#308: The Bruery » Sour In The Rye (Wild Ale)

The Bruery » Sour In The Rye (Wild Ale) | ABV: 7.8% | IBUs: 5
If memory serves, this brew has been waiting patiently since my trek to Chicago for a one-off show. Sometimes I can't help holding off on something I'm going to love.

Sour In The Rye is brewed with a substantial amount of rye malt and barrel-aged for over a year. Strong aromas of ripe red apples and concord grapes emit from the deep, transparent amber body and quickly fading white head.

The flavor is a spark to the senses. It's impressively astringent and hot with firm pepper, clove, and herbal character. Bright, sour, and tart flavors follow with kumquat at the forefront with a hint of starfruit and a touch of grapefruit rind. Kombucha and red wine characteristics build as the aforementioned flavors stack and feedback on one another, finishing with a drying, velvety mouthfeel.

Sour In The Rye is an assertive, deftly sour American Wild Ale with plenty of body and a touch of heat. Looking forward to hunting for more of this fine, unabashed brew.

#307: Almanac Beer Co. » Golden Gate Gose

Almanac Beer Co. » Golden Gate Gose | ABV: 5.0% 
I figured I'd start the weekend off right with a stop into Ithaca Coffee Co. as they had a several lines of Three Heads Brewing. I quickly and delightedly changed my mind once seeing 'Almanac Golden Gate Gose' scrawled on the chalkboard. Almanac recently arrived in our area and while I was able to secure a bottle of Farmer's Reserve Blackberry earlier in the week, this is my first round with Almanac on draft.

Golden Gate's nose is fairly transparent, with mild mineral and apricot notes. A fizzy inch of white head quickly fades atop a hazy, light-amber body.

Onto the palate, it's smooth & tart and far silker than many of the recent American goses. Soft coriander and a touch of salt start things off, blooming into champagne-like notes threaded with distinct apricot flavors and a hint of nectarine and lemon zest. It's bright, prickly, and tart, yet rich & full bodied. Golden Gate is a solid Gose for the colder months - a cozy Gose if you will.

#287: Bandwagon Beer 5th Anniversary: Winter Brown, Chai Chili, Barleywine, Sourmash Pale

Sunday after Big Day In was our local Bandwagon Brewpub's 5th anniversary. I kicked off the afternoon with my partner and a close friend up from Baltimore, carefully selecting my favorite BWB, their Barreled Blond Ale (sour, red wine-barrel aged), then into the new anniversary beers.

(via BWB Facebook page)

Winter Brown Lager | ABV: 7.7%
I figured I'd start in somewhat easy, since it would be a long afternoon in the basement. Brewed with traditional British pale malt & chocolate rye, this winter pours up a hazy, light brown. There's herbal flavors threaded with rye spice and hints of cocoa powder. Lightly carbonated and refreshing with a mildly dry finish. Roasted & tasty for a solid start.

Chai-Chili Porter | ABV: 5.9%
I was going to wait on this one, given it's adventurous nature, but someone overheard our discussion of it, and a taste came my way. It's a deep red-brown with a chili & vegetable green pepper nose with a touch of brown sugar. Down the hatch, it's quite tasty with an unabashed amount of heat. Big cinnamon & chili notes kick your palate with a massive, mile long finish. The Chai provides a skeleton for this tornado of a beer to remain steady.

Bandwagon Barleywine | ABV: 9.2
BBB#1 was a Bandwagon Barleywine (different batch & brewer if I recall), so it was fun to see this pop up on the anniversary list. Surprisingly drinkable for a barleywine which has been aging for a year. It's a deep, opaque brown with a ton of fluffy, mocha head. Candi, soft hops, and fruitcake grace the nose followed up by beautiful flavor. It's heaven for a second, then dries with dried red fruits and a touch of heat. Light & not too sticky. A solid, enjoyable BWBBW.

Sourmash Pale Ale | ABV: 6.4%
I'd been eyeing this one the whole day. Head BWB brewer Stephen Bareford's sours are what have brought me back to regularly visiting the local substreet brewpub and Sourmash is right up there with the others.

A transparent straw body and soft, tropical aromas start the tasting. While wafting, I'm told this one has been aging 6 months since I first tried it. Tropical hop notes slam with soft sour lime and lemon. It's mildly astringent and exactly what I've been looking forward to. It aged beautifully and was a wonderful edition to the anniversary line-up.

