Small Batch No. 11: Apricot Sour

I'm probably the wrong person to ask, because I think Ranger Creek has serious QC issues and I've been burned by them with infected beers multiple times, but you asked.

I found the apricot sour to be completely undrinkable. It was neither sour nor apricot - to me it tasted like muddy water, with a hint of raw garbage scent to it. I actually couldn't even force it down, and walked away from my glass at the bar.

I've given them chance after chance, because I really want TX breweries to succeed on principle, but the quality just isn't there, and I'm done with them now.

Your mileage may vary, but this is my personal experience with them.

 

I liked it a lot. I think Ken might have eaten something too hot and ruined his taste buds, but I thought it was a very nice beer. For $7.99 I'd say it's a no brainer, but the bad taste that RC has left in people's mouths still carries over. Their Purple Rhine is pretty damn good too.

 

But you enjoy terrible infected beers haha

 

No, I love amazing beers that have become infected

 

It's good for the price. It's like Spontanframboos; it saves me a trip to Austin.

 

I like it. More Funky than sour right now but give it some time in the bottle.

I'll send this to a trade partner. Proudly.

 

Ha! Don't try to diminish the quality of my taste buds, pal.

I hadn't eaten anything beforehand, so your argument fails. I was really hopeful for this one, but it was just bad. I'll also point out that I had it on draft, and not out of a bottle, so there are other factors that could have influenced that (cleanliness of lines, etc.) but my experience is true.

 

Based off of Ranger Creek's track record, I would say that draft would have made it better than bottles

I wouldn't hold your breath for more souring in the bottle. Unless there is something bad in the bottle, intended sour beers don't normally become more sour in the bottle.

 

These are my thoughts. Shared with the department last Friday night after close. Everyone in attendance was impressed with both. I drag my feet on the #11 at cost alone. $8 for a single 12oz versus $8 for a 4pk of 12oz on the Purple Rhine swings my decision. I'm living on the beer guy budget...

 

Dang, where are you getting 4pks for $8?

 

Apologies, $8.99 cash. Spec's Houston, Austin and San Antonio. And apparently, word's out. It's moving pretty quickly now.

 

Any sightings near denton?

 

blackberry sour was my final straw with them for giving their beer a chance. i thought when fresh sb5 and sb6 were alright but age wasn't kind to them.

 

What I had from a bottle was quite good. I tasted no hints of anything infected-y. It was almost a little too "clean" for a sour, but I expect it will age well and I'll be cracking the bottle I got in 6-12 months.

 

Thanks for the good conversation about our Small Batch Series No. 11 everyone. We're pretty proud of it, but we understand that everyone's taste buds vary. I will say that if you liked Small Batch Series No. 9 then you'll probably like No. 11, too. It's the same base beer aged in the same barrels, we just added a different fruit. We didn't think the blackberry was quite prominent enough in No. 9, so we added more fruit per barrel with the apricots in No. 11.

Although we're not proud of it, we did have some QC issues with Small Batches 1-4. We released these before we had stringent QC practices and our internal lab set up. We've found that the issues are sporadic but most prominent in bottles that have been aged warm instead of cold. Everything from Small Batch Series No. 5 onward has gone through stringent QC tests, and there are no QC issues that we're aware of. If anyone EVER has an issue with a Small Batch beer or any other beers, we are very passionate about making it right. Please email me directly at [email protected] and I'll either refund your money or send you a replacement bottle. We want you guys to be confident that you can purchase or trade our bottles and they'll live up to your standards.

 

SB 11 is great. Tell me more about Sunday Morning.

 

yeah. no. ranger creek doesn't exist as far as i'm concerned.