Cascade Apricot Ale - Cascade Brewing / Raccoon Lodge & Brewpub

everetends

Alabama

4.5/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle sent to me by the great Reino. Been looking forward to trying some Cascade stuff and he told me to get on this as quickly as possible. So here we are. Served up in my large Free the Hops tulip.

A: Caged and corked bottle. Cage was incredibly tight, but that was probably due to shipping reasons now that I think about it. Smart move. HUGE pop off the cork with a foggy gun smoke on the open. Pours a light, golden brown. Held to the light, the color doesn't change much. Just lightens a bit. The body is a bit murky. Not clear, but not crazy cloudy either. The head that built off this was a good two fingers for sho, falls in due time to a solid finger. The head is a really nice and brilliant white and has some really nice stick to it. Nice and creamy, it sits on the glass nicely with a good sticky lace. Lazy carbonation activity. Doesn't get much better in the appearance category.

S: Nice aroma. Getting some fresh and dried apricot aromas kickin around in here. The apricot aroma is so clear and clean, just blatant apricot and I am lovin on it. It has that flanders sour and tart aroma, very tannic at times. Any malt is taking a back seat to the sour and yeasty quality. Fruit reigns here. The great thing is that the aromas are all fruit, but they still have subtlty. It may not sound complex, but it is great.

T: One word: delightful. The first thing that hits you is that flanders sour and tartness. Probably a bit more tart than sour. As you swallow, the apricot flavor is perfect. Seriously. It is perfectly clean, ripe apricot meat. Just so easily found and enjoyed. Fruity and floral at times. Lightly sweet but sour and tart are the main profile. Slight touch of wood on the back end, that may be where the sweetness is coming from. Little bit of Belgian yeast hanging around in the background. Lingering tannins give a touch of bite.

M: Light side of medium in body. has some weight to it, but still nice and light. Almost fluffy. Just has a nice pillowy texture that then is replaced by a little bit of carbonation bite and tartness. Slightly puckering but not out of hand. ABV is . . . does this have alcohol in it? Not getting any heat at all from this. Aftertaste is apricot meat and tannins.

D: This is going to be no problem to kill. If you like Apricots, this is your beer. So . . . it is my beer. The apricot is just so well translated in aroma and flavor. Its crazy. ABV and feel doesn't hurt at all. Just so easy to drink and just fantastic. You can tell a lot of love went into this beer and it is much appreciated to this Alabama beer lover. Lives up to the Cascade hype and then some. Awesome. Simply awesome.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2010 04:22:35 | More by everetends

mdfb79

New York

3.88/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From notes, got to sample this at SC Day on 2/6/09.

a - A nice amber/copper color with a small amount of head.

s - Amazing how it smells like pure apricot. Very sweet smell, I really enjoyed it.

t - Taste is a bitter sweet apricot taste. It had a little funk and was a little more bitter than I was expecting, but it was still very good.

m - Light to medium body with small to moderate carbonation.

d - Overall this was a very interesting and enjoyable lambic. I thought the smell was amazinf and the taste pretty good. I thought it would be a little less bitter and am not sure if I could drink a whole one without sharing, but I was very glad I got to try it and enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2010 03:46:06 | More by mdfb79

satowns

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

thanks to ktolley for prividing this great beer

limited tasting notes from a post holiday party

Appetizing fruity, dusty aroma.

flavors of obvious apricot. hints of clove and ginger. slight citrusy hops. slight invigorating "sweet tart" tartness. minimal wood contribution...actually i wouldnt even know there was wood involved if the label didnt inform us...

delightful beer. this would be amazing for sitting on the porch in the dead of summer. extremely refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2010 03:59:09 | More by satowns

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.8/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

What an amazing beer! This is the 2008 vintage at 9% abv. Slightly murky orngein color wih a very nice mousse-like head that leaves some lacing. Wonderful aromas of crushed ripe apricots with some tannic notes from the skins. Similar depth of flavor in the mouth, with vibrant ripe apricot,tnnin from the skins, a deep background bitternes, and a lactic tartness throuhout. Wonefuly balnced, quenching and evocative of a summers day. Fairly tart and lactic in the mouth, this is just deligtful all around.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2009 02:14:43 | More by Georgiabeer

rye726

Colorado

4.53/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

'08 Vintage 9.0%

Pours a woody brown with a silky beige head. Excellent lacing and retention.

