The Dissident
Deschutes Brewery

 

 

*2019 Reserve with Cherries, 10.5% ABV
Look: A fairly clear and light cherry red with a minimal head that suds up quickly and rapidly dissipates to only a ring of film encircling the beer and leaving no lacing behind
Aroma: I could smell it on the pour. Tart pie cherries, oak barrels, lactic acid notes, ripe dark (Bing, etc.) cherries, wood tannins reminiscent of a Cabernet Sauvignon or similar red wine, and wafts of some funky barnyard-like notes
Taste: Ripe dark cherries hit the palate first as layers of woody oak quickly join in the mingle with the cherry. For a split second those notes hold before the quickly building acidity crescendos and as it does, wet straw, some leather, and barnyard notes become evident and hold center stage until cherries reclaim the spotlight and lead to a very tart, spritzy, and acidic finish with zero detectable alcohol heat
Mouthfeel: Light but full, very clean throughout, looks low but drinks like it’s medium to highly carbonated, and wonderfully dry on the finish
Overall: Wow, this is straight up blowing my mind right now and in a very good way. My sister-in-law gifted this gem to me for my b-day and I’d only had it one other time in my life – 2008, when these folks first made it and my palate being much more developed now, I can appreciate how good it is. It’s like a fine, bold red wine meets tart and dark cherry juice, meets Orval – super complex, lots of cherry and oak, some funk, spritzy like a champagne (though not that much so), and absolutely no way to tell that it’s 10.5% ABV. Phenomenal and highly recommended for any Oud Bruin fan out there

This is a 2016. Five full years in the cellar have worked magic with this exceptional ale. Too bad I don’t have a fresh one right now to try it against - the difference is phenomenal. Super smooth and mellow, much less sour but a bit more funky, more juicy dark fruit.

A 1 pint 6 fl. oz. waxed bomber, 2015 Reserve, with a best after date of 30th October 2016. Poured into a Holy Mountain tulip glass.

Appearance: A mostly clear amber brown colour with a one finger beige head that had decent retention and left some nice lacing.

Aroma: Tart, cherry, vinous, light acetone, oak, caramel notes, and a touch of vinegar.

Taste: Lightly sour and tart, cherry, red grape, plum, vinous, oak, caramel, light boozy.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

Overall: ABV was higher than expected, although the waxed bottle probably should have hinted in that direction. There was a slight boozy feel, but despite that it was still smooth, enjoyable and easy to drink.

Four year old bottle.

Nearly flat beer, murky brownish color.

Wonderful nose: moderately sour, with tons of oak, vinegar, tannins, lemon, and cherry.

Flavor follows, although it shows the age and oxidation much more than the nose (surprising, perhaps, given that part of the mystique around a wax cap is that it should help prevent oxidation). Flavor profile is otherwise the same as the nose, along with notes of peach and leather.

Unbelievably drinkable for the high ABV; it drinks like a sour at 50-75% of the ABV.

22 oz bottle, 2015 vintage, poured into a snifter at 50 degrees F:
L - Brown/Red with an off white head that lingered at the edges of the glass
S - cherries, oak
T - medium funk on the nose, then cherries, and oak with wine tannins on the finish
F - light mouthfeel with medium carbonation
O - complex and interesting beer, very good

 

500ml bottle into a tulip. 2019 reserve.

Looks interesting in the glass. Deep, deep, hazy amber body with good carbonation replenishing a creamy, foamy slightly off white head. This head persists throughout, impressive given the abv. Layers of lacing.

Aroma of tart cherry, a little wine, some wood. Manages to smell sour.

On tasting, the sour and tart notes bounce off each other, making for a pleasing blend. Cherries are evident, but not strong or luscious. A little apple at times. It's warm, but the abv seems less than advertised.

Mouth between medium and full. Finish is a mouth puckering tart and sour mix, with a cherry presence.

Overall, one of the better sours I've had. Sour and tart mix sits very nicely on this palate.

Pours a lightish red colour with a medium tan head and left quite a bit of lacing on my glass.

Smells of cherry, oak barrel, some light ethanol, and kind of like a sour vinegar smell.

Taste follows the nose but is even better. Lots of tart cherry and general dark fruit character. Booziness is less pronounced. There's this nice light funk present from start to finish that's more toned down than the brett version but quite pleasant. Alcohol still comes through more than I'd like but It's not terrible. The tartness balances the sweetness and the malt character really ties everything together

Mouthfeel is medium-full with lots of grippy tannins.

Edit: I came back to this a year after my first taste and, now that my palette has developed a bit, I love this one more than ever. Absolute must try! I'm surprised that I think this was worth the money since it's on the pricier side, but this is definitely going in my regular rotation.