I also snagged a glass of their Russian Imperial Stout, which was incredibly solid as well. Great job & happy anniversary to the whole BWB crew!

#284: Ithaca Beer Co. » Sour Pi (Sour Ale)

(apologies for the blurry pic... t'was a busy night!)

Sour Pi (Sour Ale) ABV: 3.8%
Stopping in for soup & brew at Ithaca Beer's Taproom on the even of Big Day In (a day fest run by the not-for-profit I head up), I'm caught up enough to relax for a moment before jumping onto the next errand. I'd heard about Sour Pi, Ithaca's most astringent brew yet, clocking in at an apt 3.14 (get it?) pH. It's a kettle sour, fueled by Lactobacillus.

My 13oz glass is filled with a golden, glowing brew crowned with fluffy, fizzy, fading white head. Introducing itself with an intriguingly astringent note, wonderfully tart flavors follow, while retaining a surprisingly wet mouthfeel and a pleasant, crisp bite on the finish. Notes of lemon, mineral water all refreshing and damn tasty. I skipped the syrup, opting for the full acidic experience.

I'd initially planned on just the one brew, but realizing it'd been a mouth & a half since I'd visited, the always friendly and wonderful staff served up another 8 brews... (see next post!)

#282: Wild Beer Co. » Somerset Wild

Wild Beer Co. » Somerset Wild (Sour Pale Ale) ABV: 5.0% | Rating: 8.6

This is my first foray Wild Beer Co.'s strikingly packaged series of brews. I picked up three wild/sour ales from the UK-based crew while in Buffalo, each adding it's own unique flare. This particular, self-described sour pale is spontaneously fermented with the yeasts & bacteria found on the grounds of their Somerset orchard.

The head rises quickly, still in the bottle, stopping just short of making for some unwanted clean-up. Poured up, there's voluminous, but quickly fading white head eagerly bubbling atop a transparent, white-wine like body.

Lively champagne and dry, farmhouse cider notes are out in stride, carrying along a whiff of pale hop bitterness.

The flavors are extraordinarily tart and dry. Not necessarily astringent, instead overtly crisp and clean. Crisp Gala and other tart apple flavors quickly dance with green grape and soft lemon notes.

Somerset Wild is highly acidic throughout and looses carbonation relatively quickly. On the second glass, it's a touch sweeter with a hint of earthy tones, but still clean with just the slightest mouthcoat.

Overall, an interesting brew. Not the most notable wild, but well-executed. I can't say I've stumbled across many English spontaneously fermented brews from an orchard, so points for creativity. Recommended for any fans for Dogfish's hybrds, dry farmhouse ciders, or aridly dry white wine drinkers.

#276: Crooked Stave » St. Bretta (Winter)

Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project » St. Bretta Citrus Wildbeer (Winter)
ABV: 6.8% | Rating: 9.5/10

After a successful week of recording, wrapping up the initial legwork of booking for Big Day In and a four evening fest around the Ithaca International Film Fest, I was in the mood for something special. Shortly after grabbing  and uncapping this winter edition of St. Bretta from the beer fridge, it was immediately apparent I'd made the proper selection.

This 100% Brettanomyces wild bursts out of the gate with a fruity, funky nose. Ripe, fresh berries slam with orange, must, and that unmistakable Brett aroma. There's even a hint of green apple.

After several enticing whiffs, my palate is struck by incredible, piercing flavors of tart grape and kumquat. This winter edition is incredibly sparking and bright for a dark beer.

Robust sour cherry and big green apple notes rise further through along with shy notes of lemom and a lively, dry finish. A hands-down, goddamn great beer and a must find for another round.

#273: Bandwagon Brew Pub » Sour Tripel

Bandwagon Brew Pub » Sour Tripel | ABV: ~8% | Rating: 9/10

Early last week, I found my way to REP Studio in Ithaca to record for my upcoming solo split cassette. The studio just so happens to be located above Bandwagon Brew Pub, so after a successful session, I took my engineer, and friend, down for a celebratory draft brew.

To my elation, BWB had yet another short run sour on, this time a Tripel which was brewed as a one-off for Belgium Comes to Cooperstown.

Unfortunately, the usual accompanying picture absolutely did not come out this time around, but this Sour Tripel was a glowing translucent amber with a finger of lacy, fading lacy head.

