Sans Pagaie - The Bruery

harrymel

Washington

4.2/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottled once

Looks like cherry 7-up. Clear, no carb except a few loose bubbles at the bottom. Smells primarily of oak, sour cherries, some raw wood, a little tea and some sour character. Tart, cherries (bing with a little pie cherry), oak, slight sweet character in the background, some earthy character I'm having difficulty articulating. Fuck, this is good. Thin with low, but prickly carb and a dry finish. I'm sad to have had this just because more would be hard to get.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 05:08:50 | More by harrymel

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.24/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

I really liked the pink meets yellow appearance, reminded me of Hulk Hogan when he would wear his feather boas. Small even more pink head to it, about 2/5" I would say.

Aroma was tart, sour, the small kind of cherry aroma, lactic acid. Wasn't heavy or pungent, nice deft touches to the aroma. Minimal funk.

Taste, plenty sour, even the blond ale character comes through in the body. The cherry isn't deep or rich like New Glarus Wisconsin Belgian Red, its a different creature altogether. Its a lighter, more bitter, more tart/sour kind of cherry. There is just a touch of wood and vanilla along with the sour notes.

It was real 'fresh' in terms of the cherry notes back around NYE (Another bottle opened courtesy of koufax21 at the Velasquez/Dos Santos 2 fight). Nice and dry delivery, relatively low alcohol makes this a great beer for summertime (wheels turning, should open one at Silva/Weidman pool party fight this summer). While there is a little bit of sweetness, its well placed with this beer. Funkiness to a minimum, which I tend to like. Carbonation is light, which is fine.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 22:31:45 | More by Beerandraiderfan

Beerenauslese

California

4.23/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a Lost Abbey Teku glass. This bottle has been cellar aged a year.

Appearance is clear orange gold. Head dissipates immediately to a ring, with some motile lacing on the glass that quickly runs back down into the beer.

Nose is funky, cheesy, wet hay. There are some cherry notes in there, but not very strong. A little sulfur and some green grassy hops.

This tastes much better than the nose would suggest. Immediately a tart, light cherry and lemony flavor envelops the palate. The sour level is spot on (for my taste) with just a bit of underlying acetic acid, but nothing close to being vinegary. Some green grass hops in the finish round it out. Aging this has brought out a bit more sourness than when fresh, IMO, and I like that, but I wish there was a bit more cherry flavor to work with. Would not recommend aging further, as the little cherry there is will fade.

Body is light and the carbonation is just fizzy enough to give this a refreshing, cleansing mouthfeel. Overall, pretty dry.

A good sour "kriek" that is refreshing to drink on a warm day.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 00:07:33 | More by Beerenauslese

Phelps

Arizona

3.98/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a wine glass.

Rose-orange, with a hint of haze. One inch of bubbles rises after a second and fizzles away just as quickly.

Funky nose. Tons of barnyard and hay stink, a little lemon, pear, vinegar and tart cherry.

In the front of the mouth, sweet and tart cherries make a good showing among hefty funk, lemon peel and pear syrup. Massive vinegar tartness swallows all that up during the swallow, but there's a lingering sweetness and spice that reminds of mulled cider. Good stuff.

Light, effervescent body. Moderate carbonation breaks the beer into a giant amount of fizz as it moves.

I like it. A bit too much to handle by myself -- I feel like I just pounded a glass of vinegar. But tasty.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 23:19:38 | More by Phelps

gueuzedreg

Colorado

4.24/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

My favorite sour from The Bruery is Sour In The Rye; until I had this fresh. I have had many The Bruery fruit forward sours, and I waited too long; so I learned my lesson. I had this one right away. Loved it. Sour blonde with cherries. Delicious. I am so happy that I have two more bottles to enjoy. Keep on with the good work

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 21:17:40 | More by gueuzedreg

writerLJBerg

Oregon

3.53/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750mL split. Thanks!

A: Ruby grapefruit with lively carbonation swarming the glass. Zero head.

