Cabernale
Craftsman Brewing Co.

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From:
Craftsman Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Fruit and Field Beer
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.56 | pDev: 15.73%
Reviews:
23
Ratings:
41
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 23, 2016
Added:
Nov 20, 2003
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
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Ratings by dac:
Photo of dac
Reviewed by dac from California

2.64/5  rDev -25.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
On tap at Beachwood BBQ Seal Beach, CA

I was a litte leary of this so I cautiously tried a 1 oz sample first. The smell was good and the taste didn't kill me so I went with a full one. This turned out to be not so good an idea.

Served in a baloon wine glass, the color is a murky dark pinkish purple - Like mixing red wine with witbier. Fizzy with a week head.

The aroma is of cabernet grapes- berry jam like, but less vinuous than a wine.

You can't miss the resembelance of this beer with red wine, but with a pronounced sweet wheaty/malt background. Winey fusel alcohol flavors mingle with the grape and malt. But the complexity ended there, there is no oak, and acidic tartness / tannin level is too low to balance the wheaty sweetness. Maybe this was designed for the twenty-something crowd that is being weaned off of kool-aid and sodapop?

What is the most disturbing was the bigtime yeastiness which leaves a nasty cloying sulphuric taste after several sips.

The Cabernale idea is interesting but I hope it is a work in progress. Some things that I think would improve it are a malolactic or lambic fermentation for a fuller more acidic profile , aging in oak and filtering, aging or multiple rackings to reduce the yeast carry over.
Jan 21, 2008
More User Ratings:
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

2.98/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Back before Confession and Wineification, there was Cabernale, the first foray into wine territory for beer (that I'm aware of, unless you count barley and wheatwines, but I digress).

Had a unique purple kind of color with barely anything resembling a head on it, 1/12" at most. Aroma was cool, definitely them cabernet feels.

Taste was something that wasn't enjoyable even in the small taster size dose I was checking out. Didn't think it was all that sour or tart, was just like still life. Tons of tannins mouthfeel. Any bitterness isn't from hops.
Mar 23, 2016
 
Rated: 2 by LakerLeith from California

Nov 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by wethorseblanket from California

Oct 23, 2014
 
Rated: 2.5 by ricecracker420 from California

Jan 31, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by zestar from California

Nov 11, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by moonknight31 from California

Sep 23, 2013
Photo of UCLABrewN84
Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California

3.58/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On tap at Haven Gastropub in Pasadena, CA.

Pours a clear dark red with a foamy reddish-white head that fades to nothing. No lacing on the drink down. Smell is slightly sour and tart with malt, dark fruit, red wine, and woody aromas. Taste is much the same with sour dark fruit and red wine flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of woody bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp and drying mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with a solid citrus dark fruit and wine.
Aug 11, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Gobzilla from California

Jul 18, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by akang from California

Jul 17, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Zbeetleman from California

Jul 16, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by cgentzkow from California

Jun 30, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by CoolEthan from California

Jun 24, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by SocalKicks from California

Jun 24, 2013
 
Rated: 2.75 by Pecan from Arizona

Jun 16, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by DeanMoriarty from California

Jun 15, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by t0rin0 from California

Sep 18, 2012
Photo of notchucknorris
Reviewed by notchucknorris from California

3.28/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
A: Pours a deep reddish and nearly purple color with no head at all. No hints of lacing either.

S: Smells a whole lot like Welch's grape juice. Maybe with a hint of grape bubbleicious thrown in.

T: I don't know, just not a huge fan of this one. Lacks carbonation or any other real flavor besides the sweet grapes. Maybe a hint of grain on the finish? This is a pass for me.
Feb 29, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by tbeq00 from California

Feb 25, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by pmarlowe from Virginia

Feb 18, 2012
Cabernale from Craftsman Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 41 ratings