My palate gleefully enjoyed incredible fruity flavors, firmly threaded with must and Brett dryness in the finish. Throughout the glass, this tripel was incredibly juicy and drinkable with mild spice notes peaking through later on.

Another impressive brew showcasing Bandwagons resurgence thanks to head brewer, Stephen Bareford.

#264: Bandwagon Brewery » Sour Blonde

Bandwagon Brewery » Sour Blonde (Aged - Wine Barrels, 4 Months)
ABV: 6.0% | Rating: 9.0

It's been... a while since I've posted about Bandwagon. Over the last year or so, I've personally found many of their draft offerings - their own and others - inconsistent, young, or even occasionally disappointing. I hate to hate on local, so I keep my blog mouth shut from time time to time. Their beers that are on, are really dead on, so I always keep a hopeful, open palate.

It was time for some post-birthday shenanigans with some very close friends who recently turned 21 and were up for exploring a bit of what downtown Ithaca had to offer for beer.

I snagged a flight of top notch brews from Cortland, Dogfish, Troegs, and the only flight that included this sour as I will always try a sour, from any brewer. I was glad I did this time around especially...

This fantastic sour kicks off with an earthy funk of Brett and backed up with firm, supportive malts. The funk really gets in there, in the nose, taste and exhale.

Notes of white peach, sour white grapes, and wet hay make for a killer tartness amongst heavy easters and a chalky dry finish. Way in the back there's even notes of sour dark cherries and red wine notes.

Once again, when Bandwagon is on, they are really on. A sour worth seeking out.

#237: Brasserie Cantillon » Cantillon Gueuze 100% Lambic

After finding the Dogfish Head restaurant in Rehoboth Beach, DE was closed, we received recommendation to hit up Pig + Fish. While a delicious Bouillabaisse and mushroom bruschetta immediate jumped out from the food menu, I initially found their beer menu lackluster, still reeling in my frustration about DFH. My partner, thankfully pointed out the back of the beer list which featured their reserve bottles. One bottle of the Cantillon, please!

Brasserie Cantillon » Cantillon Gueuze 100% Lambic | ABV: 5.0% | Rating: 9.9/10
This 100% lambic Gueze is a hazy, filtered, deep golden color with a wet must nose and a hint of sour tartness.

The taste is divine - literally one of the best beers I've ever enjoyed. The tartness is perfect, blooming into soft vinegar notes and tangy fruits. Earthy, herbal spice notes creep in, threaded between sour apple, green grapes, and a touch of sour cherry, all wrapped in a solid wheat backbone.

The finish is absurdly enjoyable with an everlasting exhale of esters and fine funk. Distinct notes of lemon and pith rise further though and a slight spice heat.

Overall, a top-notch, well balanced sour that keeps getting funkier and funkier until the last drop. World class and worth seeking out! 

#231: Shmaltz Brewing Co. » He'Brew Funky Jewbelation '14 (Strong Ale)

Shmaltz Brewing Company » He'Brew Funky Jewbelation 2014 (Strong Ale)
ABV: 9.4% | Rating: 9/10

This year's Funky Jewbelation blends up...

Jewbelation Fifteen (Aged 18 months)
Messiah (Age 3 months)
Bittersweet Lenny's RIPA (Aged 12 months)
Reunion (Aged 6 months)
Origin (Aged 6 months)
Rejewvenator (Aged 6 months)
Death of a Contract Brewer (Aged 4 months)

...aged 35% in bourbon barrels and 65% inf rye whiskey barrels.

Presented as a dark, murky brown with an ever-staying ring of off-white head; a huge, boozy nose kicks this year's Jewbelation off with a bang, touched with cherry and dates. The flavors follow suit and are surprisingly and deliciously sour.

Big, bold, sour dark-cherry bliss right here. It's chewy, intense, but expertly well-balanced. The best quick comparison I could give on this is an American Strong Ale and Oud Bruin hybrid.  It finishes up dry, with plentiful dark fruits including cherry and pomegranate, with a touch of champagne and a healthy hint of rye and bourbon.

Overall, it's considerably more fruity and sour than 2013 and less of a booze-heavy sipper. A tasty, strong/sour hybrid.

#222: Westbrook Brewing Co. » Gose

Sour & salt in the afternoon...

