Cascade Sang Royal - Cascade Brewing / Raccoon Lodge & Brewpub

PEBKAC

New York

3.35/5  rDev -24.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

One of many bottles sent to me by "Batman & Robin" while I was incapacitated at home. Thanks guys.

Into my Ommegang Anniversary glass. A turbid, rusty brown color. Just a bit of greasy sheen on the airy, low-clinging, khaki-ish colored head.

Smell is a mix of soaking wood chips, red wine vinegar, & pickle juice. Somewhat medicinal. It could of been better. The fruit was there, but besides some pits & skins, it wasn't the dominate smell.

It tasted like it spent too long in the barrel. More tannins then even some harsher red wines I've had. Incredibly oaky. Too much oak really. Lemons. Very tart, edgy lemons. Grape/cherry/apple skins. It tasted like cherries too, yes. Throat clenching, acidic cherries. A sweet & sour mix, mostly focusing on the briny, sour bitterness, & not so much on any ripe fruit that I was hoping for.

Feel was all wood. Dry to the point you need a lager chaser. Carbonation was pretty sturdy, but it didn't need much to cut the muddy body.

I guess I was expecting something "juicier". Dry, tart, & sour is good combination at times, but all the puckering made my enjoyment of it minimal. Though once it became warmer & fell a bit flat, it was actually somewhat easier to enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2010 06:02:42 | More by PEBKAC

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -21%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

pour is dark murky brown with creamy light brown head. Nose is sour, light red grape and malt olive. More bright dark berry behind. Taste is similar, very sour with a malty olive quality, loads or sour red grapes and light oak. Hint of lactic acid and vanilla underneath. Feel is ok, a hint grainy and extremely carbonated. Fairly dry finish and a touch oily.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 17:37:16 | More by cpetrone84

writerLJBerg

Oregon

3.53/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle from the brewery.

A: Deep purple bordering on a shade of midnight. Very thin berry colored foam. Slides off glass.

N: Red and green grape. Lactic acid as expected. Currants and plums. Fair amount of acetone and glue. More sharp lactic acid and some leather from the pinot barrels.

T: Tons of sharp lactic acid. Leather and currants. Sweet tarts, lemon,and sour clementine. Plums and vinous grapes. Some tannins.

M: Oily and slick, as is the Cascade norm. Alcohol is light.

O: Don’t know how much this has benefited from extended aging in the barrel. Puckeringly sour and lacking dimension. Meh. It doesn’t taste bad, but it no beauty, either.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 05:54:16 | More by writerLJBerg

Patrick

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Pours a cloudy dark ruby color with a two finger light tan head that has a bit of ruby to it as well.

S: Smells pretty acetic, like acetic cherries with some soft vanilla notes. Overall, lots of sour.

T: Lots of sour cherry up front with a quick transition to a dark fruit taste. The end is mostly acetic and I am not getting much vanilla or oakiness.

M: Well carbonated, dry, crisp, tannic, would have liked a bit more smoothness from the oak and less acetic character.

D: Not a bad beer, can't think of what it reminds me of though.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2009 23:25:28 | More by Patrick

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.75/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle. Pours a reddish brown with a thick, foamy tan head. Aroma is very sour with some lacto and a light fruitiness (apple skins) that could be cherries but is pretty indistinct. Flavor is super super sour, like sucking on a sour lemon with a tart cherry finish. Tart, sour, and lactic. I would like more cherry. Good beer, a bit tart for me though.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2009 18:13:13 | More by LilBeerDoctor

kscaldef

Oregon

3.78/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 Vintage at the Barrel Room

A: small tan head with an edge of grey rapidly dissipates to a ring of medium bubbles. Murky red color.

S: Port and cherry aromas are detectable from a distance. Lactic tang, a bit of apple. A little bit of wood. Some whiffs of funk when swirling. Wish the Barrel House served their beers in glasses better suited to assessing aroma.

T: Woody and earthy, lots of lactic. Hard to pick out specifics, but there's lots of dark fruit and some wine notes.

M: Well carbonated, medium body. Good linger. Some mild astringency.

O: Rich, complex and tasty, although the flavors sort of blur together making it hard to pick out the details. Quite enjoyable, though.

Serving type: on-tap

05-12-2011 20:42:47 | More by kscaldef

zhanson88

Montana

3.98/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a dark mahogany color that is slightly hazy, with dark ruby hints around the edges. There is about a half finger of dark tan head that reduces pretty quickly, leaving a bit of lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell: Big currant scents on the nose. Also black cherries, oak, very light funk, a bit of lemony sourness and vinegar. Seems like this one is going to be fairly sour.

