3rd Wheel - O'so Brewing Company

Lemke10

Wisconsin

3.91/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A rather neat summer style bottle design hints that this is a lighter, summer style brew. This beer starts off with pouring a clear, goldenrod color with an average head that disappears rather quickly. It definitely delivers that traditional Belgian style scent of yeast, wheat and citrus mixed with floral tones. The scent is very inviting indeed. It is exactly what you expect a Belgian style brew to taste like. Initially I found the yeast and wheat in the taste and as drinking progressed, out came the citrus and hibiscus tones. It’s very mellow and refreshing however it does lack in its texture a little bit; perhaps a bit more yeast would help that out. Has a weak after taste as well that could use some work. It was interesting to find an O’so beer that I have never seen or heard of before. O’so is better known for The Big O, Night Train, and Hopdinger. That being said I was happy to find a lesser known brew to try and review. Definitely a well made beer, perhaps not fantastic but still rather good.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 00:43:52 | More by Lemke10

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.08/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served in an Ohio State shaker pint glass.

*sigh* Maybe one day I'll not be garbage at Spelunky... Anyway, this stuff pours a partly-hazy brass-gold topped by a finger of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises light honey, mild biscuit, and funky lemon zest. The taste holds notes of mild lemon zest, light coriander, and light cracked wheat. The body straddles the line between hefty light and light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fluid feel. Overall, a decent little brew, but nothing really interest-piquing. This is the last of the first four offerings from O'So to hit this area, and, frankly, I haven't been close to impressed by any of them.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 22:08:16 | More by TMoney2591

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

3.48/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours out a very murky, hazy dark golden color with a flash head and no real lacing. Lighter side of medium body, medium carbonation levels.

Smells of light floral tones (specifically rose petals) over a wheat-bready yeasty sort of graininess. Tastes slightly more like cereal grains and slightly less like yeast than the aroma had. I'm not sure why this deserves to be called a Belgian style beer, because I'm only getting the rose hips and the subtle vanilla-oak flavor which seems to be completely obscuring any abbey yeast fruitness elements that might exist...I just can't find them.

However, by no means is this a bad beer. It has a good wheat flavor to it, tempered by the florals. It just needs more complexity and more belgian aspects in order to truly shine. As it stands, it is a wheat-vanilla-rose petal beer, and nothing else.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 21:49:06 | More by WastingFreetime

Shoegaze99

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +29.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Brought to me by my friend and coauthor.

This beer is a gorgeous gold, relatively clear, and looks awesome. Pours with a modest white head that fades fast. Smells like a softer Duvel, with yeast and bread and a pleasant Earthy character. It does NOT, however, have the rocky, long-lasting head of Duvel.

The taste is nice. It has all the light body and drinkability of Belgian goldens, with a *touch* more hop bite and significantly less alcohol. It's like the little but likable (and less abrasive) cousin of Duvel. Goes down VERY nicely.

It also has an herbal, flowery softness that is very, very pleasant.

This is a rare beer that can serve as a thirst-quencher and a slow-drinker.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 20:59:28 | More by Shoegaze99

emerge077

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer is brewed with rose hips & oak chips, and based on the recipe for Qu Rosa, but an entirely different beer. For it's origins, see: http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=36947

Murky orange body, several fingers width of foam in the glass from he initial pour. Delicate collar of lacing in the glass as it is sipped. Opaque with suspended particles visible.

Earthy and grainy aroma, a light floral sweetness that must be the rose hips. Smooth feel, earthy herbal notes, floral sweetness, tart fruit, light astringent bitterness from the oak chips. Some raw grains and peanut buttery malt. Finishes dry and clean, it has a rustic quality about it. Oak is noticeable and not too dominant in the mix. Definitely try it on a clean palate to get the subtleties.

It doesn't have quite the complexity of Qu Rosa, but it feels like they are working towards something that has the potential to be great here.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 02:56:25 | More by emerge077