Madame Rose - Goose Island Beer Co.

Lemke10

Wisconsin

4.23/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I got a single 750mL bottle of this from Woodman’s in Janesville in November 2012.

This pours a reddish brown color with a carbonated head that reminds me more of a cola than a beer. The scent is rich with yeasts and fermented cherries. Initially the taste of yeasty fruit hints you taste buds with a complex blend of ingredients. As the taste develops, it grows into this sweet tart taste that lingers in you mouth well past the swallow. Interesting certainly high end in taste but I was expecting something a little more in the realm of New Glarus Belgian red since this is almost twice as much in cost.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 05:45:01 | More by Lemke10

Gosox8787

New Hampshire

3.93/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Presentation: 2012 vintage chilled and poured into a Cigar City tulip glass.

Appearance: Medium to dark brown in color with minimal head and lacing.

Aroma: Some bright cherry flavors offer a nice fruit tone that balances pretty nicely with the toasted malt and the funk from the brett. A touch of oak and wine notes are barely present.

Taste: Really bright burst of cherry upfront but the tartness and the fruit from that quickly fades to the toasted malt. A bit of barnyard mustiness adds a nice layer of complexity. Surprisingly clean (almost bland) finish.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body with some nice light carbonation. Works well.

Overall, a really bright and fruity sour upfront that falls off after the initial fruit tones. A little sour, but that too fades. This is a really nice beer but the finish seems too clean and bland. Good not great.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 02:25:34 | More by Gosox8787

superspak

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review 1100! 22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, bottled 10/1/2010. Pours fairly crystal clear red-copper color with a nice 1-2 finger fairly dense off white head with nice retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of huge cherry, oak, red grape, red wine vinegar, pepper, earth, wet hay, funk, clove, and yeast spiciness. Fantastic aromas with great strength, balance, and complexity. Taste of tart cherry, red grape, oak, hay, pepper, earth, clove, light vinegar, pear, funk, and light yeast spiciness. Good amount of fruity sourness on the finish; with lingering notes of cherry, grape, hay, earth, clove, light vinegar, pear, apple, and light pepper on the finish for a good bit. Incredible balance and complexity of flavors; with a great sourness/sweetness balance; zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a lightly acidic, syrupy, and very crisp mouthfeel that is very nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a fantastic Belgian style wild ale! Huge complexity and balance of sweetness/sourness; very smooth and crisp to sip on even with some acidity. Highly enjoyable offering after 2 years of bottle aging. I will definitely consider getting more to cellar.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 05:00:03 | More by superspak

sweemzander

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz. bottle poured into a tulip. 2012 vintage. 07-31-12 bottled date.

(A)- Pours a fairly dark burnt sienna brown color. Some white froth and lacing formed nicely too.

(S)- A nice funky oak thing going on. Subtle dark fruits and acidity.

(T)- I like the earthy characteristics mixed in with the cherry and oak. Just a touch of acidity on the finish.

(M)- A good, actually great, crisp carbonation level. Not quite sour, but is showing great oak, earth, and fruit characters.

(O)- With a little bit of time, this could be really awesome. Will possibly get more sour and that with the presently great showing of fruit, oak, and subtle earthy funk will really drive this one home. Only time will tell.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 18:38:42 | More by sweemzander

davey101

Connecticut

4.23/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 Vintage, bottled on 7/31/2012, 1005. 22 oz bomber into a tulp glass.

A - Pours a slightly murky deep violet/red color. Two finger light khaki head fizzles away very quickly. Some lacing and a swirl coats the coats the glass in a thin wet coating similar to alcohol legs.

S - Cherries, oak, and vinegar. Just a touch of dirty socks and vanilla on the end. Pretty simplistic but nice.

T - Bright cherry notes followed by warmer notes of oak, vanilla, and brown sugar. Finish is of lactic acid and residual sour cherries. Very tasty. Mouth feel is medium bodied and creamy with plenty of carbonation.

O - A very solid flanders oud bruin. Very subtle and simple with nice strong cherry notes and lactic acid working off of some really great barrels. I'd put this in the middle when it comes to three sisters though.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 03:05:21 | More by davey101

allouez86

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 vintage poured into a New Belgium globe.

Appearance is dark red, almost mahogany. Very small white ring of bubbles on the top of the beer. A beautiful looking beer.

Aroma comes off as very tart with hints of cherries and the smallest hint of vinegar at the end.