Taste: I get a lot of black cherries and currants up front. Hints of oak and a good deal of sourness on the back end. Lots of vinegar notes. Finish is oak, sourness and currant intermingling.

Mouthfeel/Overall: This beer is light to medium bodied with a moderate amount of spritzy carbonation. Overall, I enjoyed this beer quite a bit. Not my favorite of the night, as it does turn a bit more sour as I'd like to see. I would definitely have it again though.

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2011 05:43:46 | More by zhanson88

sweemzander

Illinois

4/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750mL corked and caged bottle poured into a snifter. Thank you Scott for sharing!

(A)- Pours a pale blush red color. Some off white bubbles and foam.

(S)- A dry oaky funky vinous vinegar-like funk with fruits.

(T)- Very similar to the smell. A funky fruit and almost vinegar-like oaky bite at the end.

(M)- A good carbonation level and balance. Tart, but mostly possesses a dry oaky funk.

(D)- A solid wild with some nice complexities I enjoyed very much. I continue to look forward to trying more of Cascades' sours.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2011 23:51:39 | More by sweemzander

beerandcycling88

Washington

4/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Notes from the southsound tasting.

A Pours a nice ruby color topped off with a small off white head.

S Lots of brett barnyard funk with a tart cherry note present.

T Lots of cherry with a more subdued sourness then many other sours out there. A bit of a hint of lemon zest as well to keep things interesting.

M Lots of carbonation on a light but full body which is perfect for the style.

Overall a very good wild ale that was a pleasure to drink.

Serving type: growler

01-16-2012 17:22:56 | More by beerandcycling88

craytonic

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: murky ruby-brown with decent head and lacing

Smell: vinegar, oak, cherry, brown sugar

Taste: Slightly earthy, oak, tart cherries with pits, vinegar, brown sugar

Mouthfeel: medium-heavy body, medium carbonation

Overall: tasty, but I feel most of the darker wilds from this brewer tend to be slightly muddled.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 02:46:22 | More by craytonic

thagr81us

South Carolina

4/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This one was a part of cmrillo’s 40 Beers* @ 40 Birthday Bash! Shared by cmrillo at his own party! Served from bottle into a Mikkeller taster flute. Poured a reddish brown with a half finger khaki colored head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, tart, subtle funk, dark fruit, and wood. The flavor was of sweet malt, sour, tart, funk, and wood. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a good brew. This one was tasted in series with the other Cascade brews and it was another continuation of solid brews. I really like how this one took all the aspects people have grown to expect from the style and make it shine. I really wish there would have been a fruit aspect going on. It would have helped out with the tart and sour dominance of this one. Definitely worth seeking out if you have not had it.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 10:48:30 | More by thagr81us

paco1029384756

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a murky brown color with a small fizzy light tan, short lived head.

Scent of dark fruit, sweet bourbon, oak, tart cherries, and a hint of cinnamon. Nice and balanced, not overly sweet or sour.

Taste of sour cherries, dark fruit, oak, bourbon, caramel and yeast. I didn't find this beer to be particularly complex, but it was damn good.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation and a creamy finish.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2010 18:27:28 | More by paco1029384756

Alieniloquium

Florida

4.05/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

750 mL bottle poured into a snifter. 2009 Project, which I guess means 2011. Reviewed from notes.

Appearance - Deep red. Small off-white head with wisps.

Smell - Very acidic. Slightly acetic. Cherry. Lots of red wine.

Taste - Cherry sourness. Remarkably clean sour flavor. Tons of red wine. Acetic acid seems to be gone here. Nice red wine flavor, although the variety is indiscernible to my crap palate. Very tart.

Mouthfeel - It's a sipper of a sour. Very tart and medium heavy.

Overall - Really nice combination of flavors. Better than the sum of its parts for sure. Cascade always seems to have the ability to make a beer that you know is good, but you can't pick out exactly why it's so good.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 01:15:36 | More by Alieniloquium

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.08/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very interesting beers from this brewery, sometimes very, very good. I applaud the eforts to make the sour beers, and I think they are mostly successful, and I'm mostly happy to support them. That being said, these beers are quite pricey- in the realm of the better Cantillon brews, and as much as I like the Cascade sours, I think they miss the mark set by leaders in the category like Cantillon, Russian River, and the best from Lost Abbey (although they are even more wildly expensive, albeit better). In short, although I enjoyed this beer but think its a bit overrated, especially for the price. I certainly wouldn't go out of your way to trade anything rare for this. On to the beer itself: Pours a somewhat muddy, reddish-brown with a nice head that sticks around. Smells creamy and tart, with big lactic notes followed by fresh, ripe cherries. Quite lovely in the nose. The taste falls just short of the nice aroma. Similar to start, with very tart lactic notes and vibrant cherries, but the finish is somewhat watery and woody. The mouthfeel is alternately tart and oaky and soft and smooth. Nice to try once.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2010 14:18:21 | More by Georgiabeer

Mora2000

Texas

4.1/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to thirdeye11 for sharing this bottle. It was part of a great tasting that included seven bottled Cascade sours.