The Brewery: Westbrook Brewing Co. (Mount Pleasant, SC)
The Brew: Gose
Availability: Cans & Draft (Seasonal, Limited)
ABV: 4.0%
Rating: 9.2/10
Location: Home
Found: Fingerlakes Beverage Center

It was unexpectedly nice that first warm day of April a few weeks back and perfect for relaxing with a beer out back, the vegitation still brown and yellow, but the promise of lush green in a few more weeks is delightful.

I was lucky enough to snag two glasses of  Westbrook's wonderful Gose on draft earlier in the month, in a rare post-work minute to relax before evening events. I stopped into Fingerlakes Beverage and though I was lucky enough to pick up their final can of the stuff, only to be even more enthralled they still had a six-pack in the fridge.

This Gose pours up with a fizzy, white head over a hazy, unfiltered straw body. Mild salty and sour notes punctuate a yeasty nose.

The taste is wonderfully astringent. Biting tartness, a quenching aspect, and drying salt all vie for its defining characteristic. Strong lemon and wheat notes are present amidst a slight earthiness, as well backed by a light body and bone dry finish. Further through, notes of unripe white stone fruits are apparent.

Overall, a fantastic Gose, perfect for a warm, relaxing afternoon.

#219: Brouwerij Strubbe » Ichtegem's Grand Cru (Flanders)

A high-end, Belgian sour adventure...

The Brewery: Brouwerij Strubbe (Belgium)
The Brew:  Ichtegem's Grand Cru (Flanders)
Availability:  Bottles, draft
ABV: 6.5%
Rating: 9.2/10
Location: Tap & Mallet (Rochester)

After my cousin's birthday, with kids, we decided it was time for the adults to unwind and headed to Tap & Mallet for a few rounds. Round #1 was Shmaltz's He'Brew Jewbalation 17, which I completely through it had a write up for, but C'est la vie.

Recalling a few other recently wonderful Grand Cru experiences, I decided to b-line it to Strubbe's Ichtegem for the second round.

The brew starts off with an potent nose of earth, funky cherry, and vinegar. The flavor is tart, with an unusual and blanketing mouthcoat. Every note seems to counter the next from a dry mouthfeel, augmented by sweet notes of sugarcane to herbal and savory spices peaking through determinedly astringent sour fruit flavors.

Ichtegem continues into Belgian extremes with notes of vinaigrette, red wine, funky raspberry, overripe fruit, all laced with a mild acidity and bitterness. This is wild Belgian style in expert hands.

An overtly complex and challenging, yet rewarding brew. Adventurers, sign up here.

#217: Anderson Valley Brewing Co. » Gatlin Damnosus (Sour Barrel-Aged Barleywine)

An unforgiving brew of devilish tartness and bourbon decadence...

(I should wake up more before determining that pictures are in focus)

The Brewery: Anderson Valley Brewing Company (Boonville, CA)
The Brew: Gatlin Damnosus (Sour, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Barleywine)
Availability: Draft Only (Limited)
ABV: 8.8%%
Rating: 9.4/10
Location: Owl House (Rochester)

Over the weekend, I played in Hiroshima Vacation at Bug Jar as part of our final run shows. Rochester usually means Tap & Mallet or Owl House, and since this time brunch was in order after a lovely night over, the latter was up.

We arrived with a half hour before they could serve, so I was happy to have some extra time to peruse their always impressive draft line. However, this time around, an 8.8% sour, Bourbon-barrel aged barleywine was a no-brainer, even for first thing in the morning.

This beer was every bit as insane as I was hoping. Served up in an 8 oz. glass, Gatlin Damnosus is a hazy, grayish dark brown with a thick, creamy off-white head. Notes of sour grapes, sweet booze, and oak emanate from the glass.

Unabashed, irreverent flavors burst across my palate inducing a spine-tingling double-take. This is complexity and atradition at it's best. Exotic blends of sour cherry, ripe pear, toffee, butterscotch - all rich and decadent with woody, earthy undertones and a mild dryness. Further through there's apple skin, vanilla, and an ever-more pronounced rich bourbon flavors. It's honestly like 4 beers in one ally vying for attention.

Overall, for the adventurous enthusiast only.  An mildly astringent, booze fueled experience that I'd love to see in bottle form.