N: Loads of cherries and ample oak. Some grapefruit, lemon and fresh leather. A little funk and some zesty pepper.

T: Oak, high levels of sourness and some chery. Strappings of leather. Grapefruit juice and lemon zest. If you wanted to point to the normal taste of a Bruery sour, this is it. Could use more fruit to differentiate.

M: Very lively. Light mouthfeel in keeping with the style.

O: A good beer that needs more fruit to distinguish itself.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 22:15:46 | More by writerLJBerg

gkatsoris

Pennsylvania

4.95/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: Pink grapefruit juice anyone? Goya guava juice.

S: Funkalicious. Wet dog. Tin/copper. Hay. Strawberry. Passion fruit. Cidar vinegar.

T: Delicious. Super complex. Crazy acidic man. Cherry vinegar. Strawberry vinegar. Lemon.

M: Thin and chewy.

O: Maybe the most drinkable wild ale I've ever had.

thanks redliner8!!!

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 22:59:41 | More by gkatsoris

ngeunit1

California

4.38/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A - Hazy bright orange-red with a finger of frothy white head. Fades fairly quickly.

S - Sweet grainy malts, wheat, sour cherries, vanilla, oak, funky yeasts, lemon and other citrus zests, lactic acid.

T - Sweet wheat and grainy malts, sour cherries, tartness, vanilla, oak, funky yeasts and lactic acid, tart lemon and other citrus zests.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a sour, tart, and funky finish.

D - Great wild ale. Good sourness and tartness with good overall balance.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 05:15:55 | More by ngeunit1

kojevergas

California

3.4/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750ml brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap and appealing label served into a New Belgium stem-goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are pretty high; historically I haven't liked The Bruery but I've been realizing recently that their stouts and sours seem to be the exceptions to The Bruery's overcharging-for-garbage modus operandi. I'm a big sour fan, so I'm excited for this.

Served a bit warmer than refrigerator cold. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Not paired with food.

A: Pours a one finger white colour head of fair cream, decent thickness, and above average retention - though the ABV is quite modest. Body colour is a dull muted orange-red. Maybe tangerine to get pretentious. Nontransparent and opaque. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Sourness, bacteria, wild yeast, fermented fruit, fruit skin, light oak. I look for cherries but cannot find them; I just get vague fruit. Then again, me nose is broken. A moderately strong aroma, though it lacks the assertiveness and obvious acidity of most good sours I've had. No alcohol comes through.

T: Bright fruit and fruit skin merged with sourness and a light tart kick. Not sour enough nor tart enough to really satisfy me, but it's a pleasant beginner's sour I suppose. Some pale malts. An oak undertone. The finish has a resurgence of tart sourness accompanied by a luscious malty crispness that I quite fancy. I wish the entire body were as flavorful as the finish. No alcohol is detectable. The fruit is curious; it's not at all cherry - at least not in a kriek sense - but I'd hazard to allege that it's sort of peachy. What cherries were used? Unfortunately, it's worth noting that it's just a bit watery, which really wrecks the build. In spite of that transgression, I'd still call it a mostly balanced beer - albeit a somewhat muted one.

Mf: Smooth, wet, and a bit undercarbonated. Good thickness. Supports the flavours by not intruding, but it adds little to the beer.

Dr: A drinkable beginner's sour, but probably not worth its high pricetag. There are better sours from this brewery at around this price, and I'd see no need to get this one again. Not worth seeking out; its flaws ultimately make it a disappointment. Maybe I was wrong to start being so optimistic about The Bruery.

High B-

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 06:24:41 | More by kojevergas

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle into a matching Bruery snifter. The brew streams a pale color of pink cool aide that rests in my glass looking more of an orange with yellowish golden coloration when held to the light. A white finger of froth is quick to recede to a thin film holding around the perimeter of the glass. Some spotty lace sticks to the glassware as the cap fades and a swirl revives an effervescent finger back to the surface that is again short lived.