The taste is much more complex than the aroma that I picked up on. I immediately get the oak from the wine barrels, comes off as very "vanilla-e." The cherries are there, though not as much as I'd expected them to be. The further along I get, I seem to be getting a little bit of wine that it was aged in. Has a slight bitterness that follows the tartness.

Slightly thicker mouthfeel than expected with a good carbonation bite.

Overall I think this is a solid beer, but not a great beer. With that being said, I wouldn't be afraid to buy more. Have a feeling this one could go the distance in a cellar if stored properly.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 23:37:35 | More by allouez86

jjanega08

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2012 Vintage
Bottled 07/31/12 1354

A= Pours a deep blackish brown color with some hazy brown highlight.s The head is a thin brownish color that stays solid as a thin skin on top of the beer leaving some spotty lacing behind.

S= Smells like a very nice oud bruin. Solid acetic acid aroma with a little lactic acid in it. A little vinegar. There is alittle oakiness to it and the cherries come through ever so slightly in the nose.

T= The taste is great! Normally I find oud bruins to be too acetic but this is a nice balance of acetic and lactic acids. The cherries are very well integrated making a great complement to the tartness. The oak is almost gone in the acid berry flavor but shows up when I burp.

M= Super dry and looong.

O= This is a great brew. It actually has a nice lasting flavor where as while Juliet was great the flavor drops quick. This is a great oud bruin. Seek this beer out.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 04:54:36 | More by jjanega08

bonkers

New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I poured from a bomber into my kate snifter, dark reddish-brown pour, small white head. The aroma is tart, vinegary, lots of cherry notes. It is pleasanty tart, lots of cherries, very vinous, drying finish. It is slightly acidy, nice sipper, refreshing. Enjoyable brew, glad Iwas finally able to try it.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 01:20:39 | More by bonkers

cnbrown313

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2012 vintage. $14.99 from my local Binny's

A - Mahogany brownish-red, with a small off-white head that fades quickly.

S - I was expecting a little more from the smell, but you do get a little bit of that cherry smell. Maybe a little vinegar too.

T - Pretty sour up front, which got me really excited! Slightly acidic tasting too. Then, the cherry kicks in and it finishes relatively sweet. Each sip made me want another...it was very tasty. I was hoping for a little more funk or that familiar "horse blanket" taste and smell from the brett, but I didn't really get that at all. Maybe with a little age?

M - The mouth feel was pretty typical for the style. Medium bodied and refreshing.

O - If you like American sour beers, you have to try this at least once!

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 12:35:30 | More by cnbrown313

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.23/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Even though this one is available in my area now for about $20, I bought this for $30 at one of the alehouses in Chicago.

2010 Vintage. The only reason I popped this one is because I saw the recent one on the shelf in my area.

Served in a wine glass.

A: Poured a gold/amber color, with about a 1/2 finger head that literally stuck around throughout the session

S: Definitely vinegary and then some. A lot of love went into this. Bleached out sourness which was cool.

T: Fruit and vinegar.... straight up, with a bit of Belgian quality in the background. Great flavor and drinkability.

M: A good bit of carbonation and then some The lacing on the wine glass was substantial.

O: Wow, this was a fantastic beer by Goose Island. So glad to try it!

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 03:16:51 | More by Chaney

brystmar

New York

3.85/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2012 (7/31/12) bottle, thanks Mac!

Brown body, tan head, good retention on the latter. Aroma is bready and reminiscent of a non-standard Oude Bruin. Not quite pungent enough for my liking.

Dark fruits and bread, soured cherries, oaky wine barrel character. Pretty good taste given that I'm typically a cynic of the style. Enjoyable, but can't compare to Juliet.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 03:40:21 | More by brystmar

Tuey13

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This pours a beautiful cloudy brown with a tinge of red and a half finger of a light tan head that leaves some light lacing on the glass.
Such a wonderful smell... tart cherry with a definite oak aroma from the wine barrels a little brown sugar and hint of vinegar.
The taste is phenomenal... sour cherries, brown sugar, and wonderful wine oak dominates... sweetness then sour is a wonderful combination. A little fruitiness and then caramel comes into play as it warms as does the intensity of the oak.
This , to me, is exceptional! I love that it is not over the top sour... a pleasant sour taste with fruits and sweetness balance out wonderfully. I love the wine oak flavor and how it intensifies with warming.
The mouthfeel was like a good wine with a bit of carbonation.
I would definitely recommend this to someone who like a different kind of beer that isn't mouth puckering sour.... especially if you love a good red wine.
The price point did not bother me as this was gifted by a really good friend, but i would definitely buy again! :-)

