cinnamon and pie spices.
T - sour peach candy, cherry/peach pie
M - Tartness is spot on and not overly so. l, just wish the body was either a tad lighter, or there was a bit more carbonation.
O - A great option for the summer!
530 characters
3.63/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
4.47/5 rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Really solid sour. Was very excited to see Brooklyn’s attempt at a sour for 8.99 for a six pack at Lowe’s Foods in Chapel Hill, NC.
Pours a hazy smoky golden color, tropical fruit and hoppy taste— very hoppy for a sour. High ABV for a sour. Very enjoyable beer!
269 characters
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Really solid sour. Was very excited to see Brooklyn’s attempt at a sour for 8.99 for a six pack at Lowe’s Foods in Chapel Hill, NC.
Pours a hazy smoky golden color, tropical fruit and hoppy taste— very hoppy for a sour. High ABV for a sour. Very enjoyable beer!
269 characters
3.7/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
4.64/5 rDev +18.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
3.5/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4.34/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
As a fan of sour beers really liked the bel air. Found on a whim and wasn’t disappointed.
91 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
As a fan of sour beers really liked the bel air. Found on a whim and wasn’t disappointed.
91 characters
3.75/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.88/5 rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Bel Air Sour from Brooklyn Brewery
Beer rating:
3.92 out of
5 with
240 ratings
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