The aroma is funky with stinky feet coupled with a medicinal aspect of fruit. More smells reveal a very natural essence of cherries. Earthy and pitted smelling with a bit of yogurt, lacto and more cheese. There is a bit of an oak element that evolves as the brew warms up. Once beyond ideal temperature, the aromatics become increasingly fruity with almost a sweetness derived from what is reminiscent of PEZ candy. Very strange but unique and enjoyable.

The taste is funky and sour with flavors of natural pitted sour or unripe cherries. Like the aroma hinted, there is a pretty solid oak/wet wood inclusion throughout. The fruited element mixing with some tartness and wood makes for a bit of a medicinal feel. The sourness is at times a bit lemony with a very familiar overall feel about this brew that lasts inside the mouth with a pitted fruit flavor of unripe cherry.

This is a light bodied brew with a short lived light level of carbonation visually but inside the mouth it is a bit effervescent and uplifting. I went back and forth between thinking this was just ok and really enjoying it. The last couple of bruery sours I drank I was not the biggest fan of, this one however is much better balanced and overall enjoyable. I am glad I have another bottle of this to revisit sometime. Worth trying if you get the chance.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 01:49:04 | More by stakem

alpinebryant

Connecticut

4.38/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Hazy grapefruit pink color with a foamy white head of tiny bubbles at first. Strong hiss at the time of opening.

S: Funky grapefruit tropical fruit and lacto aromas. hay and pils malt

T: This is a funky American Wild ale. One of the better I have had from The Bruery so far and even after only having a few sips, wish I had more of these to open down the road. Tart green apple granny smith taste with sour grapes.

M: Crisp and highly carbonated, light mouthfeel. Mouthfeel is definitely done right.

O: Again, one of my favorite Wild Ales from the Bruery to date. I hope at some point down the road they will make some form of smaller bottles with these sours and Imperial Old Ales or Imperial Stouts at 16-18% abv.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 00:08:10 | More by alpinebryant

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Bruery tulip. Nose has some bright cherry and shows some initial acidity. Flavor is quite tart with cherry and light skin. Light body; needs more carbonation. Sad to say, this is another disappointing Bruery sour after some others (particularly dark base sours) have shown so much promise.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 19:51:05 | More by Thorpe429

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.03/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks Tom for breaking out this bad boy
The beer pours a hazy pinkish with almost no head. The nose is sweet, tart and aromatic. The nose is slightly reminiscent of cherries and chlorine but there is so much sourness going on that it's just not distinct. The taste is sour with a great amount of fruit and yeast. Very tart, sour mouthfeel that has a lingering fruitiness. Very tasty beer that is worth trying if you're in the mood for a cherry sour.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 04:26:29 | More by ThePorterSorter

cosmicevan

New York

4.08/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Notes from a tasting on 12/6. Big thanks to blake for the share.

Enjoyed from a bruery sniftery tulip.

murky orange pink with thin foamy white head and spotty streaky lacing. smells awesome. tart and fruity. tastes funky and sweet and fruity. a little watery tropical fruit. watery and prickly at the same time. overall nice, not mind blowing, but REALLY good.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 02:07:44 | More by cosmicevan

kevanb

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle poured into a Bruery tulip glass.

This was a beer that I have had a few times since it's release, but was never really impressed by. Having heard some really positive things about how this was aging, I decided to give it a go and see if time has done this beer some favors. The beer pours a light pinkish red color, very clear with a few bubbles rising to the top. A very lively off white head appears momentarily, lots of large loosely packed bubbles, much like a soda, but is gone almost instantly leaving behind no trace of film or lacing. The aroma is pretty nice, heavy on the cherry, mild funk, a good amount of pie spicing and sweetness. It's simple, but to be expected of a Kriek style ale, the Cherry is a bit lighter than I was hoping for, a bit more reminiscent of sweeter canned preserved cherries rather than fresh tart whole cherries. The flavors are almost identical, more cherry than the nose and thankfully it's more tart than sweet. Additionally, there is a decent amount of pie spicing, light vinegar, and a bit of sweet biscuit malt at the finish. The body is nice and light, carbonation is a bit lower than I would have expected giving this a bit of a syrupy feeling.