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 00:51:37 | More by Tuey13

Maxwell

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a deep candied brown with light ruby hints to it and a light eggshell-white head on top that fades quickly leaving little to no lacing. The body of the beer is dark and opaque; leaving one to guess what might be inside of it, though little carbonation bubbles can be seen dancing to the top of the glass. On the nose, the beer has some great sour cherry notes that hint at fruit leather and vinegar, and heavily remind me of the Bruery’s Oude Tart. Light notes of brown sugar and bready malt can be picked up, but are really faint in comparison to the sour cherry. Light spices can also be found in the sour smell. The initial sip of the beer begins with prickling sour that opens into big cherry and leather fruit notes before hinting at fruit-rollups towards the end of the middle and closing out as a faint sour tingle. The taste is actually surprisingly simplistic and I’m really just getting a lot of cherry sour with faint hints at the wine barrels that the beer sat in. The taste is lighter and less mouth puckering than other sours I have sampled, which makes this beer more acceptable for table pairings as it won’t ruin the tastes of the food. As it warms the beer also bring more of its malt character into play, and though it is still light it hints at caramel and bread notes. Mouthfeel is thinner than expected, though I think that is actually helpful with this beer, especially in terms of making it a table pairing beer. Carbonation is quite prickly at the start but that dies down to just leave the tongue a little numbed but cleans the palate. The mouth is actually left rather neutral after the beer has left it, with a very slight sour lingering, and some saliva on the sides of the tongue while the middle sits slightly dry yet still moist. Overall my feelings are neutral on this beer. I have not had an Oud Bruin before, so my judgment of it comes more from the Flanders Red Style, which is supposed to be similar but sourer. I’m intrigued with how the beer allows for more pairing options with lighter food, but really the beer did not blow me away. A lovely sipper, and I great for the table, but nothing overly special with this beer

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 01:34:13 | More by Maxwell

BedetheVenerable

Missouri

3.78/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: 22oz brown pop top with minimalist, classy label. 2012 vintage. Purchased at UFS for $17.99. Split five ways in celebration with my family and wife.

Appearance: This pours a hazy walnut, with a dark ivory cap which soon fades to nothing.

Smell: First and foremost, there's a big funky Brett presence, with vibrant fruit underneath, a hint of cherry pie, and perhaps a bit of Fruit Tart candy.

Taste: On the palate, this is fruit-forward, sweet cherries, and crusty brown bread (this last is quite nice for balancing out the fruit). This is a simple, straightforward beer, as it's still fairly young, but the sweet/tart/fruity flavors play off of each other nicely.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light bodied.

Overall: Really pleasant brew overall. This is definitely a very easy 'wild beer' to like, and will likely appeal (at least while it's young) to those who don't like funky/wild brews. Make no mistake, this is excellent beer. Nonetheless, at $18.00 for a 22oz bottle, this is something I wouldn't likely buy more than once. Still, perhaps the best of Goose's 'Three Sisters'.

89% B+ (would be higher if not for the price)

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 00:40:47 | More by BedetheVenerable

jegross2

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewing a fresh bottle of Madame Rose from Goose Island Brewing Company.
Score: 91

Shared a 22 oz bomber dated 7/31/12 with Ilana Feldman. Served in a silver goose chalice on 10/19/12.

Appearance: Pours a thin fizzy tan head that quickly bubbles away and totally settles. The color of the beer is brown with a reddish hue -- almost a darker chest nut brown. Minimal lacing, mediocre retention. 3.5/5

Smell: Slightly tart cherry, oak, sweet red grape and a hint of brown sugar. Smells like a less intense, less complex Enigma fresh, though I have had this one aged and it gains a lot of complexities over time. 4/5

Taste: Tart cherry, oak, sweet grape and a very light brown sugar and caramel character towards the finish. Most of the tart cherry flavor is on the center of the tongue, though some rolls down the sides as well. Only a very faint, mild pucker is present. Likely because it is so young, there is a greater amount of "stock" brown ale flavor present compared to the aged versions that I have had (I have never had this beer fresh before). There is some earthy walnut flavor too. No funkiness. 4.25/5

Mouthfeel: On the lighter side of medium bodied with a fizzy level of medium-high carbonation. The fizziness really pops the tartness on the tongue. Sweet-and-tart, dry-ish finish. 4/5

Overall: Delicious fresh, but this one gets better with age.