Nose has apricot, oak, tart citrus, candy malts, white wine, manure and horse blanket.

Taste also has a nice apricot presence followed by sweet malts, sour tropical fruits, wood and barnyard funk.

Medium body has a crisp carbonation. Finish lacks some dryness.

Overall, an impressive offering from Cascade.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2009 01:50:02 | More by rye726

IBUnit63

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Relatively quiet pop of the composite cork that was a pliers-size bitch to get out of the corked & caged 750 bottle. Hell, the cage was wicked tight, too - wire handle a little too small. Either way, it's going into a Duvel tulip.

There's not a lot of head here - just a few light bubbly wisps above a...well...apricot-colored...body (at least slightly). Slight honey and bourbon tones, too. A few extremely slow wisps of carbonation. The wisps stay for a while and leave a little decent lace.

Nice beastie smell layered and well-blended with huge apricot essence, with a little bit of added muscat notes. Huge yeast electricity and raw grains make this an enjoyable scent.

It's dry...of course it is...but not as dry as, say, something like Fou Fonne, which is Dust Bowl dry. A smidge of residual apricot sweetness melds with a dry balsa wood/oak complement, and the light Belgian malts provide the appropriate backbone.

Palate feel provides great acidity along with the oak/lacto combination. Apricot ripeness preclude the supreme pucker we would otherwise expect; hops? Not really part of the equation - perhaps a mild addition of Styrian Goldings but that's about it. Good Belgian pale malt character along with an extra dry sweet & sour notion.

This one works. It works slowly, but it works. Just what I was in the mood for...something less dry than Brute yet less beefy than the bottle of Consecration I have downstairs.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2009 02:37:22 | More by IBUnit63

nickd717

California

4.03/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle from City Beer Store in SF. $20, wow this is expensive.

A - Pours orangish-copper with a small white head and average retention.

S - Aroma is tart apricot, mildly sweet pale malt, and oak.

S - Both tart and a little sweet with lots of apricot, peach, oak, pale malt, and sugar. I don't consider apricot one of the better fruits to make a beer with, but this is good. I like a little sweetness to balance sour ales.

M - Body is medium and palate has a nice acidic sharpness to it.

D - Pretty good for a sour beer. Kept wanting more.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2009 17:33:27 | More by nickd717

mykie73

Oregon

4.35/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A) Cloudy, brilliant orange with beautiful copper head.

S) sour apricots, sweet vinegar, Mandarin oranges,

T) Sweet on tongue to mild sourness on back end. minimal sourness and tartness, can taste the tripel as one of the base beers.

F) light w/ nice bite. dries mouth a bit. tingles mouth w/ tripel carbonation. This beer could cellar for a long time.

D) Could drink this all night even with high alch percentage, but a bit expensive. great gateway mild sour lambic.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2009 04:31:47 | More by mykie73

aerozeppl

New York

4.47/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

" It is a wild ale and we have a wild ale tasting coming up right?"

A:Really clear amber color with one finger of white head. Visible carbonation. Nice lacing.

S: Fresh cut apricots. Very sweet smelling. Vibrant apricots. Amazing really.

T: Little bit of funk. Nice apricot taste. Not that complex but when the beer smells like an apricot tree who cares?

M:Very nice. Medium side of light. Well carbonated.

D: No hint of the 9% at all. I have drank a few of their beers now and either they are lying or masters of making super drinkable big beers.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2009 00:45:21 | More by aerozeppl

Overlord

California

4.08/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a bright golden orange. Big frothy white foam head. Gobs of carbonation left on the glass.

Smells faintly of apricots, but it's not really in your face, bursting with apricots. It's harmonized with a familiar funky, barnyard, and zesty lemony twang. This is going to be good, isn't it.

