(it gets dark outside at night...)
The Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
The Brew: The Dissident 2012 (Flanders Oud Bruin)
Availability: Draft (limited)
ABV: 11.4% | IBUs: 18
Rating: 10/10
Location: The Reservoir (Waterbury, VT)
The Story? After our meal and drinks with our friend Lidia down at Prohibition Pig, we decided to enjoy the beautiful night (the whole trip was clear skies and warm weather) by taking a walk around the neighborhood. We passed by The Reservoir and I recalled someone mentioning the place in one of our earlier beer stops. I recommended we check it out for our final stop before heading out of Waterbury.
Amidst a bustling Saturday night crowd and staff, the gastropub offered great ambiance and a charming environment - the wall of VT license plates was a great touch - with a bottle case that rivals the high-end beer selection of some beverage centers. I was grateful they had a draft beer menu, as the bar was quite crowded at the moment. I was politely given a spot at the bar white deciding, by a couple waiting for their order when my eyes spotted it - The Bruery's Mischief. An easy choice for the last round, but I was soon informed the keg kicked just moments before we arrived... not my luck again. I figured something decent would be going on in it's place, so I asked. Deschutes Brewery's 2012 sour brown ale known as The Dissident.
The Dissident has only been release three times (2008 and 2010 previously) and is Deschutes only wild yeast beer, brewed with Brettanomyces and aged partly in Pinot and Cabernet barrels. This marvelous brew won "The America’s Best Oud Bruin" at the 2013 World Beer Awards. I couldn't believe my luck that this had just been tapped. I ordered my glass of this lauded nectar and we headed out to the deck.
The Beer? Pure sour beer bliss. Deep brown color with hind of ruby in the evening light with a tuft of leggy white head. The taste is beautifully tart and incredibly smooth.
Juicy, sour red fruit flavors dance with mild funk and earth notes augmented by a rich, velvety mouthfeel. Wet and dry at the same time. Aging this sour brown in Pinot and Cabernet is genius. The red-wine influence provides some tannin notes in the nose and taste, while rolling off some of the high level of sweetness typically found in a Flanders.
Distinct sour cherry notes are present deeper through the glass, while the oak notes providing further influence along with a touch of vanilla. All of these complexities bring out the best in each other, equating to a highly drinkable, elegant beer weighing in over 11%.
Highly recommended for any beer enthusiast.
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