Kentucky Common - Local Option

brn9000

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

12-08-2012 21:54:58 | More by brn9000

aaronschroeder

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Had this on draft (still there as of 4/7) at Niche in Geneva, IL. Definitely give it a try if you're in the western Chicago area.

A: About one to two fingers of head in a tall snifter, and the pour is pretty opaque, but without seeming sticky or over-heavy. Nice.

Smell: I'm dinging the smell a little because so little of the complexity in the taste comes through in the nose. You definitely get buttery, woody notes, and a little bourbon. Not bad, but definitely not adding to the variety of flavors that you get when you drink it.

Taste: Quite the combination, I have to say. Bourbon, woody, chocolate flavors, but with distinct sour or tart (think granny smith apple. tart cherry, orange peel) notes throughout. There's a faint sweetness that has a vaguely vanilla-character, but it's less rounded than you might think. Really excellent and inventive.

Mouthfeel: The beer really shines in this department. Pours like a stout, but it's easily thin enough to drink as an aperitif or as a dessert beer. Sweet without being cloying, and just sour and alcohol-y without any pucker. Well-balanced in this department.

If issues could be fixed on the nose, this would be a a grade A, must-try beer. And even so, it's balanced and unique and pretty tough to find. If you can get your hands on a glass, definitely do so.

Serving type: on-tap

04-06-2013 06:51:06 | More by aaronschroeder

speedvagen

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

02-24-2013 23:16:21 | More by speedvagen

dar482

New York

5/5  rDev +27.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

My first wild ale and I actually loved it. I had it at Blind Tiger in NYC.

It comes in a rich brown color. The aroma is fantastic. It is smokey and of wooden barrels. It's intoxicating to just sniff this beer.

The taste is slightly sour, but not strong like oud bruins. The "funk" is not strong. It has a great medium body, but then finishes really well.

Personally, one of the best beers I have had. Maybe I might change my mind as I go along trying more wild ales.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2013 02:06:38 | More by dar482

DAllspaw

Indiana

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in Local Option tulip style glass at the bar. Pours a deep brown with solid head, certainly looks good. Smell is a bit of oak and muted borboun, which is good for me, not being a fan of the heavy oaked beers.

Taste is sour, with a bready quality that is reminiscient of mashed grains, the malt profile is really pronounced for me, but this is my first proper sour that wasn't fruit dominated, so not sure what to expect, but very intrigued by it and thoroughly enjoyed ever sip.

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2013 19:20:22 | More by DAllspaw

ChugginOil

Illinois

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

This brew pours an extremely dark brown that is nearly opaque. There's a fingers worth of light tan head that is quick to dissipate. Tons of lacing clings to the snifter.

The nose is buttery with notes of oak chocolate, bourbon with a light toasted coconut scent. The sour aspect of this beer is fairly muted as far as the nose but nevertheless, KC is inviting.

Once tasted, the infected barrels are showing their colors alongside the bourbon filled notes. There is a light tartness upfront that quickly transitions into bourbon, chocolate, butterscotch, finishing with a bit of dry tannin. Complex and tasty.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a crisp and refreshing bit that satisfies the palate with ease.

Overall, this was a great brew in almost every aspect but I wanted a bit more tartness from the barrels. But be sure not to pass this up when given the chance. Great complexity.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2012 21:45:26 | More by ChugginOil

gpawned

Ohio

4/5  rDev +2.3%

10-06-2012 19:26:30 | More by gpawned

bertram

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

09-22-2012 20:28:10 | More by bertram

ryanpj

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.3%

09-22-2012 03:57:03 | More by ryanpj

quilty

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%

09-21-2012 22:21:49 | More by quilty

emerge077

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev -23.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Had this a coule of times, most recently at Blokes & Birds.
Served in a small 12 oz. snifter, review from notes.

Dark brownish black, thin layer of light tan foam, spotty lace around the edges.
Smells like roasted malt and sour berry, some coffee. Flavor was a jarring and astringent roasty/sour mashup, like old coffee that had turned, or an infected porter. Body was thin with some chocolate malt flavor, and the lactic sourness seemed one-dimensional.