The apricots are much more bursting in the flavor, but again, the balance of the brew is quite remarkable. I've had three beers (so far) from this brewery, and two have been really good (Sang Royal and this one), and one was awful (The Vine). I'm beginning to suspect more and more that something was off about that bottle. The apricots taste really fresh, the funk is muted and harmonious, and the hint of vinous vinegar is mixed with a bit of lemony citrus and apricot really well.

The apricots can be a bit much after a while, but very good. Nice zesty mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2009 06:07:55 | More by Overlord

Docer

Washington

4.15/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2008 bottle, poured into a tulip glass... 9% Alc. as listed.

- Slightly cloudy on the second pour, white foamy head about an inch thick down to a steady 1/4" at all times.. copper/amber color.

- Great tart and ester smell.. little bit of vinegar, apricot, grape and peach.. little bit of candy sweetness, and oak.

- Warming but yet very sour and tasty.. the alcohol is well hidden and this has some of the best oak barrel notes I have tasted. Very good for its style.

- Tart sourness left on the lips, and a clean palate in the mouth.. overall very good, and leaves no dryness...

- Other than being a bit bubbly like a sparkling wine (as it should for the style) its very drinkable, and I downed the whole bottle... very good.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2009 15:28:48 | More by Docer

tpd975

Florida

4/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

big thanks to kersta and someone else for sending this one to me.

A: Pours a nice light orange hue with a small fizzy white head. No real retention or lace to speak of. Plenty of fizz though with a simple swirl of the glass.

S: Nice light dried apricot aromas. Hints of light vinegar and a touch of sweet tart.

T: Nice mild taste. Real enjoyable on a hot night. Real earthy apricot up front. A blast of acid in the middle. The end has a bit of tart under ripe peach, and some nice fresh oak.

M: Light, zippy, tasty.

D: Good, enjoyed sipping on this one while watching the NASCAR. Who says NASCAR and sour does not mix?

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2009 14:25:23 | More by tpd975

Floydster

California

4.43/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml corked and caged bottle purchased over the phone from the brewery about a year ago, had this along with the Kriek, Cuvee, and Blackberry with four friends a few nights ago, reviewed from notes, poured into a snifter, color is a deep golden orange, ¾ inch bubbly white head, good retention, some lacing at first, aroma consists of apricot, oranges, peaches, lacto, sweet malt, tartiness, oak, and sugar, flavor begins with a nice dry apricot flavor, sour and sweet in the middle, marmalade-like at times, finish has a big lacto character along with an astringent finish, warms up with more fruit coming to the surface, also a big citrus component here, sour and sweet mouthfeel, medium bodied, nice carbonation, could drink this whole bottle easily and actually have of the previous year's vintage a few months ago, smooth and no alcohol present even though it packs a pretty good punch for a sour, will drink again, recommended

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2009 19:31:29 | More by Floydster

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.18/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Sampled June 2009
A solid pour into my large Tripel Karmeliet glass produces a three finger thick, light tan colored head that slowly subsides in to a persistent, dense, creamy layer of foam that resides atop the beer. The beer is a bright copper hue that shows a brilliantly clear, beautiful, orange-gold hue when held up to the light. The aroma smells of fresh, floral, ripe apricots, not quite as exuberant in volume as an actual rip apricot, but it definitely captures the essence quite well. The aroma has me picturing myself biting into a perfectly ripe apricot that is sweet and tart with a bit of tannic character in the skin. There is not a whole lot of other, more beery notes going on here, but the fleshy, skin scented apricot notes are so alive and fresh here that I am finding the nose quite interesting. The nice thing is that apricots are not a in your face fruit, so even though they are the dominant note here in the nose it is still not a loud, in-your face apricot character. After the beer has warmed up for a bit there is perhaps a touch of dough-like malt in the nose, but it is still quite subtle if not down right fleeting.

