Gilgamesh - Upland Brewing Company

cosmicevan

New York

4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Notes taken from a bottleshare at the Phoenix Sun in NYC. Thanks kindly to whomever brought this one for sharing.

a - identical to the wanderer that was poured just before this. deep murky amber brown.
s - sweet tart and sour cherry.
t - pretty sour. sour cherries to be precise.
m - puckeringly sour.
o - overall very tart sour cherries. nice flanders, but very much on the sour end of the spectrum.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 20:16:27 | More by cosmicevan

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750mL bottle poured into tulip - thanks to brystmar

Pours a hazy auburn/amber color with a reddish glow. Crop of beige head retains nicely, dissipating into webbed lacing on the glass.

Funky and sour in the nose, plenty of cherry and fruit tones. Acidic hints with a glow of bourbon and toasted oak. Red wine with yeasty funk.

Snap of lactic sourness up front with splashes of juicy cherries coupled with dark fruit. Hints of red wine and grape skin, oaky tannins with a slightly earthy warmth. Hints of bourbon and vanilla, raisin and grapes. Finishes sour and dry with lingering acidic bite.

Medium body, upper level carbonation, somehow juicy and dry on the tongue with a lasting finish. I'm a fan of aging sour ales in bourbon barrels, and Upland really nailed this one. I'd definitely be interested in finding another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 13:40:29 | More by xnicknj

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

4.33/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle.

Pours dark amber with ruby hues in the hips of the glass. A thin but creamy head of beige persists throughout the glass with smeary lacing.

Soured apples, vineous cider, and bourbon start the nose. Hints of oak, red wine, and tart, red fruits follow through.

Medium bodied with a crisp, sharp mouthfeel. A bit lush.

Bright acid, wine-soaked apples, oaky bourbon, and cider vinegar lead off the nose. Hints of vanilla, tannins, and red wine continue on.

Finishes with a strong tartness, vineous soured fruit, and bourbon.

Nice beer. The sourness level is stronger than the fruit lambics from Upland and the bourbon barrels add some nice depth.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 02:45:16 | More by brewandbbq

Gobzilla

California

4.43/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: poured a dark burgundy with brownish highlights and really no head which left virtually no lacing sticking to the glass.

S: lots of fruit aroma was coming out on the nose such as plum, apples, slight citrus but with a little bourbon vanilla character and acidic vinegar notes as well.

T: the bourbon barrel character was not as pronounced on the palate but had lots of fruit flavors like nose consisting of dark fruit, slight apple, a touch of citrus, acidic vinegar notes and vanilla accents.

M: the brew was medium in body with a low amount of carbonation which had a sweet, fruity, mild boozey and tart finish.

O: really good flanders brew and was glad to have been able to try a bourbon barreled flanders.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 13:16:26 | More by Gobzilla

aasher

Indiana

4.13/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: This beer pours a medium bodied dirty brown with auburn highlights and a slight off white lacing around the glass. 4.5/5
 
Aroma:  Its nose is light and tart with some oak, tart cherries, acetic acid, and sweet malt.  The bourbon isn't really present even as it warms.  It definitely has a pronounced fruit character to go with the almost creamy type of sour or tart indicative of the style. 4/5
 
Taste:  The flavors are initially light and slightly fruity.  I get dark berry alongwith tart cherry.  There is some oak as well as a dark malty sweetness.  It begins slightly sweet and then goes into a tart and then ends with a light sour and an odd bitterness.  The odd bitterness eventually feels like a bourbon esque burn, but this beer isn't really hot by any means. 4/5
 
Mouthfeel: It drinks medium in body and leaves that odd burn at the back of your palate leading into your throat.  This isn't a bad thing but you notice it nonetheless. 4/5
 
Overall:  This is a fine representation of the style but a little expensive.  The bourbon isn't very noticeable so perhaps the base beer was stronger than I anticipated.  This is a nice beer to try but for $25 it's a little expensive for what it is.  If you're a big fan of the style, this is a must try.  4.5/5

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 15:09:56 | More by aasher

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Long-time want. Gilgamesh. Batch Date: 9-11. Poured into a tulip.

Deep scarlet color with very light murk. The head peaked at almost two inches; bone in color.

