Supertramp - Tart Cherry Ale | Flying Dog Brewery

1.84/5  rDev -41.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.75

Nose of faint cherry, sweet malt, hay, slight perfume floral note. Taste bland artificial watered down cherry juice, slight tartness, malts, graininess, light body. Blah!

 172 characters

3.52/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Orange/slightly reddish in color.

Can definitely detect the tartness by the aroma.
Slightly salty like a gose, or maybe its just the sour profile.. i cant tell.

 161 characters

3.47/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz brown bottle, sample from the brewery.

Thin white lace, clear golden rose hue. Smells of a cracker and mild cherry jam. Crisp and light bodied, a little bread with some cherry flavor and a mild tartness. A bit thin and weak about there is enough flavor to get by, just no depth. Refreshing though not noteworthy.

 319 characters

3.73/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

look; pale golden, short head disappears instantly, central eruption of big carbonation with a`few bubbles on the outside
smell; raspberry/cherry, a little wheat
taste, cherry, raspberry, honey, a hint of sour, sweet roll malt
feel; pretty good, medium carbonation
overall; it's not tart, it's a cherry light ale, disappointed about that but a`drinkable fruity light ale

 370 characters

3.3/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

A: Pours a reddish/pink hued copper color with a fingers worth of head that fairly quickly fades down to nothing

S: Cherries and pie crust malt up front, along with some general moderate sweetness. Lightly tart. A lot like cherry pie

T: Starts off with a bit of the tart cherry and maltiness then goes into a some of the sweetness and pie aspect. Finishes with some maltiness

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation

O: A beer for those who want a fruity alcoholic beverage rather than a beer that tastes like beer. Good for those who like cherry pies and fruit beers. If you're not into either, then it's probably better to avoid this one

 645 characters

3.77/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Hey, a tart cherry ale named the same as a great rock band. How bad could it be? I wish mine were colder - I warmed it up a bit and that's not a great idea with this.

So it is a little red - cherries. The head is first rate. The aroma is fresh cherries. Surprise. The taste has a very low hop and yeast profile and a high .... cherry (and malt) profile. Not much "Beer" taste. It's sweet and tart, but delicately so on both fronts. It's a tasty drink. The aftertaste is a clean fruity, slightly sour feeling.

This is a bit of a wimpy drink but refreshing. I wouldn't buy it again for myself but maybe for a wimpy drinker!

 623 characters

4.07/5  rDev +29.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle, poured into a pint glass

Appearance: Pours a pretty, semi-clear, golden/amber color with a quarter of a finger of white-colored head that quickly dissolved away into almost no head what-so-ever.

Aroma: Nice aromas of bready toasted malt, imparting notes of freshly baked French baguettes and biscuits. There’s also quite a bit of caramel and fruity, sour cherries.

Taste: Very nice! Tons of toasted malt up front, followed by lots of brown sugar-like sweetness, some black pepper and a hint of chocolate. The beer finishes with lots of fruity, semi-tart cherries. Quite tasty!

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, crisp and very effervescent as there is quite a lot of carbonation to tickle the taste buds. With an ABV of 4.7%, there is no alcohol on the palate.

Overall: This is a very tasty, very drinkable, very satisfying, very enjoyable fruit beer. Malty, sweet, tart and fruity, with lots of fruit to let you know it’s a fruit beer, but lots of malt to remind you that it’s a beer, first and foremost. This would be a great summer beer!

 1,069 characters

3.52/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

A: Golden high link hues. Good clarity. Tight, fine-bubbled white head sputters out quickly. Rings a thin as a pencil line.

S: Tart cherries on top a very crisp and clean, lightly toasty malt base. Perhaps some grassy hops too. There's not too much to dissect, but what's there is good.

T: Juicy and tart cherry character is the driving force, and it settles in slowly and easily. Very clean. Crackery malt flavors and perhaps some faint grassy hops don't attempt to distinguish themselves, lest they get in the way of the cherry. Lightly grainy and tart cherry finish.

M: Very light in body. Well attenuated and dry. Active and acute carbonation bring deep crispness. A lightly silky malt texture is scrubbed away briskly.

O: It ain't rocket science, but it's good. Don't expect the world. It's a simple fruit beer and should be enjoyed as such. Quaff it and be refreshed, there isn't much to ponder.

 944 characters

3.17/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle from Bert's
Fairly clear medium golden color with a huge frothy white head and lots of carb bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass. Light bready caramel malt and a bit of pomegranate and cherry aromas on the nose. The flavor is cherry wine cooler meets pale ale but without the hops. Medium body, moderate carbonation. This needs something. More hops, tart cherry, something!

 387 characters

2.74/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75

12oz bottle into a snifter. The brew appears a clear copper color with a white head. The smell is sweet with bready to cereal grains and slight cherry essence. The taste is sweet grain and little to nothing else. A light body and moderately carbonated offering. On its own, its kinda meh and a let down. As a post lawn mowing beer maybe it would be more enjoyable. The name however is kinda deceiving as its not tart nor includes much cherry...almost seems like an ajunct lager to put it bluntly. Regardless, thank you Heath for the opportunity to try this.

