Shotgun Sour - Red Raspberry, Blackberry
Abomination Brewing Company

 

 

16 ounce can into tulip glass, canned in 11/2019. Pours very hazy deep ruby red/orange/pinkish color with a mall fairly dense and fluffy light pink head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big juicy/tart/tangy red raspberry, blackberry, fruit skin/seed, lemon, lime, orange, peach, plum, pear, melon, red/green apple, red grape/wine, hay, straw, grass, vanilla, cream, wheat, white bread dough, light lacto funk, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of blackberry, raspberry, fruity/acidic yeast, lactose, and bready malt notes; with big strength. Taste of big juicy/tart/tangy red raspberry, blackberry, fruit skin/seed, lemon, lime, orange, peach, plum, pear, melon, red/green apple, red grape/wine, hay, straw, grass, vanilla, cream, wheat, white bread dough, light lacto funk, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate fruity/lactic tartness and fruit tang on the finish. Lingering notes tart/tangy red raspberry, blackberry, fruit skin/seed, lemon, lime, orange, peach, plum, pear, melon, red/green apple, red grape/wine, hay, straw, grass, vanilla, cream, wheat, white bread dough, light lacto funk, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a while. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of blackberry, raspberry, fruity/acidic yeast, lactose, and bready malt flavors; with a fantastic malt/tart/tangy balance, and no cloying/puckering/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering fruit tang/tartness. Medium carbonation and medium-full body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/silky/bready, and fairly acidic/tangy/tannic mouthfeel that is fantastic. Minimal warming alcohol for 6.1%. Overall this is an outstanding fruited milkshake sour. All around awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of blackberry, raspberry, fruity/acidic yeast, lactose, and bready malt flavors; very smooth and pretty refreshing to drink with the mellowly acidic/tangy/tannic/drying finish. Fantastic soft/silky feel from the lactose. Awesome balance of juicy/jammy berries and Lacto complexity; with a great lactose and wheat/oat/malt backbone against acidity. Light residual sweetness with lingering dryness. A highly enjoyable offering, and outstanding style example as expected of the brewery.

Usually when the words of "shotgun" and "beer" come up in the same conversation, memories of frat parties come to mind. But I have a feeling that Abomination has other thoughts in mind, mamely- zombies. Marrying together the flavors of red raspberry, blackberry and sourness, this shotgun of a sour ale is fitting for the un-undead also.

Pastel mauve and cast in a silt riddled haze, Shotgun Sour, the Red Raspberry & Blackberry rendition crowns with a faint rose stained froth and greets the nose with tart red berries, darker berries, cider, wine, citrus and hay. Its taffy-like sweetness is remiss of berry cobbler, pastry and sourdough as the taste is just getting started.

As the flavors wash the middle palate, the fruit flavors intensify and the sweetness starts to fade. Its brisk acidity elevates the red raspberries and blackberries to a nearly blueberry and cranberry status. Hints of rhubarb, green apples, lime, lemon and gooseberry support the actual berry additions as notions of strawberry, rose wine and white zinfidale tease the late palate with a peppery sourness and a piquant alcohol bite.

Medium bodied for sour ale, but quite refreshing and malty-dry for most other ales, the acidity adds a crisp, clean and great sense of drinkability although the beer shies away from the complete dryness of either Lambic of Berlinerweiss. A medium length afterglow of sangria and sourdough once more.