Red currant and tart cherry fruits, oakwood, mild vanilla, and a kiss of bourbon. Ripe, but not particularly sour in the nose. Quite the woody Flemish Red. Smells phenomenal.

Drier than I'd expected and super-tannic. A lot of un-beerlike bitterness. Vinous with some lively woody notes. I'm getting tangled up in oak and the taste of dry bourbon. Sourness has opened up a bit, but not in the vinegar-y sort of way. It's softer, lactic, and more citrusy. I taste lemon, currants, and straw. This is unlike any Flanders Red I've tasted before, and it's unreal good. All of those red grape skin tannins and the touch of whiskey make this one unique and elite brew.

Almost sandy carbonation. The body is soft, yet sour. All of that side-of-the-mouth pucker is contributed from the tannins. Lovely feel for an over-the-top, big Flanders Ale. This ABV is pretty damn sneaky.

A top-of-the-line beer... be sure of it. Not the best, but pretty damn impressive. It ranks high amongst the style. A bourbon-barrel aged Flanders Red. How can I not recommend it?

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 02:32:02 | More by thecheapies

rlee1390

Indiana

4.35/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A-Deep ruby, cloudy, two finger off white head and well carbonated.

S-Funk, leather, cherries oak.

T-Nice and sour, cherries, oak, leather and plums.

M-Lighter and not as much carbonation as I was expecting.

O-The best Upland sour I've had so far. Perfectly balanced, a tad more carbonation would make this a lot better. Although they might have to change the name due to some lawyer-y stuff.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 21:19:53 | More by rlee1390

Duff27

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

One inch tan head on a deep red body. Very nice head retention with some lacing.  

Sour nose with a hint of sweet cherries.

Medium sourness comparitavely speking With just enough cherries to keep it fruity. Would guess at 7%abv

Nice mouthfeel, medium. Very carbonated.

Very tasty flemish red, although I'm not picking up a lot if barrel notes. Worth a try. Thanks 4DAloveofSTOUT!

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 16:00:14 | More by Duff27

jmarsh123

Indiana

4.47/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a murky dark red with some copper hues and a big 2 finger creamy off-white head.

Aroma is sour just like a flanders should be. Notes of vinegar and cherries along with a little oak. Not much bourbon in the nose.

Starts out with a vinegar sourness and some tart cherry flavor. A little bit of sweet bourbon comes on pretty quickly and is present throughout, but rather subdued. More sour fruit notes combine equally with the bourbon finishing sweet & sour. The bourbon adds a nice complexity to balance the sour.

Fairly creamy mouthfeel and medium-high carbonation levels.

I love flanders reds and the bourbon adds a unique twist to this classic. I was afraid the bourbon would be overpowering, but it really is delicate and subtle making it work.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 00:28:09 | More by jmarsh123

craytonic

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: muddled ruby-mahogany brown, decent tan head and lacing

Smell: Dark fruits, berries, cherry, vanilla, oak.

Taste: acidic, but not overly slow, lots of dark fruits, cherries, oak and vanilla. Flanders red on steroids, although the bourbon is very light.

Mouthfeel: medium-full body with light carbonation

Overall: good upland offering, they keep getting better and better.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 03:25:10 | More by craytonic

Beejay

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

My 700th Review, Epic Flanders-style Red Ale..

Huge thanks to RocPorterFanatic for this brew!

A: Light brown in color as it pours. In the glass it is a deeper red amber. The head is light tan in color, soft as a cloud with some fish eyes.

S: Sour notes come out first, possibly a little fresh apple cider aroma in there.There is a very mellow vinegar note. Some dark fruit and a lovely caramel sweetness with a touch of raisins. The balance of sweet and sour kinda reminds me of Duchesse. There is almost a pineapple thing in there. I didn't notice the bourbon right off the bat, but once you know it's there it's impossible to not taste.

T: Yowser! The sour notes from the aroma come out swinging. Tart, with vinegar notes as well as some nice fruitiness. There is some pear, citrus, and kumquat. Good but I wish a bit more of the sweetness pulled through from the aroma.

M: Medium in body, but the carbonation makes it feel a little lighter. The carbonation is effervescent, and extremely fine in texture.

