Megatrajectory
Speciation Artisan Ales

Gorgeous plum coloring, fully opaque, with a half finger of bright white bubbles on initial pour. Spots of lacing down the glass. Abundant carbonation. Beautiful beer and pretty much everything you could hope for, looks-wise, from a cherry-focused wild ale. Maybe just a touch muddy, if I'm nitpicking.

The "pastry sour" and vanilla labeling had me a little nervous that this thing was going to be overly sweet, but that worry went away the second I brought the glass to my nose: bright acid and vinegary funk. Wonderful natural cherry rushes in after that first blast of funk, with some delicate citrus and just a slight touch of vanilla and light baking spices poking through. Grassy and floral. Light and bright.

Really wonderful and interesting taste profile, even though there isn't a deep bench of varied components in play. Acidic and juicy, just a touch of semi-sweet natural cherry to bring balance to the sharp tartness and pucker, with a slight twang of balsamic vinegar that's followed by pleasant grassy and herbal notes. I definitely get a slight cherry pie vibe, which I assume is the vanilla at work, though I don't taste the vanilla explicitly like you do in so many vanilla-forward (often vanilla extra-forward) beers. Gives you a good sour punch for those looking for the funk, but it's also incredibly delicate and easy-drinking. Quite lovely.

Light-medium bodied with ample carbonation that gives it a nice silkiness. The sour funk and acidity provides a tactile aspect to the feel as it coats the teeth and tongue. But still effervescent and bright.

Winner all around.

“Pastry sour ale with cherries and vanilla”

Not like the pastry sours you’re used to. A very tart almost black cherry juice flavor with a subtle vanilla finishing acidic sour base and lemon juice. Overall, excellent and very distinguished “pastry sour ale”.

 

 

 

Sarah says smells amazing. "I could just smell it all day. That's gooood". Smells very funky, like the 70s.