Verdict: A decent Kriek style Ale from The Bruery, but I'm still not sold on this one. The flavors are almost there, but still come off too artificial and sweet and the syrupy body wasn't doing it for me. I applaud the effort and definitely enjoyed this beer, but it's by no means one of the better sour offerings from The Bruery.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 01:55:32 | More by kevanb

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750mL bottle poured into taster - thanks pat

Pours a brilliant cherry red color with some pinkish hues. Thinner white head fades into spotty film with a few traces of lacing on the glass.

Lightly funky, fruit driven sourness in the nose with cherry and ripe cherry skins. Somewhat lactic, but not overpowering, pie crust and biscuit malts with a hint of vinegar.

Cherry-focused flavor profile with plenty of sour tones and cherry skins. Notes of cherry pie with a touch of sweetness and a thinner biscuit backbone. Tart and funky with oak and a dash of vanilla. Finishes sour and dry with lingering cherry.

Medium body, well carbonated, dry and bubbly on the tongue. Fairly straight forward, yet well crafted cherry pie sour. ::highfive:: Bruery.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 15:07:04 | More by xnicknj

jsanford

Georgia

4.2/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy watermelon-pink with a dense white head that settles to a thin cap and solid ring, with a few spots of bubbles. Funky cherry and cherry pie, lemon juice, and some nice funk. The Bruery's funky beers are becoming more and more recognizable, and very delicious. Great cherry flavors, like tart pie cherries, with oak, brown sugar, tart lemon juice, and more funk. Light and crisp mouthfeel, with a medium-thin body, good carbonation, and a dry, puckering finish. Another solid Sour from the Bruery!

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 04:46:04 | More by jsanford

JohnGalt1

Idaho

4.08/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Got this one in my most recent trade with MCorrea... Thanks a bunch Matt!! Shared tonight with Buckeyeboy... Poured into my slim tulip, a very short lasting white head dies instantaneously.. The brew is hazed light orange with I swear a pink tinge.

Nicely funky... musky... plenty of cherry presence... almost a maraschino element.. lactic and mildly acetic..

Flavor is awesome.. lemon juice and and great cherry essence.. almost like a sour fermented cherry pie... yep, there is even some light malty notes that add a sweetness that ties everything together.

Surprisingly full body for a 5.8% brew.. carbonation is a little light... Very yummy.

3.5/4/4/4/4.5

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 05:17:40 | More by JohnGalt1

billab914

Virginia

4.35/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle poured into my Lost Abbey stemware. Light pink, in color with a thin fizzy head to it. The head faded away rather quickly, but I really liked the color.

The aroma has a very nice sour cherry presence to it. It's got some sharp, tart, moderately acidic notes along with some must and funk to it as well. Really nice aroma overall, the cherries compliment it very well and I really like the bold sour, funky and tart flavors.

The taste shows even more of the cherries, which I'm loving. They show more of the sweeter fruitiness up front, while in the finish the tart sourness really comes out. It's a little sharp up front at first but the finish really dries out and leaves a lingering sour, tartness.

The mouthfeel is light with carbonation feeling towards the lower end of the style. Overall, I thought it was a great beer and one of the best American sours I've had in a while. Admittedly, I'm a huge fan of cherries in anything but I really thought the fresh, fruity, tart cherries were fantastic in it. I thought it was one of the best cherry infused beers I've had and also a very solid American wild ale. Very enjoyable beer overall, and probably my favorite Bruery wild ale so far.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 23:58:28 | More by billab914

dfillius

Michigan

4.35/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pint glass
A: Moderate Pour yields 1/3 finger fizzy chalk white head with poor retention. More head would be nice. Hazy strawberry blonde liquid.
S: Cherry, tart lactic aroma, slight clover honey. Not terribly dynamic but strong for what is there.
T: Tart and yeasty. Tart cherry, lemon juice. What I wish New Glarus Belgian Red would be like - less sweet/cough syrupy. This is not cloying, though does have a pleasant bit of sweetness.
M: Nice and lactic, yeast is hearty, yet yields to the tartness. Puckering lemon juice/atomic warhead character. Me gusta mucho.
O: Quite refreshing. I would love to have another and would by again (or in the first place - thanks warnerry for sharing!)