The beer is lightly tart tasting and is infused with a floral, almost flower-nectar essence of apricots. The beer finishes with a touch of a tannic bit as well as a wisp of higher alcohols and some spiciness that seems to be influenced by spicy oak notes and a touch of wood-character. The finish doesn't shake the infused apricot essence that perfumes the whole of this beer though. The lactic tartness, while present and noticeable, really serves to accentuate the fruit character here; it melds with the fresh fruit notes and intertwines with it in such a way that one really just imagines the tartness of a biting into a fresh, perfectly ripe, apricot. There is a bit of a bite to the finish here, a bitterness from the hops used in the Tripel. There are also some warming alcohol notes here in the finish, but they are quite mellow for a Tripel, more contributing to the general spiciness than anything. There is just enough residual sweetness here to boost the fruit flavor just that much more; I wouldn't describe this as a sweet beer, though it isn't bone dry either. The finish is quite dry, but still has a floral, flower-nectar note to it that lingers on in the palate along with a clean, peppery spice note.

The second pour has a bit more haziness to it, which corresponds with a touch of a yeast bite. I really like the balance between floral, fruity apricot flavors and the spicy, bitter, peppery finish, these notes balance together quite well and even lead into the next sip, thus continuing the cycle of flavors. The body is light enough to be dangerously quaffable, it is well within the Tripel range though (for instance it is not as light as something like a Duvel that is at the same strength). A hint of phenolics become noticeable and they subtly tie in with the spicy finish. I like how the oak plays a truly supporting role here, it adds to the tannic structure and the spiciness of the finish, but isn't overtly noticeable.

This seems to have rounded & softened up a bit since I tasted this back in October. It is much more fruit focused, or at least some of the sharper phenolic notes seem to have aged out such that the fruit is much more noticeable. It is still not overly funky, in fact it is arguably not very complex (except that it does achieve a complex apricot character), but it is such a great use of this particular fruit; it is certainly the quintessential apricot beer that I have had. As a show case for the use of fruit in beer it easily out shines the sticky sweet New Glarus stuff by a long mile. If you like apricots and I mean you are a stickler for only enjoying fresh, abundantly ripe ones, then this is the beer for you.

October 2009
3/4/4/3/3.5
3.65

The beer pours with a pale gold color that is quite clear. It is topped by a pale, white colored ring of a head with a careful pour. The aroma is quite fruity, as expected, but also has as significant floral and even almost herbal edge to it in the finish. The apricot is noticeable, but not overly expressive. There is a light sourness to the aroma as well and the fruit notes remind me of a mix of apricot and Meyer lemon.

The beer is quite dry, pretty light bodied, definitely tart and has a nice aromatic-flavor of apricots; the apricot character is fleshy, almost juicy in quality. This finishes with some phenolic notes in the finish that adds a light, biting sharpness and there is also a bit of astringency. The phenolics contribute a mix of notes of curing plastic and a pale smokiness, though these are kept fairly muted. This is quite drinkable and really hides its alcohol quite well, I wouldn't have guessed that the base beer, before souring and fruit, was a Tripel. It could use a bit more complexity to be truly great, but it is quite drinkable and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2009 18:16:51 | More by Gueuzedude

HopHead84

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2008 Vintage. Though the bottle says something about it being good for aging, I've now had the 2007 and the 2008, and the fresher bottle is far superior to the aged bottle. The apricots were dull in the 2007 bottle and vibrant in the 2008 bottle.

The beer is light orange with a white head. The retention is good.

The aroma is sugary, with some lactic character. Fresh and ripe apricots dominate the nose. They smell pretty fantastic. The flavor is sugary ripe apricots with just a little tartness, tannins, and astringency. I don't know that I'd call this a sour; I think fruit beer is more accurate. For the high ABV, I tasted no alcohol.

The beer is light bodied and light on the tongue, with an enjoyable high level of carbonation. Though there is a little lactic character and a little tartness, I'd call this a fruit ale rather than a wild ale. If you open it thinking "wild" I think you'll be disappointed by how tame the beer is, but it's a quality fruit beer for sure. It's subtle and authentic, like all of Cascade's stuff.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2009 07:49:12 | More by HopHead84

tendermorsel

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

poured into a pint glass.