 

Was given this as a gift for Father’s Day. Opened it on Christmas Eve . It didn’t disappoint, an amazing cross between wine and beer, only side project approaches this .

Drink it like an expensive wine. Enjoy it slowly, but don't let it get warm.

 

 

 

Sampled in a taster glass from draft at Whole Foods Market on December 5, 2019. Reminds me of Goudenband.

 

Tart and bubbly. Would classify this as more of a cider than beer. Very light and crisp. Head forms well depending on the pour and glass. Lacing underachieves.

 

 

"Best after 10/27/15"; drank 10/15/15 (oops!) @ Fischman's.

Murky red rust appearance.

Minimal khaki head; minimal lace.

Faintly tart dark cherry notes in the nose.

Medium thick mouthfeel.

Dark cherry & raspberry flavors up front; faintly tart finish.

A nice balance between sweet & tart; well done!

 

 

Appearance: Limp brown glass, murky, a thin trace, like a wisp of smoke, of what is probably a bit of foam. Trace of a halo at the edge.

Aroma: Heady, cherry, vinegar, malt, mild floral ester, alcohol, lots of alcohol.

Taste: Puckering sour, lemon juice, cherry skin tannin, vinegar.

Mouthfeel: Thin body, still (no carbonation), oily finish, hot.

Overall: The funk is strong with this one. If you like sour beers, I can recommend it. If you like extreme beers, again a thumbs up. If you like beer? No idea if you'll like this. I like the slap in the face, but sour beers are just too acidic for me and give me heartburn. Been sipping slowly and sharing the big bottle. Respect for a well made beer, but I won't be getting any more.

 

My first oud Bruin. Pours out a sinister dark orange with a tinge if red. It is translucent. Out of wax capped bottle into goblet. Smells like the interior of my church sanctuary after the candles have been snuffed. And leather. Tastes like sour cherry and it makes me pucker a bit. It also tastes like extinguished candles a little bit smoky. Mouthfeel is thin watery and slightly effervescent. Overall I’m trying hard to like this beer and for what it’s worth I can understand if other people like it. I just don’t think cherry is my style. Never had a beer quite like this, but I’ll probably not drink it again.

22oz bottle. Waxed and capped bottle. Bottling date of '10/17/16'. 10.9ABV%.
Clear, deep amber colored body. Initial fizzy light tan head which rapidly retreats. No lacing left behind.
Aroma is candied cherries and oak barrel, with a touch of leather and tobacco.
Taste is both sweet and a little funky. Lots of cherry and the oak barrel contributes. Has that leather and tobacco funk.
Medium mouth feel and a touch of syrup. Lighter carbonation.
Well done funky cherry bomb.

Pours an opaque mahogany color. Smell is berries, oak, vanilla, nuts, earth. Taste is an explosion of berries, nuts, vanilla with some caramel and malt in behind. Very unique. Sour.

Look - hazy dark amber with a slight foam
Smell - tart cherry
Taste - light the scent but not as tart as the smell. Good amount of sweetness to it with some woodiness to it
Feel - full body creamy with a lighter carb
Overall - really tasty

The bottle buried when the cap was popped. Nice burnt orange color with impressive but short lived light tan head. Lot of vinegar aroma at first quickly replaced with oak, also Cherry blossoms , yeast & some Earthyness. Salty-tart with the same flavors detected by the nose. Mild funk. Medium body with good carbonation & not a hint of the 10%. Nice balance of tastes & flavors.

 

Drain pour and I've had and enjoyed this style on occasion.

10/17/2016 bottle stored @ 50 degrees. Poured into a DFH tulip, the first pour had a clear reddish amber color but the second, after being put in a colder fridge was much cloudier with sediment. Both had reasonably sized heads which faded quickly. Smell was very cherry forward with a wild yeast funk. Taste was of cherries on top of a pleasantly sour base which lingered nicely. Maybe this is the perfect age for this because I can't imagine improving on this but this is why we keep pushing the limits.

 

 

Beautiful Amber with off white head that leaves a ton of lacing . Lots of oak on the nose with some overripe stone fruit. On the palate it is reminiscent of some ultra dry ciders I've had. More oak, ropy, and brightens up at the end with some cherry flavor. Smooth even with the carbonation. A great and unique beer. Highly recommend.

 

 

A well balanced Sour. No harsh taste, just smooth and consistent. Had a nice medium dark amber brown color, aroma has faint cherries, with the taste a being stronger, which it should as a 2018. No jarring notes, just a smooth, tart flavor.