Ibex Series: Gin Barrel Sour Gruit
Schlafly Beer - The Tap Room

This beer is quite interesting for a gin barrel sour gruit. Sour is actually very mild. Perhaps the coriander addition, this beer is more like an easy drinking Gose. Recommend, it’s quite tasty.

 

12oz bottle poured into a pilsner glass

A- pours clear golden color with a one-finger foamy white head that has great retention after the pour

S- citrus fruit up front with notes of lemon, orange peel, along with juniper berries. Undertones of gin barrel adds a botanical note, adding aromas of pine, thyme, rosemary, coriander and anise, hint of oak

T- hint of lactic tartness up front is quickly followed by an array of citrus fruit; lemon and orange peel. Mid-palate brings out some gin notes of juniper, ginger, coriander, cracked pepper and a variety of herbaceous notes. The finish is dry, with more lemon and gin on the linger

M- medium-light body with medium bubble carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that continues into a crisp finish

O- very refreshing with just enough tartness, while leaving it very drinkable

Bottle dated 8/2019:
A peach-colored body that fills 90% of the glass. A white foam builds and maintains decently well, but without any lacing to speak of. There are a few particulates floating around like sea monkeys, not sure if the moderate age of the bottle might have helped with that.

Nose has a barrel presence - a light funk with some wooden aromas. The "botanicals" come through as well, as the beer has some floral aspects. There's some juniper included in that, maybe the most identifiable as I know what I am looking for. Otherwise, the astringency of the alcohol from the barrel is absent.

A moderately tart opening shares then yields to the malt in the opening, apricot and nectarine come to mind. A light draw on the tongue gets released as the floral aspects merge, and the beer seems to sweeten lightly into more of a peachy flavor. There's a little numbing action in back that resembles a minty feel, but not a minty flavor. The ending is similar to what I get in the lingering flavors of a well-made (i.e. not strong) gin and tonic - a light lime and juniper linger.

This is another hit for me from an enjoyment point of view. The gin barrel is but an accent [at this age, perhaps], and the flavors all work well together. The beer isn't bold, but is also not weak. I'm actually a little upset at seeing the bottom of the glass, and might grab another after I finish this one.