The head was thick and long lasting. The color of fresh Apricots. Very lactic nose. Sweet smelling with funky aroma. Extremely lactic in taste. Very little brett flavors. The balance of the Apricots and that high levels of Lacto was near perfect. Tons of mouthsweat and puckering on this one. 9% for real? The alcohol was bearly noticable. Some points take from drinkability as it was very very sour and quite a slow sipping beer.

Awesome beer. I really like what Cascade is been doing. 2 of the three I have tried homeruns.

This is a extreme beer. Not for everyone. If you are into sours however I would highly reccomend this one. It's a really good American take on a sour beer. Perhaps one of the best I have had.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2009 17:02:36 | More by tendermorsel

JoeMayo

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- Pours a golden/orange color, approaching amber with a soft, light tan head. Large spots of lacing are left on the sides of the glass.

S- Very fresh-smelling. The first thing that hits the nose is fresh, sweet apricots. Notes of peaches and a creamy aroma come through as well. I wasn't able to smell ANYTHING that would suggest that this was going to be sour.

T- Very sour with lactic acid. No other sourness was noted, other than a strong lactic sour flavor. The fruit was far more subtle that I thought it would be, based on the smell. The fresh apricot flavor comes through a little more clearly as the beer warms.

M- Light bodied, effervescent and crisp.

D- A bit of a sipper, considering how sour it is, but overall very good. I think it may have been "sour for the sake of being sour", but I still really enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2009 13:06:56 | More by JoeMayo

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

4.4/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750ml vintage 2008 bottle at 55 degrees.

A loud pop of the cork revealed a massive, spongy pour. Three inches-plus of dense white froth into the tulip with sparkling clarity through a gold body. This beers sings to you with an expressive crackling of carbonation until the head fades to a thick coating on the surface. Plenty of ripped sheets of froth throughout the glass.

Aromatics lead off with a blast of juicy apricots. Some light wheat twang and funky brett follows through. A honey-like sweetness towords the end along with hints of cut grass, coriander, and mint-rubbed cloves.

Light bodied with a crisp, sharp mouthfeel. Snappy and quenching.

Plump apricots and a quickly building lactic sharpness start the palate. Loads of fresh apricots persist in tandem with a lingering sourness. Hints of pineapple, tangerine, and lemon pith follow through.

Finishes with a lengthy tartness just short of jowel-watering, juicy apricots and a spicy warmth.

Wowza, this ones tasting super fresh and very tart. Incredibly quenching and sharp with loads of apricot. Maybe a bit more funk and sourness would be nice but a great beer nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2009 23:24:06 | More by brewandbbq

Jayli

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours a clear honey colored with a one finger off-white head. Nice head retention - certainly more than I had anticipated in a lambic. Nose is drenched in apricot with a bit of a boozy smell, and the sourness definitely comes through. Taste is apricot mixed with a sourness that balances well. Nose would lead you to believe that the taste would be much more sweet. There is a pretty sweet finish to this, but doesn't leve much of an aftertaste. Mouthfeel is reminiscent of wine, but the carbonation in here definitely gives you the beer feel. VERY dry finish, and I liked it for this beer. This is an outstanding fruit beer. Not my style to sit with for an evening - but definitely one that could be enjoyed with friends.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2009 00:43:05 | More by Jayli

largadeer

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks for sharing this one, Arne. 750ml bottle into a couple of pint glasses. Straw-colored with good clarity, for the first pour at least, with a small 1 finger head that dissipated pretty quickly. Big fruity aroma with a touch of musty barrel beneath. There isn't much tripel character left in the aroma beyond the faintest hint of pale malt. Nicely balanced on the palate; not bracingly sour by any means. Light lemony tartness, just a hint of funk. Dry and grainy, big apricot flavor minus the sweetness. Little bit of cardboard-like oxidation in the finish. Great stuff; it lands somewhere between a standard fruit beer and a wild ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2009 19:10:29 | More by largadeer

JohnGalt1

Idaho

4.2/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750 purchased from the brewpub back in November .. I've been sitting on this one for too long... poured into my Chimay goblet..

