Blind Tiger
Sons of Kent Brewing Company

500 mL bottle from the brewery; I don't see a packaging date. Served slightly chilled.

Pours a clear medium golden colour, kicking up more than two fingers of creamy, foamy white head that steadily recedes over the next five minutes or so. A thin, frothy collar and some filmy wisps on the surface are the only survivors, with scant lace deposition. The aroma is moderately sour - lime juice and lemony lacto-sourness are both readily evident, but I'm also getting notes of wood, orange peel, tree bark and herbs, as well as rather subtle hints of bourbon and cinnamon.

A neat little beer, sour at first with a spicy conclusion. Flavours of grainy malts, whiskey, lime and lemon come through initially, followed by hints of wood, vanilla, cloves and tree bark. Clove, cinnamon, orange peel and cardamom creep through on the tail end of the sip, which remains relatively sour into an herbal, spicy aftertaste with a touch of whiskey. Medium in body, with middling carbonation that provides some spritz to this brew's slick, smooth mouthfeel. Limited drinkability IMO - 500 mL is more than enough for me.

Final Grade: 3.98, a B+. With a beer like this, my first question is always "was the gimmick successful?" Blind Tiger's flavours are reminiscent of a whiskey sour, albeit with the whiskey flavours toned way down, plus the addition of bitters (which are not typically an ingredient in said cocktail). It's an interesting beer, and a unique one at that - or at least, it was to me, as I can't say I've come across any other whiskey sour ales during my tenure as a BA. It's definitely not a beer I feel the need to drink on a regular basis, but if the concept intrigues you then I'd say it's worth the price of admission.