 557 characters

3.83/5  rDev +22%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Deep orange color, has the flavor of an amber ale, but with a mild sour cherry finish. If it was labeled as a lambic or kriek style ale it would be way off the mark, but it's labrked as a tart cherry ale, which I think they nailed. Think of it like a blueberry ale but with sour cherries instead.

 298 characters

2.96/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.75

Looks like watered down cranberry ginger ale.

Smells like watered down cranberry ginger ale garnished with a maraschino cherry.

Tastes like watered down cranberry ginger ale garnished with a maraschino cherry and a couple drops of lemon juice.

Feels like watered down cranberry ginger ale garnished with a maraschino cherry, a couple drops of lemon juice and a splash of Zima.

Overall, I couldn't classify it as terrible. It's the Kate Moss of fruit beers. In a bad way. Much too thin and watery to support the barely-detectable flavors that are there. At the risk of sounding sexist, this may be perfect for that lady in your life who wants a beer that tastes like a slightly tart cherry wine cooler. I actually didn't hate it, there's just not much substance to like. I could see myself slamming a couple by the pool in mid-July.

 836 characters

3.88/5  rDev +23.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Flying Dog "Supertramp" Tart Cherry Ale
12 oz. brown glass bottle, coded "196A15"
$1.99 @ Total Wine & More, Cherry Hill, NJ

Flying Dog's Supertramp is a straightforward, gently fruity and mildly tart ale. The cherry flavor is clear in that you won't confuse it as another fruit, but far from overdone; and the tartness is just enough to balance the malt sweetness up front (there's hardly any bitterness to it) and then quickly dry it going into the finish. It's medium-light in body with a delicate but effervescent carbonation that combines with the mild tartness to leave it remarkably refreshing. If there's a drawback it'd be that it's fairly one-sided, but as a refreshing and easy to drink spring or summer ale I'm not so sure that complexity is required anyway.

 771 characters

2.87/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Perfect beer for those that are just beginning to cross the threshold of sour beer. It's just tart enough to peak your interest as a beginner craft beer drinker but not tart enough and not involved enough for a journeyman beer drinker to enjoy. Artisans and Savants can pass this one along to interested friends! Even though it was not my cup of tea I still enjoyed it and passed it on!

 386 characters

3.5/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

We actually enjoyed this one. Was different, but in a good way. Not nearly as bad as some of the ratings would suggest. If you like Lambics, sours, etc., give this a try, you won't be disappointed!

 197 characters

2.7/5  rDev -14%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

...and shitty beer night continues.

Random single, label is printed "197A15" and the bottom of the bottle says " 0175 B1 1453". Pours with a plop into a tumbler glass. Body is transparent orange, very little foam that rapidly breaks apart, and no lace.

Smells vaguely of cherry and wet grain husks.

Taste is bland and insipid, again vague cherry and a little buttery Diacetyl on the back end. Flabby, watery feel. Overall the verdict is not good. This is barely tart, with little in the way of fruit flavor to call itself a fruit beer.

 540 characters

2.41/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass.

Crystal bright clear, with a reddish bronze body. Some big cola carbonation but not a lot, rising to a fizzy forming white off pinkish head. Manages about two fingers and dissolves with some snapping carbonation, although a bit slowly. Settles to a thin collar, and mild puck like top. Kind of looking forgettable.

Aroma is not really that great. Cheap candy cough drop cherry but also a bit of vegetative quality. Hints of mild bile like sourness as well, but not a real pleasant bouquet going on here.

Weak bodied on the palate with a very watery distinction, and a messed up flavor. Watery and fizzy cola like body, with a strange cherry quality and an odd sweetness. Tart this is not. Gaseous finish, mixing with an almost hot feeling that almost mimics boozy quality, which is kind of odd for such a low abv beer. A big soda like sweetness just wont go away, and a strange cheap black pepper quality that lingers.

It's neither tart nor dense, and the aroma is pretty bad. This one unfortunately just doesn't cut it, even for a fruit beer. Drinkable, but so is Cherry Coke some would say as well I guess.

 1,171 characters

3.31/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Brewer's Art goblet. Moderate hand. No identifiable date.

A: Rose-colored body with nice clarity. Attractive, clean white head with average retention. Minimal lacing.

S: Faintly tart, somewhat vinous. Sweet cherry. Slightly grainy with some cracker, bread. Overall, nose is quite light.

T: Very mild tartness opens with a watered-down cherry essence. A bit of malt and corn arise, leading into a semi-dry finish. Lingering tang on the palate. No alcohol presence of note.

M: Moderate carbonation with a slight prickliness. Very light body.

O: Feels like a hybrid of a rose and a domestic lager. Flavors are very subdued and seem almost dilute. However, I could see this being refreshing on a hot summer day.

Prost!