O: Overall a pretty good beer. Definitely fills the sour void in my life. Tart, complex, and totally delicious.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 02:22:51 | More by Beejay

brystmar

New York

4.1/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Decent looking pour, though the aroma stands out more. Complex, fruity, hints or cinnamon too. Mild booze character in the nose as it warms. Taste follows suit with cherries at the forefront. Bourbon creeps further forward as it warms. ABV is totally hidden in the mix of flavors.

Top notch craftsmanship, though I'd expect nothing less from an Upland Reserve beer. Wish I had another bottle :(

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 01:25:22 | More by brystmar

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

reviewed from notes on 5/20/12.

750ml cork and cage poured into tulip glass.

Appearance: mohoganey red bodied beer with 2 fingers of white head that drops down to a thin cap. Nice lacing on the glass.

Smell: sweet and tart cherries, oak, and funk.

Taste: starts off with sour cherries. The beer has a mild funk to it and a hint of vanilla, oak and earthiness. Mild bourbon.

Mouthfeel: medium body with moderate carbonation. This has some prickly and aggressive carbonation, but it drinks well with this beer. Little bit acidic and dry.

Overall: Another really good sour by Upland. Only had a few flanders red, but I do enjoy the beer style.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 00:58:12 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

mltobin

Connecticut

4.13/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle split amongst a few friends. Excited to try a sour style beer from Upland. It pours a red-orange color with haziness. The nose of it contains red wine, vinegar, cherry and sugar. A very interesting beer so far. It tastes nice, a mix of sour, bourbon, cherry, good mix of flavors. Mouthfeel is medium, acidic to be sure, leaves you with a bit of sour face. A very good beer that is worth your time.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 00:31:38 | More by mltobin

tewaris

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Received in trade with dvelcich, thanks! Split with two other BAs.

Looks alright, good clarity, good head etc. Vinegar, fruit typical to Flanders style beers with the acetic sourness that comes with it. However, what makes it stand out is the good use of whiskey barrels... there are layers of chocolate/vanilla that go beyond oak.

And I suppose the strength. Also, the feel is more creamy than the sharp, crisp feel of Flanders style beers from Belgium.

4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 12:21:34 | More by tewaris

davey101

Connecticut

4.33/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Not sure how to distinguish the vintage. The back label has a gold stamp saying "Batch Date 9-11" and the cork is stamped " 3-11". Regardless, its the first release. 750ml C+C bottle into a tulip glass. Opens with a loud pop and a very slow rise of foam up the neck. Huge thanks to muskabeatz for BIF'ing me this want!

A - Dark red body with an almost brown hue. Tall light khaki head dies down to a neat solid cap. Great lacing and retention. Looks pretty stereo typically Flanders.

S - Cherries and oak. Vinegar and soft acetic acid. There is a slight bourbon element happening in the background with some vanilla and char. There is some booze on the nose.

T - Lots of great Flanders notes. Soft acetic acid and vinegar followed by sour cherries and some Christmas spices. Light oak and vanilla on the finish with some warming alcohol present. Lingering tartness with a nearly dry end. Smooth and medium mouth feel.

O - A nice take on the Flanders style. I was surprised to learn that this was aged in bourbon barrels for a year. The bourbon notes are very tame, but they do mesh well with the softness of the bugs and the tartness of the cherries. Very good wild ale.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 20:58:33 | More by davey101

BarryMFBurton

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I’ve finally done it; I’ve crossed the $20 mark for a single bottle of beer. Granted, I’ve probably spent around $30 per bottle when it comes to the overall cost of some of my previous trades, but this was just off the shelf 27 bucks. Let’s see where all that money takes me…

Brewed eight months before the date of this tasting (gold emblem on the back of the label says “Batch Date 9-11”).

A: As soon as I popped the cork, I could tell some foam would eventually make its way to the top of the bottle. This time, though, it wasn’t a gusher – just a slow showing of light bubbles above the rim of the bottle after about five minutes. The pour pushes this thick foam into a bold two-inch head, as absolutely full and shining as vanilla yogurt. After a while, it settles to a bubbly tan retention, looking like powdered sugar on top of the hazy, toffee orange-brown body. Nice chunky lacing and some yeast flakes appear around the glass.