Recommendation: Seek a bottle out and age it. This one does not really get "funky" over time. Even the 2010 bottle I had recently that was stored in an attic for two years was delicious and not funky.

Pairings: Raspberry-walnut salad with earthy cheeses and peanuts.

Cost: $20 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 04:50:11 | More by jegross2

ChicagoHopHead

Illinois

2.1/5  rDev -49.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Pour into a tulip glass with little to no head.

Initial wine smell with light vinegar in the background.

Initial taste was of vinegar/sourness. Hard to distinguish cherry from sourness.

LIttle carbonation which made the beer seem flat. More characteristic of a wine than a beer.

Overall I did not like this beer. I am not sure if it the style or this brand. I hope to try another brand of this style to have a better grasp of this experience.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 02:30:16 | More by ChicagoHopHead

mlazzaro

Massachusetts

4.48/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Young 22oz. bottle - dated of 7-31-12.

Surprisingly opaque. Reddish brown color. Off-white head that only held up for a second. Mild carbonation.

Very excited to smell some brett in there. Nice citrus-tart-cherry smell. Dark cherry aroma. Some subtle oak. Smell doesn't go away like most beers. An hour later it is still very pungent.

Tastes wonderful. Thank goodness it isn't sweet. Cherry flavor is deep and concentrated. Comes off as sun-dried. Also cherry character mixes quite well with the wine barrel. (A hugely underestimated category). I assume it was red wine but I could be wrong.

Body is thin and dry even though plenty of sweet malt was use to brew up the beer. - There is a slight leftover caramel malt flavor going on. Its like a Flanders Red with cherries aged in wine barrels. Xxckxxx Awesome!

I'm actually totally impressed by this beer. This is the best beer sponsored by the Anheiser-Bush Co. I'm ashamed to love it so much. But respect is due where respect is due. Cheers to the brewers and coopers - keep up the good work!

There is sediment on the bottom. So I will most definitely purchase another and age it proper.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 00:50:43 | More by mlazzaro

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

2.65/5  rDev -36.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Brownish red color, cloudy enough to be opaque when held to light. Hard pour begets a hearty head which unfortunately does not beget hearty retention. Disappointment ensues.

Steely tart cherry with an underlying carob powder earthiness. Tastes pretty much like it smells: tart, natural cherry with a metallic tone and chicory undertone.

A disappointing beer from Goose Island. Tart and monotone my wife dumped hers but I finished mine with a meh upon last sip. Rose is more of a corner pimp than a madame. That was a stretch.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 23:03:35 | More by donkeyrunner

vic21234

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bomber poured into a snifter. Bottled on date is 07/31/12.

A- Pours a cloudy brown color with some hints of red. A half finger of an off-white head quickly fades to some lacing along the sides of the glass.

S- The smell is of an overall tartness. I smell cherries and sour grapes more than anything, very reminiscent of wine.

T- Taste acts much on the smell. Starts off fizzy before the overall sour and tartness comes in. Sour grape notes dominate the taste for me. I expected more of a presence of cherries.

M- Light and highly carbonated, sour and tart yet an easy drinker. Alcohol is very hidden.

Price point on this one is kind of high, and I would have thought there would be more of a cherry presence in the taste. This is a nice one to give a try though.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 15:02:21 | More by vic21234

Jagen

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bomber bottled on 7/31/12 poured into a Maudite glass.

Appearance - Mostly brown with a slight hint of red...possibly maroon; cannot see through it at all. Virtually no head retention, no lacing on side of glass.

Smell - Smells ever so slightly like oak...almost like a wine. A very nice funky, tart smell. Subtle but inviting sour cherry aroma.

Taste -A nice rush of sourness goes straight to the tongue. Tastes exactly like it smells except even better. Nice vinegar taste but not as much as a full on sour ale. The cherries come out very well but in a nice, subtly way. The combination of the brett yeast and the cherries go really well together and make me want to find more similar beers out there. Neither the sourness nor the cherries overpower this beer. The oak came out a little more after it had time to warm up more.