#190: Ithaca Beer Co. » Cranbretty (Sour), Blauser (Porter), Belgian Gold (Golden Ale), Zuul (Imperial Stout), Gozer The Gozerian (Gose)

Ithaca Beer Co. continue to impress, having kicked the doors off with their entirely unique Excelsior! Anniversary Sixteen and a slew of new 5-barrel offerings.

After such a great time at Hopshire, Mel and I figured we'd keep the beer tasting day going and head back down the hill for some great beer, superb hospitality, and a fry flight. Mmm... fries. We also confirmed their next variety 12-pack, Box of Belgians is in the works...

Cranbretty (Sour/Wild) | ABV: 4.9% | Rating: 8.9/10
Aptly named, this brew is fermented with Brettanomyces and cranberries. Initially, I heard some hate on this beer, but I'm all about it and even ordered a half pint after the tasting.

If you see "Cranberries" and think you're ordering a fruit beer, there's the door. Cranbretty kicks off with a sternly tart and mineral nose and a nod of cranberry aroma. Appearance-wise it's a pale, straw yellow with a faint haze and a ring of white head.

Now for the good stuff - this brew is hyper-astringent and for sour fans only. Light body and soft carbonation support bold, puckering flavors of fresh cranberries, green apple, and slightly metalic notes. The finish is arid, but still refreshing like a nice club soda or tonic. A clean, tart, no-nonsense beer.

Blauser (Porter) | ABV: 7.5% | Rating: 8.6/10
Some porters leave me wanting a lot more, but not this bad-boy. Inviting, heavily roasted aromas reel you into this burly porter. Bitter coffee and slight burnt flavors keep pace the whole way through supported by a strong, mid-high carbonation level and a deftly long, earthy coffee finish. A solid, non-blasé Porter.

Highly recommended for porter fans.

Belgian Gold (Golden Ale) | ABV: 10% | Rating: 9.1/10
Ever since White Gold, anything Belgian-style coming out of IB gets my attention and Belgian Gold did not disappoint. It's completely transparent, light-gold color set's the stage for wonderfully smooth and sweet flavors of apricot and butterscotch candy. Soft carbonation effervesces the flavors perfectly, resolving in a smooth, slightly ginger-spice finish. Beautifully warming, sweet Belgian nectar in a glass.

Zuul (Imperial Stout) | ABV: 8.7% | Rating: 9/10
In collaboration with Gimme! Coffee, Zuul is brewed with Java Blawan coffee, cacao and cayenne pepper - keep you moving through the winter months indeed!

Deep coffee and baking chocolate aromas leap from the glass, augmented by pleasant spice heat. Onto the palate, it's straight up chili pepper, right out of the gate. Hot and spicy goodness backed by smooth, deep, dark espresso flavors. Medium bodied and well balanced, but that spice really makes it sizzle. A great, unique warming winter alternative. The spice mellows nicely with food and doesn't wreck your palate either. Well done.

Gozer The Gozerian (Gose) | ABV: 4.2% | Rating: 8.5/10
I'm usually game for any Gose, but incorporate Kaffir lime leaves, mangoes, Goji berries, and Pink Himalayan salt and I'm going to break down your door.

Clear, straw appearance with a slim bit of white head and smooth, salty nose. A deep earthiness hits my palate first, followed by soft notes of lime and mango. Pleasantly tart with a light must and wet hay in the finish breath. No sweetness in this Gose. Further through, soft floral notes, especially rose, appear in the background. Overall, a solid Gose, not quite as rich as I usually like, but highly enjoyable nonetheless.

#162: Hill Farmstead » Grassroots Brewing Sankt Hans (Amber Saison)

Denmark / Vermont mild sour lovechild...

The Brewery: Hill Farmstead (Greensboro Bend, VT)
The Brew: Grassroots Brewing Sankt Hans (Amber Saison)
Availability: Bottles (limited)
ABV: 5.4%
Rating: 9.5/10
Location: Home
Found: Hill Farmstead Brewery

The Story? Sankt Hans is a collaboration between former Ølfabrikken brewer, Christian Skovdal Andersen, now of Beer Here and Peter Sonne of Flying Couch Brewing, both from Denmark, and Shaun Hill of Hill Farmstead, for their Grassroots Brewing line in celebration of the summer solstice. I picked this up during the Vermont haul this fall.