The first time trying this at Local Option, I was ambivalent about it, the second time I didn't finish it, and a friend drank it. Not something i'll revisit, it's just not really that pleasant to drink or coalescing together flavor-wise. I applaud the attempt at resurrecting an extinct beer style, but it could use some fine tuning. For the record, dark/sour beers are a favorite of mine, and will probably give this one last try.

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2012 01:41:07 | More by emerge077

BobCobb

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

09-08-2012 04:04:32 | More by BobCobb

danthehopslamman

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

08-15-2012 05:39:04 | More by danthehopslamman

Chugs13

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +2.3%

08-15-2012 02:00:55 | More by Chugs13

homebrew311

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in tulip at Fountainhead. Appearance is dark brown with light brown head. Almost appears like a stout, just a touch lighter. No light passes through this bad boy. Nose features ripe cherries up front which becomes progressively tart. Some roasty character comes through along with some smoke and wood. Taste is similar to nose... Initial fruitiness followed by a nice lactic tartness. The sourness never gets a chance to overtake this beer as ashy, roasted character comes in swiftly and makes for a clean and roasty finish. Notes of vanilla and smoke are present at the end which has sOme whiskey like flavors. Very nice! Mouthfeel is smooth with relatively low carbonation for style. Overall, this is unlike any wild ale I've experiences. This is what I think a sour stout should taste like. Definitely worth a try!!

Serving type: on-tap

08-14-2012 22:23:09 | More by homebrew311

gory4d

New York

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Mission Dolores; served in a Chimay goblet. Pours a deep dark brown with a thin tan head. The smell is mild graininess, something tangy like dandelion, a little roast chicory. The taste is straight-up rich brown malt, with a steady backbone of moderate sourness, plus some rich fruity notes. It's a little thick, moderate in carbonation. One I'd like try again - glad I finally tracked it down.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2012 04:29:47 | More by gory4d

MasterSki

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Local Option. Served in a snifter.

A - Quick-dissolving tan foam settles to wispy patches, a thin ring, and a few spots of lace. Very dark brown body.

S - Lots of chocolate and moderate roasted and charred malt character, with some mild butter toffee and sour lactic yogurt flavors as well. Perhaps a hint of tart cherry coming from the dark fruit and lacto combination.

T - Again, lots of milk chocolate, caramel, and roast malt flavors, but with an omnipresent lactic sourness and mild tart fruit character. The sourness builds over time, but never distracts from the hearty malt bill. I like it more than the aroma, but not quite enough to give it a 4.5.

M - Dry, roasty, and tannic, with a surprisingly clean finish. Light acidity while drinking, although I had some reflux later in the evening. Medium-bodied, with no alcohol and pleasant carbonation.

D - Really interesting beer. Reminds me a little of Zwarte Piet, but without the funk - just chocolate, roast, lactic sourness, and acidic fruits. Hopefully they do some bottles, as this is really unique stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2012 01:42:39 | More by MasterSki

larbush

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

07-15-2012 20:13:19 | More by larbush

JAHMUR

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

06-27-2012 00:16:08 | More by JAHMUR

mjohnson17

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

06-09-2012 12:47:02 | More by mjohnson17

THEOPTIMATOR88

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

06-03-2012 23:08:13 | More by THEOPTIMATOR88

bsuedekum

Missouri

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-26-2012 21:31:15 | More by bsuedekum

Dontcounttoday

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-16-2012 01:22:51 | More by Dontcounttoday

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Kiuchi Hitachino Nest glass.

Gotta give it to the Option boys, as they keep trotting out new and interesting brews, sometimes (along with the dampfbier) in rare and seemingly dying styles. This stuff pours a very dark auburn-black topped by a finger of cream-tan foam. The nose comprises brown sugar, clove, very light cocoa powder, hot cinnamon, and light red wine vinegar. The taste holds notes of light red wine vinegar, light cinnamon, black cherry, tart blood orange, and spicy red wine grapes. An interesting flavor combination, to say the least, but it's pretty tasty. The body is a light medium, with a very light moderate carbonation and a kinda sticky finish. Overall, a somewhat of a surprise of a beer, one that's both unusual and tasty. Keep 'em comin', boys!

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2012 19:32:10 | More by TMoney2591

nmeiborg

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-13-2012 02:00:43 | More by nmeiborg