S: The complexity of this nose is absolutely heavenly; you can definitely recognize the barrel-aging. Fruits are full and flavorful – apple, peach, cherry, persimmon, and apricot – more fleshy and syrupy than anything. Reminds me of pie filling, especially because there’s a definite aroma of crusty, buttered bread. More complexity, even, with big, smooth oak and cherry wood over a moderate note of strong, clean alcohol. The funk is noticeable, yet balanced – musky, dusty, leathery, and herbal. Ends with an aroma of vanilla yogurt and corn. This is one hell of a nose; love it.

T: Oh god, what a supremely sour palate! Fresh fruit: lemon juice, lime pulp, cherry, and sour grape. Acetic and citric acid climbs all around the tongue, so sour and delicious; it wholly brings out the juiciness of the fruit flavors. Orange juice and peach, as well. The chewy funk of the yeast and malt backing reveals a myriad of thick flavors: corn flakes, fluffy white bread, flaky biscuits, lager yeast, and a clean herbal musk of hibiscus, guava, and leather. Bourbon is mild, especially because it is mixed with maple icing, vanilla bean, and chocolate flavors; it makes the alcohol much more woody than spicy. The aftertaste is a taste of red fruit juice and corn.

M: Lightly syrupy and smoothly refreshing. Not dry but bright in its gelatinous feel, adding to its character of fruity pie filling.

O: Ah, that bourbon barrel aging does a world of good for this beer; it mellows out an already super-sour beer. And because of that, this is one of the best Flanders ales I’ve ever had. What every brewer should aspire to when it comes to sour beer. Definitely worth the money – in fact, I think I’ll go buy another.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 20:47:38 | More by BarryMFBurton

jeonseh

Indiana

4.03/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a Mikkeller tulip

A - Deep, crimson brown with light carbonation trailing upwards. Has a nice creamy white head that sits on top throughout

S - A nice Flanders nose with cherry, oak, lemon, and grass trailing upwards. There is a slight sweetness that comes up with the cherry that makes it smell like cherry pie

T - Definitely a sweeter Flanders as there is a sweet cherry and sugary flavor shows up first. As it goes on, there is balsamic vinegar, oak, and lemon zest. It definitely has a nice tartness to it that makes it a well balanced sour. The finish is definitely rich cherry pie.

MF - Lots of carbonation that makes it has a nice creamy mouthfeel. The finish has a slight astringency to it.

O - This Flanders resides on the sweeter side but has enough tartness to allow it to be called a sour. The cherry is definitely the prominent flavor with the oak and lemon adding a level of complexity. Very approachable and would be a nice introduction into sours.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 03:06:59 | More by jeonseh

nataku00

California

3.75/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into a tulip glass. Beer pours a dark brown with some hints of amber and scarlet. Initial finger of tan color loose head dissipates quickly to a thin collar leaving minimal lacing. Well carbonated with tiny bubbles streaming up from the bottom of the glass.

Nose is fruit vinegar, sour acetic acid, cherries and plums. Some brown sugar and toasted malt. Fairly mild nose.

Taking a sip, fruit vinegar, sweet and sour plums, cherries, a bit of tannin. Sweeter brown sugar and dark caramel mid tongue. Finish is dry with a bit of lighter sourness lingering.

Light to medium body with a soft carbonation that tickles the tongue. An interesting take on the style, with the alcohol very well hidden. Flavors aren't too bold though.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 04:00:34 | More by nataku00

litheum94

California

4.35/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Deep cherry red with some tan head. Leaves some nice lacing and a small pool of bubbles.

Cinnamon, apples, sour cherries, bready. Some acetic flavors, with very light bourbon aromas, slightly smokey.

Super tart: green apples, cherries and some vinegar. Smokey wood tones. Not much bourbon; it presents itself through the woo more than anything. Dry, acidic, tart finish.

A great sour. Wasn't sure what to expect from the barrel aging, but it adds a nice, subtle component. Very well done.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 23:37:35 | More by litheum94

Auracom

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Shared by my great friend Jeff, thanks brah. 3-4 oz. poured into a FFF Teko on June 8th, 2012.

A - Honestly looks almost identical to Oude Tart - "Dark, ruby-rosewood coloring with a soft single inch of offwhite head. Good retention for a sour with great lacing to boot. Light alcohol legs."