 779 characters

3.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

the label calls this one a tart cherry ale, and although i wasnt expecting an epic lambic, i expected more than this. i like the session alcohol level, and thought this might be a nice crowd pleased on a warm spring afternoon, but its just not all that good. very clear in the glass, no sediment at all, and a lot of head. just barley pink in color, as much orange as anything else. it smells mildly fruity, mildly sweet, and plenty boring. there just isnt all that much going on, especially tartness, which i get nowhere in this beer at all. one thing i will say for it is that the feel is nice, light and crisp for a fruit beer, great carbonation, and not too watery in body, so that part is nice, but the flavor just isnt there. faint medicinal cherries, but little else. its spoiled a bit by a slightly richer crystal malt than really jives with the cherry, and there is a weird tannic thing happening for a second in the finish. not at all in love with the recipe. better than other low end fruit beers, but not something i would buy again, but i could say that about almost every single beer i have ever had from these guys. maybe thats why they got out of town here... when your artwork on the label is the best part of your beer, there is a problem

 1,256 characters

2.44/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Pink/rose color and crystal clear, actually with a decent white head that lasts.
Very little nose, light grain and just a hint of cherry.
The taste is similar, lightly cherry-flavored water.
The carbonation was decent, and the watery taste wasn't as thin as I expected.
There is somehow just not much to this beer, and rather disappointing overall.

 348 characters

1.89/5  rDev -39.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 1.75

12 oz bottle into a teku.

Appearance: Pours a clear amber color with slight pinkish hints. Its head is two fingers high and eggshell in shade. The retention is crap, the texture is fizzy like soda, and no hints of lacing stick to the glass. (3)

Smell: This doesn't smell like a tart cherry ale - it smells like a bad macro lager. Huge amounts of earth (thanks, gillagorilla!) and diacetyl dominate, with lesser hints of caramel sweetness and rotten eggs coming through. No hints of cherry whatsoever. Yep, the nose sucks. (2)

Taste: Unlike the nose suggested, I do pick up a faint hint of cherry at first. But not enough. The finish is laden with diacetyl, cotton candy, and cooked veggies. It's way too sweet in general - not in a good way, either. Blech, how did the same brewery that made stuff like The Truth and Horn Dog let this stinker out of the stable? (1.75)

Mouthfeel: It has a sweet, sugary body, which the aggressive carbonation never quite scrubs it off the palate. The unpleasant flavors tend to linger on the palate, killing what might have been something drinkable and refreshing. (1.75)

Overall: This tastes just like a macro lager, with a slight hint of cherry. And not even a decent macro like Yuengling, rather something bad like Corona. I finished this, but barely. Stay the hell away from this one. (1.75)

1.89/5: You're bloody well right to say this blows

 1,385 characters

3.08/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle, with no apparent bottled on date present. Acquired a single bottle of this stuff from the local beer store. My bottle lists a 4.70% abv.

Poured into a La Fin Du Monde tulip glass.

A - It pours a strange coppery body with rosy pinkish hues, two fingers of fluffy pinkish-white head, and some excellent clarity. Has an almost champagne-like appearance to it. Carbonation bubbles lazily floating topside. No real lacing sticks as the thin wispy head recedes. Looks okay.

S - The aroma is a bit on the strange side of things also, and doesn't exactly invoke what I would describe as cherry at all. Semi-artificial fruity pie filling sort of aroma. "Creamy" is the best way I can describe it, I guess. Not perceiving any tartness either.

T - Taste follows the nose - papery & grainy, with some artificial maraschino cherry taste. Very mild tartness is just enough to tickle the tongue, but it fades away quickly. Too much cardboard in this one for my liking.

M - Again, very minimal tart, crisp carb that washes away quickly and leads to a bone dry finish. Very easy-drinking, but not quenching. Low drinkable abv.

Overall, I would definitely recommend skipping this one from Flying Dog. This 'tart cherry ale' isn't doing it for me - I'll wait for them to produce an actual sour beer of quality.

Flying Dog Supertramp Tart Cherry Ale -----3/5.

 1,368 characters

2.11/5  rDev -32.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12 oz. bottle poured into a Flying Dog chalice (196B15, but this just came out so it's fresh)

A: Looks like a golden rosé, with an effervescent head that really just leaves a collar and no lacing.
S: Earthen with a decent tinge of tartness and cherries.
T: Blech! There is nearly no cherry hear. It is all earthen with a weird kind of funk to it. There is nothing redeemable about this beer.
M: A bit aggressive on the carbonation. Quite bubbly.
O: I wish this was a Brewhouse Rarity, but they probably got this from their previous Sour Cherry Ale that was a Brewhouse Rarity. A bad beer has now taken a seasonal spot. This'll probably make some great pancakes.

 674 characters

3.75/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Pours very clear with a small white head. The look is like a pink sparkling wine.

Smell: Light aroma of cherry and sugar

Taste: Tart cherries, but somewhat light in the taste. Much better as it warms.

Mouthfeel: At the least I would say medium carbonation. Mouthfeel is not a silky and smooth as I would have hoped for, but adequate nonetheless

Overall: Definitely not the worst cherry fruit beer I've had, but lacking some qualities. I probably gave this a more favorable rating because I really like cherries. I can taste what they were trying to do here. Oh yeah...and I lovethe name!

 612 characters

2.58/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

Not my thing. The pinkish hue was a sign of things to come. Not really tart at all. Just a lot of cherry and a relatively thin backbone. Like a cherry infused tea?

 167 characters