Black Cap
Mainstay Independent

 

A single pour easily emptied a pint can into a clear glass liter mug. It's quite carbonated, but there's no head. The beer is reddish orange and although very opaque, it is relatively bright. It smells very much like a black raspberry fruited sour. To taste, the berry flavor is overpowered by a woody, maybe tannin-like flavor. That likely provides the sourness, as the black raspberry provides some tartness. Despite relegating the fruit flavor to a secondary tier, this is a very good sour. The abundant effervescence adds toward making this a very enjoyable pint. A little more raspberry flavor couldn't have hurt, but this is good as is. No head and no glass lacing belie that for its style, the body is more than adequate. It was nice to see some sediment collecting at the bottom of the glass during the short time it took to get there.

Mainstay Independent "Black Cap"
16 fl. oz. can without production codes or freshness dating
$3.25 @ Kunda Beverage, King of Prussia, PA

Notes via stream of consciousness: This is a black raspberry sour ale. I'm not sure if it's kettle soured or if they've used Philly Sour yeast, or even something else. It's poured a very hazy pink colored body beneath a short head of white foam that receeds fairly quickly. For sour beers that's common. In the nose it's a little mineralish and fruity, and I'll say it's berry-like with pears. On to the taste... it's tart but not too tart, and quite berry-like but without being too clearly blackberry. There's also another note that's unusual, it's like an undertone of almond. That might be coming from the malt, or a combination of the malt and fruit, or even just the fruit, who knows? It's unusual but quite pleasant. It's not bitter but none is needed as the acidity is enough to dry it in the finish, and overall it's really nicely balanced and highly quaffable for a sour beer. In the mouth it's medium-light in body and gently crisp and then smooth. As a whole this is a great fruited sour that's certainly worth checking out.
Review #8,300