Luminous
Ithaca Beer Company

LuminousLuminous
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From:
Ithaca Beer Company
 
New York, United States
Style:
Wild Ale
ABV:
6%
Score:
94
Avg:
4.23 | pDev: 8.98%
Ratings:
110 | reviews: 12
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 05, 2017
Added:
Apr 04, 2014
Wants:
  35
Gots:
  15
Luminous is a golden wild ale brewed with wheat and aged NYS hops. Fermented for over a year, this ale is a delightful meditation on uninhibited life; a celebration of esoteric flavors. Enjoy the simple, yet intriguing pineapple, cherry, mango, and hay aroma complemented by a bucolic funk. All cushioned by a dazzling effervescence and a light tartness, a truly wild ale reminiscent of the pastoral landscapes surrounding the Finger Lakes. ABV %6.0
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by utopiajane:
Photo of utopiajane
Reviewed by utopiajane from New York

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Nixon said I am not a crook and I am saying "I am not a homer."

Gosh this was a fantastic sour beer. i waited for the hype of the release to die down and then went to the bottle I had in the fridge. Beautiful appearance. Hazy , golden. As though someone had taken the sun out of the sky and put it in the glass. Fizzy fat head of off white foam that popped and did not last. Nose is striking! It's as though they have bottled sweet and fresh air. it's PRistine with a touch of woody sweetness. The kiND of sweetness that would attract a bumble bee to wood.l SoME brett and a bit OF bread. These do no compete in this beer. The funk is funky and light and the bread has a bit of honey and both are content to be equal. Then the fruit. Lemon and mango. The lemon is rendered into this beer perfectly with all it's facets, from tart and sour lemon juice to the sweet peel. The surprise is the tropical mango. At first it shows itself like a bit of tartness and you raise an eyebrow but as the beer warms it appears to ripen right before your eyes.

This beer has a vinegary backnote and beautufully bold acidity that is ultimately enveloped by deep sweetness that ultimately cannot compete with the earthiness. If you will notice, my tasting notes have no distinction between nose and taste. That's damn fine beer that lives right up to itself in every way. This beer creates tension on the palate like the best and most boldly acidic red wine and it is succulent and invigorating! I lvoe this.

Thank you @cavedave for taking me to the release for this beer where I met lots of people whom I hope to see much more of.
Apr 26, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.1 by emerge077 from Illinois

Mar 05, 2017
 
Rated: 4.28 by logicalparadox from New York

Dec 06, 2016
 
Rated: 3.85 by drewone from California

Aug 16, 2016
 
Rated: 4.02 by AMCimpi from New York

Aug 10, 2016
 
Rated: 4.19 by GDawgs34 from Georgia

Apr 11, 2016
 
Rated: 4.31 by Bunuelian from Minnesota

Apr 04, 2016
Photo of Alieniloquium
Reviewed by Alieniloquium from Florida

3.89/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
750 mL bottle. Orange body. Lots of carbonation. Smell is a touch oxidized. Tropical fruits. Wine. Taste is oaky. Sour. White wine. A little sweet. High carbonation. Straightforward sour. Heavily oaked. Classic golden sour style. At first I wasn't thrilled, but it's a very pleasant sour. Nothing that will knock your socks off.
Feb 09, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by cp45 from New Jersey

Dec 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.29 by stephensinner from Missouri

Nov 22, 2015
 
Rated: 3.52 by dfhhead25 from Pennsylvania

Oct 08, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by mendvicdog from Maryland

Oct 06, 2015
 
Rated: 3.92 by BMart from Pennsylvania

Oct 05, 2015
Photo of mtomlins
Reviewed by mtomlins from Canada (ON)

3.65/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Big thanks to UncleJazz for the bottle!

Pours a hazy, yellow-orange with a fizzy, white head. The nose hits with nondescript citrus and some sourness. The taste is of lemon, citrus, pale toasted malt, acidic sourness. It is highly carbonated with a medium-light body. This is an enjoyable beer, but it seemed a bit one note, simple when paired against other wild ales.
Jun 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4.19 by tobelerone from New Jersey

Jun 02, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by waddellc2 from Pennsylvania

Jun 01, 2015
 
Rated: 3.66 by Beer4B from Florida

Apr 27, 2015
 
Rated: 4.35 by ToddThompson from North Carolina

Apr 27, 2015
Photo of ironchefmiyagi13
Reviewed by ironchefmiyagi13 from Tennessee

4.68/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Been sitting on this since the release, and boy let me tell you I'm glad I did. The reviews from when it was first release do not do this justice to where it is now.

Nose is very tropical. Citrusy and bright with acid and more rustic funk.

Carbonation is wonderful; probably my favorite of the beer. Swirl it around a couple of times to get off the 'intense' carbonation and afte that it is world class.

Wish I had more of this. Don't worry people, this beer appears to be getting better with age.
Apr 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.57 by 1424IpA from California

Mar 20, 2015