1" head dies back quick.. not a great cap.. and only little lacing.. I guess that is sorta expected with the acidity and the higher ABV.. the brew is hazy lite orange.

The nose is more fruity than sour.. sorta smells like the bottom of a apricot basket in the heat of summer (in a good way :-) Obvious apricot and a significant amount of sour..

Flavor is better.. It is amazing how much better apricots work better on the palate than the nose.. flavor is sorta jammy for about a quarter second.. Then the sour hits with a lactic slam.. not acetic like the blackberry.. the palate reminds me of yellow cling peach essence and fresh apricot skin.

The body is way heavier than most American sours.. but it honestly helps with the thick fruitiness on this one.. The carbonation combined with the acid sorta sucks the saliva from my mouth.. It is by no means dry. just sour from the fruit and the lactic additions.. Drinkablity take a hit on my book just because it is sorta heavy AND sour.. subtract carefully either element and it helps.. but now... on this nearly 9% bottle.. and this is a sipper that I really probably should have shared with somebody else.

Hugely interesting.. and the backbone beer actually shows through with the triple maltiness.. and helps everything tie together quite well.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2009 08:38:43 | More by JohnGalt1

goodbyeohio

Oregon

3.83/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

2007 vintage

soured belgian tripel aged with fresh apricots. golden, crystalline, a joy to the eye. the nose on this beer is pure fruit.. and the way the wild yeast grips the flavors of the tripel.. this is really puckering. less lactic, more fou-foune-y. the beer was rather high gravity to start, and that adds a real pleasant sipping aspect to the experience. most big sours ive had carry some excess sweetness, not this one. balanced for a fruit beer, consumer must love apricots.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2009 23:12:23 | More by goodbyeohio

skourtis

Oregon

4.65/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

From the Cascade Website:
"Features the intense aroma of fresh-picked, slow ripened Northwest apricots warmed by the summer sun. Based on a Belgian Tripel, this beer went through 16 months lactic fermentation and aging in French oak wine barrels."

Tasting at the Brewery - Poured by Ron himself.

A- Medium off-white head atop hazy golden body

S- Apricot with oak tones. Sweet smell with a definite lactic smell after the initial scent. Mad my tastebuds cry out for a swill

T- Apricot and other fruits from trees biting back with an almost sour apple feel on the tastebuds.

M- Lactic burn finished with a smooth-as-silk sweet finish

D- Rivals and dominates any fruit beer I have ever enjoyed. This beer demands respect and it is well deserved. Opening a bottle of this on a summers evening is nirvana.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2009 03:50:39 | More by skourtis

brentk56

North Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a hazy honey color with a modest head that splashes dots of lace

Smell: Apricot nectar with hints of sourness

Taste: Although the tart flavors make an immediate appearance and build through mid-palate, there is a distinctive apricot tone that persists; after the swallow, the sourness becomes more mellow and woody, but the apricot flavor remains

Mouthfeel: Medium body with low carbonation

Drinkability: The flavor profile is compelling; with bit more carbonation, this would be extraordinary

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2008 20:03:10 | More by brentk56

RedDiamond

Oregon

3.38/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This tart, fruited ale is first brewed as a Belgian-style tripel with a commercial ale yeast. It undergoes eight months of conditioning in oak wine barrels exposed to "free range lactobacillus" bacteria to achieve its characteristic lactic souring. This is followed by an infusion of ripe apricots and three months of further fermenting and conditioning. The beer is then bottled and allowed to condition for several more months.

The result is a golden ale with a casually hazed hue pocked by a few wayward flocs. After an initial outpouring of carbonation, no head or lace emerges. Instead, a wine-like tartness arrives with no appreciable apricot properties. This carries forward to the flavor where apricot essence is just mildly evident. A sour apple quality defines the greater part of it with a slight gingery bite. Bittering and hop flavor are deliberately withheld.

Cascade Apricot is a simple and momentarily elegant ale though it is somehow incomplete without a more fully expressed measure of fruit flavor. Give it some warming and a wishful hint of apricot does emerge.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2008 01:40:20 | More by RedDiamond