S - "Epic" Flanders red profile may just do it. Acetic light fruit juices and lemon peels. The vinegar is a bit light in this one. Some herbaceous notes underneath. Slightly earthy as well.

T - Initial tart fruits, followed by light spicyness. Balsamic vinegar kicks in near backend and pushes through finish to a pitted and oak aftertaste with light tannin structures.

M - Light body, strong high carbonation, big dry finish. Very appropriate.

D - Good stuff, the complexity seemed to improve as I moved through this one and the backend/aftertaste here is quite good.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2012 15:55:57 | More by Auracom

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

4.21/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

The ale was sampled at Winterfest 2013 in Indianapolis on 1/26/2013. Props to Upland for bringing several lambics and this beer.

The ale was poured into a sampler glass and was a darkish ruby red in appearance. It produced a head that was off-white in appearance. The initial taste was sour but not overly vinegary. Some Flanders ales make me feel like I am drinking a bottle of Worchester sauce. The acidity did not take away from the taste. Tart berry notes balance the acidity nicely. As the ale moved toward the aftertaste, one detects a hint of woodiness from barrel aging. Tart to the finish, the mouthfeel gave it a little staying power and even allowed for a mild warming sensation.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 01:12:11 | More by JohnnyHopps

eclipse54

Idaho

4.43/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A corked/caged 750 mL bottle from fvernon; many thanks for this one! A batch code of "9-11" is embossed in gold on the back of the label. Split into tulip glasses at cellar temperature.

Pours a rocky brown color that glows with blood orange hues where the light pushes through. An inch of foamy, khaki head rests atop the liquid. It diminishes to a frothy ring over the course of a few minutes, leaving scattered spots of lacing.

The aroma is of tart cherry and date, with some acidic tangerine thrown in as well. A bit of funky yeast, light grains, and biscuity scents float up in the middle. Notes of dry oak and and candied apple make an appearance as well.

The nose leaves no doubt that this one will be sour, and the taste follows through. Dry, acidic cherry, date, and tangerine scour the palate around flavors of oak, faint vanilla, raisin, and tart grapes. The flavor places more emphasis on the wood than the nose, and brings out a bit more of the yeasty funk. Various light grains and faint grassy notes round it out.

The mouth is seemingly thinned by the acids, but ample citrus and carbonation keep it lively and almost champagne-like. Finish is vehemently dry and puckering.

Overall, this is a great Flanders-style ale and tremendous sour. The fact that the bourbon barrels used to treat this beer were previously used for another brew shows, as I had a hard time finding any bourbon notes. The faint vanilla and overall "woodiness" seem to be the dominant contributions from the barrel treatment. Ultimately, I would love to have this again, and would say it’s worth the effort to seek out.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2012 02:17:46 | More by eclipse54

claaark13

Indiana

4.4/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Consumed a little below room temp. Poured into a HF tulip.

A - Very deep ruby with a thick head. It slowly dies down to a thin coating over the top.

S - Sour black cherries with mild oak. A hint of vanilla. Strong, pleasant nose.

T - Tart dark cherries, oak, slight vanilla, some leather. The barrel is mild and smooth. The tartness seems right on point...present, but subtle. Very balanced flavors. The finish smoothly carries the cherries and leather without much, if any, dryness.

M - Medium body, medium carbonation. Great for the style. So drinkable.

O - For me, this is the best beer Upland has pushed out. I personally love this style and I really think they nailed it. The flavors expected for the style are on point. The finish is great. I actually think the back end of the flavor is what sets this apart from other Flanders Red. This instantly stormed into the top 3 for the style in my book.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 00:44:11 | More by claaark13

mattsander

Alberta (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 vintage

A: Deep reddish amber, good clarity with a bit of sediment. More head than I expected, nice looking beer.

S: Vanilla, chocolate, spices (mace/nutmeg/cinnamon?), rye bread, cherry-sourness. A very complex but subdued aroma. Very unique spiciness with a long peppery finish and a touch of booze.

T: Echoes the aroma with a baked cookies kind of vibe. Sour cherry frosted dark rye spice cake.

M: Slippery and slick, subdued acidity. Very nicely balanced for 10.5% abv

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 17:56:06 | More by mattsander