Half Remembered Dream
Small Pony Barrel Works

750 mL bottle purchased at the LCBO at least a year ago; dated Oct 7 2019 and served barely chilled.

Pours a foggy golden-orange colour, giving rise to nearly a finger of foamy, fizzy white head that lasts for two minutes or so; it leaves little behind, save for a thin collar and an islet of suds in the centre. Downright funky on the nose - oak wood, white grape, floral hibiscus, apple, leather and an earthy, herbal, vegetal note that reminds me of peas. A little bit sugary, too, with vibes of something like bubble gum or maybe Turkish delight - complex, intriguing, enticing.

Very sour right off the bat, with flavours of apple, lemon, peach and raspberry, as well as lots of sour candy sweetness - Warheads, anyone? The oak tannins and Brett funkiness assert themselves more on the back end, which goes from sour & tart to vinous & leathery, with lots of hibiscus, raspberry and sour citrus heading into an earthy, herbal, floral finish with lingering oak tannin and Brett - it's got that palate-desiccating feel/thing going on, which I love in an oaked sour. Medium light in body, with soft yet lively carbonation that gently tickles the tongue, frothing up a bit and giving this brew a pleasing, luxurious mouthfeel. I found this very drinkable, though a serving of this size is obviously best shared with someone who'll appreciate it.

Final Grade: 4.38, an exceptional A grade. Sometimes I worry that I keep stuff in the cellar for far too long. There are just way too many new beers coming out these days, so styles with a reputation for 'lasting' (i.e. certain high abv styles and wild ales/sours) sometimes end up in there for years at a time before I get around to cracking them open. Half Remembered Dream certainly made the best of that situation, because it's one of the best Ontario-made sours I have had in quite some time. Sour, complex, fruity, sweet, funky, oaky - this one has got it all in spades. It's an expensive beer, but I'd buy it again in a heartbeat, and hope to do so again as soon as possible.

 

Had a taste at SPBW; and took a bottle home. My impression of look is mixed. Head was a full creamy small bead (beautiful) but quickly dissipated leaving no lacing as well. Completely MIA. But the light gold brown color from malt and wood was very nice to light. This was enhanced with a light rosey pink hue from the hibiscus. Lovely.
Nose was full of wood and Brett. Not much otherwise, but still attractive. Flavor mimicked nose but the malt and floral flavors also came through. Nicely blended and complex.Very Belgian-like. Body was bright and crisp; effervescent but not distractingly astringent. Overall a very nice interesting tart golden ale that reminded me of some of the multiple barrel blended beers from Flanders. The addition of botanicals was a pleasant contribution. Remain impressed with this very young brewery.

750 ml bottle served cold into a chalice. LCBO purchase for $14.95 CDN. Hope this high price tag portends the calibre of beer. 2018 Vintage.

Appearance -Hazy peach colored beer with pinkish hues. A three quarter finger sparkling white head sits on top but fizzles to nothing inside a minute.

Smell - Sour smelling with balsamic, some subtle notion of raspberries and other fruits and plenty of wood. Rose hips add some fragrance and sweetness in the background and the hibiscus is kind of in there but a touch a lost. Still the balsamic and oak qualities are vaguely reminiscent of one particularly great Flanders Red Ale maker.

Taste - Plenty sour, some general fruitiness that is sour, I get cranberries more than anything else. Rose hips and hibiscus are sort of in there but don't really show through to the flavors.

Mouthfeel - Medium-light bodied, expressive carbonation, dry finish and lip puckeringly tart. Boozy (although not really) and acidic afterwards.

Overall - A very nice if unexceptional American Wild Ale, love the nose and the depth of aroma, and everything else is pretty solid too. Worth a try for sour lovers.

 

Pours a nice hazy rosy pink in color with a very active two finger head. Small collar left on break, a touch of lacing.

Smell is acidy-tart, then giving way to a floral and sweet scent that is reminiscent of rose and berry.

The flavor starts off tart and acidy, giving way to a sweetish middle that ends with what to me is quite nice floral and fruity. The barrel is very subtle to me, but there is some oak there.

Feel is appropriate for the style, and the carbonation is quite active. Finish is tart and fruity to my palate, and definitely dry.

My first beer from this brewer, and I can see why it has such a loyal local following. Quality brew that is quite tasty and enjoyable.

 

 

 

Bottle: Poured a clear golden color ale with a large foamy head with light retention and limited lacing. Aroma of sour notes with light hibiscus with some light acidic notes also noticeable. Taste is also a mix of tart notes with light oak, some hibiscus with tart fruits notes and medium acidity is also noticeable at the end. Body is about average with good carbonation. Enjoyable but acidity is more upfront than expected and hides some of the other flavours.

my first pony. a lot of hibiscus over anything else and carbonation. very decent drinker. stone fruit look.Ordered bottle from the brewery. A good if not so complex one.