Great River Barrel Aged Farmer Brown cans. Infected?

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by WYVYRN527, Jun 1, 2013.

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  1. WYVYRN527

    WYVYRN527 Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2007 Minnesota

    This beer just came in at our store today. I was excited to try it and I picked up a four-pack when I went home. I opened one can, and it smelled wonderful. Bourbon and vanilla character, with lots of roasty notes on the nose. However, when I took a sip, it was sour as all hell! I thought at first it might just be the one can, but I opened another and it was just the same. I don't think the brewery intended for this beer to be sour, and I have contacted them about it. I'm curious as to whether or not anyone else has dealt with this issue with this beer.
     
  2. randjuke

    randjuke Zealot (608) Feb 13, 2010 Iowa
    Trader

    I bought a four-pack (in Rock Island) and have tried one so far - it was pretty sour and I drain-poured it. Hopefully they aren't all that way.
     
  3. minnesotaryan

    minnesotaryan Initiate (0) Dec 27, 2010 Minnesota

    that sucks, I don't know how a brewery can put out so many infected beers and stick around?
     
  4. match1112

    match1112 Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2011 Illinois

    Stopped buying their beers over a year ago because they all had a slightly sour metallic taste to them.
     
  5. incutrav

    incutrav Initiate (0) Jan 16, 2007 Minnesota

    See multiple threads about all the infected redband. This comes as little surprise from this brewery
     
  6. BarrelAgedBarry

    BarrelAgedBarry Zealot (639) Feb 27, 2012 Minnesota

    From The Four Firkins facebook description:
    "This is FARMER BROWN ALE from Iowa, aged in whiskey barrels. It's for people who enjoy tart, nutty, cherry-like flavors. The barrels were full of those wonderful yeasts and bacterias that add the lactic and puckering flavors all of those sour-heads like so much.

    In addition to the above flavors, I also get a hint of whiskey and almond in the aroma and flavor. It's in 4 pack cans, and available for a very limited time!"
     
  7. jera1350

    jera1350 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,181) Dec 15, 2007 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah

    After reading that, people will like it now.

    Same beer- unintentionally sour= drain pour, intentionally sour= delicious!
     
    stbroome and BarrelAgedBarry like this.
  8. sacrelicio

    sacrelicio Pooh-Bah (1,838) Feb 15, 2005 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah

    Here's the thing though: aren't barrels supposed to impart a bit of sourness? Granted, you don't want super sour flavors, but a bit is to be expected.
     
  9. sean_mpls

    sean_mpls Initiate (0) Sep 11, 2012 Minnesota


    I guess I don't attribute any oak flavors to anything considered sour. Vanilla, toast, tannic astringency etc.
     
  10. incutrav

    incutrav Initiate (0) Jan 16, 2007 Minnesota

    I have a hard time buying this infection was intentional. Probably should market the coffee stout as such too
     
    Chaz likes this.
  11. randjuke

    randjuke Zealot (608) Feb 13, 2010 Iowa
    Trader

    Uh no, most barrel aged beers aren't intentionally meant to be sours, or at least if they are they're marketed and described as such. Sounds like Four Firkins is making lemonade out of lemons.
     
  12. Chaz

    Chaz Grand Pooh-Bah (3,668) Feb 3, 2002 Minnesota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Good marketing advice right there -- I'd say they owe you a complimentary 4-pack for that. :sunglasses:
     
    incutrav likes this.
  13. ben4bier

    ben4bier Initiate (0) Mar 3, 2013 Minnesota

    I was going to make a joke about the possibility that it is actually an oud Bruin.
     
  14. GFG

    GFG Initiate (0) Oct 24, 2012 North Dakota

    I don't think we get the barrel aged farmer brown, but I have had a lot of the Dirty Blonde Chocolate Ale, which I've thought has been a consistently good beer. Something different than most anything I've tried before.
     
  15. aliving1

    aliving1 Initiate (0) Aug 3, 2011 Minnesota

    Drinking one right now. Definitely sour, barely get any bourbon barrel smell. Still somewhat drinkable if you like a sour brown ale. Glad they were selling singles at Andy's in Roch.
     
  16. GFG

    GFG Initiate (0) Oct 24, 2012 North Dakota

    Would love to try. I loved the sour brown I had from Jolly pumpkin, but never had a bourbon barrel aged brown sour.
     
  17. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    I bought this at Zipps, and when I called to inform them that I suspected infection they told me they knew about the issue, and that the distributor had been sent an e-mail from the brewery that said that the beer had been oaked more than anticipated, and this had given in a tannic/over-oaked flavor. So this is why the beer is sourer than intended, and that it is perfectly acceptable to sell. The guy at Zipps said he hadn't liked the beer either, and originally thought it was infected...even offered to give me my money back on it. I declined, as I was just calling to let them know of my suspicions, and it especially isn't their fault when they're being told they won't be compensated, as the beer is fine.

    Anyway, I have very little doubt that this beer is infected, and the brewery is just trying to save some money by not recalling it.

    The beer shouldn't ONLY be sour...which it is...very.
     
  18. Can_if_you_can

    Can_if_you_can Pooh-Bah (1,571) Mar 15, 2012 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah

    great lakes is one of my favs and continues to be. best plain coffee stout ive tried out of about 12 or 15 and the cheapest! also there hippopotamus is great along with the normal farmer brown, this one should have a little more bourbon flavor than it does but a good sour never hurt no 1!
     
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