Mouthfeel - The first thing you notice is the fizzy acidic carbonation. Light to medium body. The carbonation compliments the taste very well and just shows that this brew is very well-balanced.

Overall-While I can see that some are disappointed that it is not more sour or that the cherries don’t come out stronger, I think the beer is fine the way it is…hope it becomes even better once it has had some time to age. I wish I had a whole case in my closet instead of only two more bottles. Priced slightly high but still worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 02:50:49 | More by Jagen

FanofHefe

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bomber, bottled 7/31/12, poured into a Duvel tulip. Dark brown body with a bit of light red tint. Bubbly one-finger light tan head that dissipates very quickly leaving no lacing.

Tart aroma - vinegar, sour apples, cherries - dominate. A very small amount of light oak in the background.

The flavor is true to style with a few added notes. Typical sour fruit and vinegar notes that follow the aroma very closely. The oak notes from the barrel are just a bit more noticeable in the flavor as opposed to the aroma; nice addition.

Light to medium texture in the mouthfeel. Overall, a solid representation of the style with the nice oak flavor and aroma coming through.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 20:56:07 | More by FanofHefe

tut2528

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled on 7/31/12

A: pours a deep brown with subtle hints of ruby, the pour creates about 1 fingers worth of off-white head formation that dissipates quickly down to a thin film. the carbonation is very high and you can hear the fizzy head being created as you pour it.

S: big and awesome sourness rushes the nose. a very nice balance of red wine, tart cherries and vinegar with slight Brett-funkiness. there is a also just a slight subtle hint of oak.

T: very similar to the nose. I get a big punch of sourness, Brett-funkiness, tart cherries (but they aren't at prevalent as I thought they would be), vinous characters and vinegar. all are in pretty nice balance with one another.

M: this brew falls right in between being light and medium bodied. it goes down extremely quick and leaves a very nice cherry tartness on the palate that creates an impulse to take another sip.

O: this brew was rather intriguing, as soon as the aroma hit the nose, I immediately began to salivate from the sourness. I was expecting a bit more of the cherries to come out so I was slightly disappointed in that. But nonetheless, this is an excellent sour brew IMO. I have to say that Juliet gets a slight edge as my favorite of the 3 sisters, but this is an extremely close second. Another excellent offering by GI.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 00:46:04 | More by tut2528

Etan

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle into a Cantillon tulip. 2012 bottle.

A: Pours a reddish dark brown with a nice tannish head.

S: A bit vinegary, some tart cherry aromas, lots of brett notes - a bit sweaty, wet hay, gamey. Heady stuff.

T: Moderate cherry and vinegar tartness, a bit of cherry juice, plenty of base malt providing some heft and sweetness (and a bit of roastiness?), plenty of oaky tannins, some nice mild brett notes.

M: Medium-bodied with light carbonation.

O: Very well-balanced Oud Bruin, very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 03:45:20 | More by Etan

mahak213

New York

4.23/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 poured into a tulip-

Appearance- Murky brown with highlights of red on the edges of the glass. Minimal bone colored head that fizzed away very quickly

Smell- Pretty faint on the nose, but there are lactic tart notes, cherries, and a big vinous character present. Also a bit of brett funk.

Taste- Very similar to the nose, just amped up. Lots of tartness, with a big cherry and funk finish. Finishes very dry as well.

Mouthfeel- Light, with medium carbonation.

Overall- I really enjoyed this one. My first of the GI Vintage ales. I liked it a lot, it makes me wish I didn't pass up the bottles of Juliet when they were on the shelf! I'd definitely grab this one if Flanders Reds are your thing.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 22:41:00 | More by mahak213

billab914

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 vintage poured from a 22oz bottle into my Allagash glass. It poured brown in color with a thin, spotty head scattered across the top of the beer.

The aroma mixes the tart, slightly sour flavors with the sweet cherries very well. I get some oak to it along with a little of the vinous qualities of the wine barrel. There is a bit of a cigar or tobacco like presence to it as well. It comes together very well, I love the cherries.

The taste shows more of the tart cherries to it throughout. It's got a little sourness to it as well. The wine and oak influence starts to come out in the long, dry finish. The wine barrel flavors really compliment it well.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with carbonation being high. Overall, it was a really good beer. The combination of the cherries and the wine barrel was really good. Everything came together very well and it was a very enjoyable beer. Really good version of the style as well.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 22:40:14 | More by billab914