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 18:48:36 | More by dfillius

kawilliams81

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a Lost Abbey chalice.

A- pours a nice pink with a 2 finger large bubbled white head. Minimal lacing resides quickly.

S- big vinegar, green apples, and some light raspberries.

T- tart green apple and vinegar, and raspberries. Very much follows the nose.

M- light body and medium to high carbonation. Not as acidic or effervescent like many sours.

O- nice sour. 6/10 sour. Nice tartness balanced with slight raspberries and lower effervescence makes it easier to drink than many sours.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 00:00:07 | More by kawilliams81

beagle75

Iowa

4.03/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a half-pint chalice.

A: Slightly hazy, light orange-amber color with a continuous peripheral ring of fine white bubbles. Scant lacing remains on the glass.

S: Fruit and yeast, including some pronounced brettanomyces, are found to be in excellent balance. Little sourness is suggested here, which contrasts the actual flavor.

T: Begins very dry, with bread, baker's yeast, and assertive cherries that marry well with the tartness and high acidity. Faint vanilla is present in the middle as fruit fades somewhat. The finish is mild by comparison, where lactic acidity stands out the most but bitterness is absent.

M: Thin to medium viscosity, acidic on the palate, with low carbonation.

D/O: This respectable sour has vestiges of Russian River Supplication, particularly in its yeast and fruit qualities. While distinctly sour, it lacks the sharpness of that other beer. It is well-rounded overall, with late lactic tartness and lingering fruit combining for a strong finish.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 20:05:14 | More by beagle75

dhbiker0889

Colorado

4.55/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Pours a pink, almost grapefruit color. Fairly cloudy with little head and pretty much no lacing.

S- Sweet and sour. Can really smell the cherries with a slight hint of vanilla and strawberry.

T- Follows the nose closely. Very sour upfront and can definatly taste the cherry. A little bit of funk and a trace of oak. Overall very delicious.

M- Quite a bit of carbonation but it really adds to this beer. The body is not very heavy at all.

O- Very delicous beer. Simple flavors the work very well together. Would definitely like to try it again

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 20:15:27 | More by dhbiker0889

inlimbo77

Delaware

4.23/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml
Poured into a Pinocchio's tulip

A: Pours out a blush pink color. Even without the yeast in there, it's fairly cloudy/hazy. Initially a faint line of bright white head. This fades into nothing really quickly. No lacing left on the glass.

S: Smells of sharp tart sourness. Lactic acid. Nice cherry character is there. Some vanilla. Then the tart green apple and a touch of vinegar.

T: Tart acidic bite on the tip of the tongue. Then you get some nice cherry character in the medium of the mouth. Not that medicinal cherry, but natural fruitiness. Definitely getting some barrel hints with touches of vanilla. The close is fairly puckering and dry. This is a really well done beer, kriek in style.

M: This is a BIG light leading to medium bodied. It's a very round mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 18:32:42 | More by inlimbo77

sweemzander

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750mL bottle poured into a tulip. Thanks Chris for sharing!

(A)- Pours a very cloudy/murky blush red color (looks like grapefruit juice). Some white froth formed.

(S)- A nice clean, albeit dry oaky profile with some crazy fresh berry fruits: strawberry, raspberry, and cherry; very vibrant.

(T)- Again, very clean (no funk). Tons of fresh fruit and a subtle dry oak. Very very subtle acidity.

(M)- A good carbonation level. A nice balance of acidic fruit and oak. A rather subtle sourness, but it is there.

(D)- Another solid wild ale from the Bruery. The sourness is subtle, but such a vibrant combo of fruits and dry oak that I almost did not miss it. Time might help the sourness to round out though.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 14:45:51 | More by sweemzander