-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Sour Opal
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
- From:
- Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Wild Ale
Ranked #133 - ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 95
Ranked #1,503 - Avg:
- 4.29 | pDev: 7.46%
- Reviews:
- 52
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Oct 25, 2022
- Added:
- Sep 23, 2012
- Wants:
- 44
- Gots:
- 45
We’ve patiently waited for two years to offer you this exquisite ale! Sour Opal retraces its roots to the lambic cellars of the town of Brussels and the Senne River valley, in Belgium. This American “Gueuze” represents a spectrum of flavors from a traditional barrel aged sour ale, complete with aromas of aged cheese and a distinct earthy mustiness that can only be found in a well cellared barrel aged sour. The complexity and balanced flavors of Sour Opal can be attributed first to the crisp assertive tannic acidity of the Viognier barrels. Oak-derived flavors and aromas mingle with guava, passion fruit, pineapple and tart cherry notes. This beer rounds out with a crisp clean and quenching acidity as well as a mild grape fruitiness that is intensified by a higher carbonation level.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by raiderandbeerfan:
Reviewed by raiderandbeerfan from Nevada
4.14/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.14/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap at the source in Buellton. Pours out looking like a blonde wild ale. Kept a thin white head on it for a little bit of time. Aroma was lemony sour. Not super complex, but inviting.
Taste, hits the spot, pretty acidic without the vinegar notes. Mouthfeel still lingers acidic, citrus, enjoyable. A hint of mustiness, could use more. Just depends how clean you like your wild ales. I'd buy if the bottles were around $10, but over that, pass.
Sep 19, 2015Taste, hits the spot, pretty acidic without the vinegar notes. Mouthfeel still lingers acidic, citrus, enjoyable. A hint of mustiness, could use more. Just depends how clean you like your wild ales. I'd buy if the bottles were around $10, but over that, pass.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by mschrei from Illinois
4.6/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.6/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I love FW barrel aged program, be it stouts, barleywines, or wild ales. This is no exception. Hazy golden orange with mild head and lacing. Funky Brett smell with tart notes of apricot and citrus that delivers on the taste. Not a strong barrel character, but a mild alcohol presence. Crisp, dry, refreshing, an easy sipper. Excellent.
Sep 06, 2021Reviewed by StoutElk_92 from Massachusetts
4.71/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.71/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Batch: No. 003 Bottled: 05/08/17
Pours golden amber orange with a creamy frothy white foam head. Smells like vanilla beans, coconut, toffee, toasty oak barrel, caramelized bready malt, lemon, apricot, dusty hay, straw, barnyard, mild nutty dry aged cheese, with floral earthy herbal grassy hops. Tastes lambic-esque with notes of lemon, tart apricot, cider, sweet vinegar, woody spice complexity, vanilla, coconut, toasty wine oak barrel, dusty hay, straw, toffee, caramelized bready crackery malts, ocean mist, with some floral earthy herbal grassy hops. Feels medium bodied, creamy slick with smooth moderate carbonation. Overall a really nice blended gueuze style ale.
Jun 29, 2020Pours golden amber orange with a creamy frothy white foam head. Smells like vanilla beans, coconut, toffee, toasty oak barrel, caramelized bready malt, lemon, apricot, dusty hay, straw, barnyard, mild nutty dry aged cheese, with floral earthy herbal grassy hops. Tastes lambic-esque with notes of lemon, tart apricot, cider, sweet vinegar, woody spice complexity, vanilla, coconut, toasty wine oak barrel, dusty hay, straw, toffee, caramelized bready crackery malts, ocean mist, with some floral earthy herbal grassy hops. Feels medium bodied, creamy slick with smooth moderate carbonation. Overall a really nice blended gueuze style ale.
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4.25/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottled 5/8/17; drank 9/4/17 @ the Yarchives.
Cloudy orange appearance; champagne bubbles throughout.
A rough pour yielded a nice bright white head; a thick curtain of lace.
Tart lemon, honeyed wheat & faint dandelion notes in the nose.
Medium mouthfeel.
Tart lemon & honeyed wheat flavors up front; mildly dry dandelion notes on the finish.
A bold, flavorful American sour; above average & worthy of a quaff anytime.
Oct 03, 2019Cloudy orange appearance; champagne bubbles throughout.
A rough pour yielded a nice bright white head; a thick curtain of lace.
Tart lemon, honeyed wheat & faint dandelion notes in the nose.
Medium mouthfeel.
Tart lemon & honeyed wheat flavors up front; mildly dry dandelion notes on the finish.
A bold, flavorful American sour; above average & worthy of a quaff anytime.
Reviewed by Hopheadjeffery from Illinois
4.21/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Batch 3 2017 vintage tasted in a Rastal Teku from a bottle on December 31, 2018. Notes of musty blankets, stinky aged cheese, oak, guava, passion fruit, pineapple and tart cherry notes. Feel is crisp, clean and a little acidic.
Feb 05, 2019
Sour Opal from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
95 out of
100 with
322 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!