The Beer? Sankt Hans pours out a deep, rich amber-caramel color with a fizzy, quickly fading bright white head. The notes quickly presents firm funk and sour aromas and subtle spice notes.

This collaboration has yielded an enjoyable sour. Pleasant earthy and fruit flavors swirl around the palate. Notes of lemon, yeast, slight herbal spice, rose hips, and tea are all apparent and close with a slight funk on the finish. There's a smooth nuttiness in there as well.

Delicate, but not breakable, this saison is well-balanced, going down smooth with only mild astringency.

This Grassroots offering continues to grown in complexity with each sip and each glass, drying out into stronger influence of green apple, champagne, and black cherry flavors. Rich, tart, and funky, this unique saison continues to evolve until the final drop.

Over all, a distinguished brew that only leaves me craving more.

#137: Freigeist Bierkultur » Abraxxxas (Berliner Weisse)

Old German stiles continue to be revitalized...

The Brewery: Freigeist Bierkultur
The Brew: Abraxxxas (Berliner Weisse)
Availability: Draft and bottles
ABV: 6.0%
Rating: 9/10
Location: Home
Found: Fingerlakes Beverage Center

The Story? Last year, Freigeist Bierkultur launched to critical and beer fan acclaim, even running out beer for a short time. Their line focuses on revitalizing Germany's traditional, and some times "lost", top-fermented beer recipes. I've seen their Altbier and Kolsh around, but have been the lookout for their Gose and Berliner Weisse as the place to start.

As previously mentioned, I'm a big Berliner Weisse fan and have been stoked on the number of breweries putting their spin on the classic German style. I was in to Fingerlakes Beverage to pick up something completely different and could not resist finally giving this one a shot.

The Beer? Abraxxxas rolls out with deep, unfiltered, translucent, dulled caramel coloring and minimal white head. The nose is a mild mixture of smooth smoke and slight tart grape.

On first sip, there's a pungent, puckering astringency that is wet up front coupled by a drying smoke finish and a touch of sourdough. Further through, notes of lemon, apple, mild cheese and meats emerge, coupled by golden raisin and other sweet fruits in the finish.

The sourness and prickly carbonation settles in quickly and becomes quite drinkable, in that distinctly Berliner Weisse way. An excellent paring of smoke wonderful ongoing, dry tartness. Towards the end of the bottle, the nose gets levels up the funk and yeast notes, even a hint of lime appears, for a strong, unique finish.

I'm looking forward to exploring all of Freigeist Bierkultur updated German traditional brews. This one nailed it for this blogger. Recommended.

#129: Schlossbrauerei Au-Hallertau » Piwo Grodziskie (Grätzer Ale)

A historic rendition of a classic German sour smoked wheat ale...

The Brewery: Schlossbrauerei Au-Hallertau (Germany)
The Brew: Piwo Grodziskie (Grätzer Ale)
Availability: Bottles, Draft (Rotating)
ABV: 4.0%
Rating: 8/10
Location: Home
Found: Nathaniel Square Corner Store

The Story? Over the couple years, I've really enjoyed the resurgence of classic styles like Berliner Weisse and the resurrection of others like Gose, so I'm always keeping an eye out for other historic examples. While in Rochester pursuing the cold-case selection at Nathaniel Square Corner Store, the phrase "sour smoked wheat ale" stuck out amidst a field of old-German style font. I figured it was a promising start.

The official description reads: "Grodziskie or Grätzer is a Sour Smoked Wheat Ale that was brewed in the 1900s in East Prussia and dates back to as early as the 15th century. It was named after the Polish town of Grodzisk Wielkopolski or Grätz in German. Our historic version is brewed according to the German Purity Law with air-dried barley malt and beech smoked wheat malt and hopped with Perle and Saaz. A sour mash is created using the old and forgotten technique called Digerieren. Finally a three month aging and maturation process creates a complex sour, smoky and heavily hopped wheat ale."
My interest? Peaked.

A special cheers on this one to my friend Maciej, who is actually from Grodzisk.

The Beer? This Grätzer pours out bubbly, mostly-transparent, and copper with a finger of fizzy white head, that ended having a bit more lace than expected.

A clean and refreshing mouthfeel starts things off, with the smoke nicely sewn into mild tartness. The closest comparison I can come to is a muted, darker Berliner Weisse. Bready malts, cracked wheat set up a sturdy, semi-sweet backbone to support the touch of tang and breath of smoke. There's also a definite hop presence here - fresh, a bit of pine, and a welcoming, mild spice heat on the finish. The hop bitterness grows a tad, but never reaches any sort of American-style level.

If this one weren't close to $8 a bottle, I'd have my favorite new session beer. At 4% it's, again, quite refreshing, but there's just enough smoke and tartness in there that compells you to slow down and take in all the complexities. If you're looking for a juicy, astringent sour - this isn't your game. Piwo Grodziskie stays very much in the realm of reserved, subtle-flavored German beers.

A delightful, atypical ale that I wish had just a hint more flavor-bang for it's buck.

#117: Brouwerij Verhaeghe » Duchesse De Bourgogne (Flanders Red Ale)

The Brewery: Brouwerij Verhaeghe (Belgium)
The Brew:  Duchesse De Bourgogne (Flanders Red Ale)
Availability:  Bottles, draft
ABV: 6.0%
Rating: 9.4/10
Location: Victoire

The Story? Second Belgian down at Victoire! On first glance, I initially thought I read "Deschutes" Flanders Red Ale, which would have been fantastic. However, I haven't run across Duchesse De Bourgogne from Brouwerij Verhaeghe on draft before, so that was equally exciting. This Flanders blends 8 and 18 month old beers, matured in oak casks.

The Beer? The fizzy head quickly dispersed, too fast for my camera in fact, but left a leggy ring and thin remnants atop the deep, translucent brown liquid. Sweet and sour notes on the nose are compelling, but subtle and the rest of the nose is otherwise transparent.

The taste is beautifully tart and effortlessly smooth. Flavors of cherry, passion fruit, mild apple, and hint of chocolate rise, meld, and settle. Duchesse De Bourgogne's shining point comes in the superb balance of sour and sweet. There's a distinct dark, sweet malt element to the beer along with sweet fruit notes that softens the sourness, but is never sugary. An oaky dryness builds further through the glass, claiming some of the aforementioned sweet aspects.

Overall a wonderful, complex ride through an excellent sour blend.

#095: Vanberg & DeWulf » Lambickx (blended Lambic)

One of my favorites on draft...

The Brewery: Vanberg & DeWulf  (Belgium)
The Brew:  Lambickx (blended Lambic)
Availability: Bottles, draft
ABV: 5.75%
Rating: 10/10
Location: The Avenue Pub (New Orleans, LA)

The Story? I was first introduced to Lambickx at that fantastic beer tasting party last December. It came out late into the evening and though I'd had several sours, whiskey barrel aged stouts, and big Belgians, I still remember this one cutting through the palate. Returning home, I found it somewhat readily available, but weighting in around $30 a bottle, I usually pass.  However, seeing this on draft for well under $10 was impossible to turn down.

The Beer? This one starts off with a subtle, but bright funk on the nose, zero head, and fully translucent orange/gold in color.

I think the best way to relay what happens in this superb brew is that it shifts through three stages. The first is smooth, sour, and refreshing. Bright, pithy sourness rises up to fill out your palate for the second stage and finds it's final resting place with a biting funk finish.

As with most sours, this is going to depend on your palate, experience, and preferences. To me, this is just awesome. It's smooth and sour for a second and then it turns on you with a palate destroying, f**king dry finish and a densely bitter funk. Enough rind, pith, kumquat, and gnarly grapefruit to fill a room. This one is for the adventurous enthusiast.

#094: De Struise Brouwers » Weltmerz (Sour/Wild Ale)

Back downstairs for a low-gravity sour...

The Brewery: De Struise Brouwers (Belgium)
The Brew:  Weltmerz (Sour/Wild Ale)
Availability: Bottles, draft (limited)
ABV: 3.0%
Rating: 9/10
Location: The Avenue Pub (New Orleans, LA)

The Story? Keep on keepin' on at The Avenue Pub...

The Beer? Served up in a stem glass with a healthy dose of fizzy white head atop a hazy golden color brew. With a deep breath, my nose is met with sweet juicy sour smells matched with creamy citrus.

Flavors of kumquat, lime, and green able augment the nice, bright sour flavor that jumps right out of the gate while tropical fruit notes start to blossom further through the glass. Throughout, this sour is tart and minerally with a dry finish.

Overall, very fruity and just plain awesome.