The beer pours a murky brown color with a tan head. The aroma is dark fruit with some tart cherries. The flavor is oak, tartness and cherries. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2010 03:23:31 | More by Mora2000

emerge077

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a snifter, thanks Dan for sharing!

Dark tan color with a reddish glint, transparent and frothy around the edges. Some apple butter, grape and slight balsamic traces in the aroma. Seems very similar to the La Folie vertical we had earlier.

Acetic sourness, grape and oak barrel notes, sour but still plenty drinkable. Crisp and clean, light funkiness that clears up quickly and doesn't linger. Abv is completely hidden. Overall a tasty Flanders Ale, pretty biting and sour for the style, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 06:59:21 | More by emerge077

Duff27

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Light tan half inch head. Leaves collar and speckles of lacing. Dark red/brown body.

Tart smelling but not over powering by any means. Some grape aromas.

Grape presence is definitely there, highest aspect of this beer. I'd give it a 6.5 out of 10 on the sour scale. Wouldn't guess the ABV as high as it actually is.

Adequately carbonated. Medium thin mouthfeel.

Enjoyed this one a bunch, the grapeyness was very prevalent...could see wine drinkers highly enjoying this. Thanks a bunch crushedvol!

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 23:31:53 | More by Duff27

SneezyAchew

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brought this one back from the brewpub after driving across the country with my brother and a friend of ours. Served into a brandy snifter with some other BA's.

A: A really dark amber, ruby red color. No lacing sticking around here.

S: Very wine-like. I am getting a lot of pinot noir.

T: Mostly noticing black seedless grapes and NW cherries. A good amount of enjoyable funk. Not *too* sour although it surprised my teeth a couple times. Booze is still present after 3 years age. The flavor does not stick around very much at all.

M: Medium mouthfeel.

O: Not top tier. I've probably had better Cascade beers, but certainly very nice. The 5 oz pour I had was enough. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2012 04:32:58 | More by SneezyAchew

KeefD

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Got this one from kpruim01. Thanks man! Drinking this after a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner.

Pours a dark brown color of which no light passes through, small off white head and light lacing. Smell is tart, light funk, cherries, assorted citrus. Taste is extremely sour! Wow, I've not come across a more sour wild ale before. Tart, sour cherries are predominate, apple skins, lemon, berry, light vanilla and tannic oak. The sour in this is just unbelievable. Mouthpuckeringly dry finish. Medium bodied, very spritzy carbonation but calms down as it's swirled in the glass.

I just can't get over how sour this one is. It's going to take me along time to finish off this 750. But this is very tasty and unique and I'm very impressed with what I've had from Cascade so far.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2009 01:55:13 | More by KeefD

Onibubba

Kentucky

4.13/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle labeled 2009. Pour is what I would expect from an Oud Bruin. Auburn with faint reddish highlights. Pour into a tulip yields a significant and creamy looking beige head. Very nice delivery. Sweet tart aroma is subdued and somewhat woody. Not as complex as Marron Acidife, or the exemplary Haandbaak, but still very nice. Taste is also more subdued than I expected, but still very tart and puckering. Cherries do not make their presence known. Somewhat similar to Consecration. Mouthfeel is very smooth, very creamy. Bottle was gone in no time. Overall, a very nice beer, and a top eschelon competitor for beers in the Flanders style. Price point, like Marron Acidife, is a bit steep, but there is no denying the deliciousness and quality of this beer. A welcom luxury.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2011 00:48:48 | More by Onibubba

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

thanks to duff27 for sharing this tonite! Thanks duff!

reviewed from notes taken on 7/4/12.

vintage 2011 poured into duvel tulip.

Appearance: muddy and murky brown bodied beer with a small tan cap. Lace is spotty.

Smell: huge vinegar. light oak and funk. Has a cough drop menthol type note.

Taste: Sour grapes and hints of cherries. Moderate pucker factor. It has some vinegar, oak, earthy, minimal funkiness. Got a little bit of sweetness from dark fruits to add some balance.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied sour with moderate carbonation. The carbonation is done well. It is hard to believe this sour is almost 10%; it drinks like its 6% and the alcohol is hardly detected. So drinkable!

Overall: I bumped the overall score because the taste is closer to 4.25. This beer is almost like a sour and a wine blended together. Interesting sour!

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 16:26:13 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

shleepy

California

4.18/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served from bottle into tulip glass.

A: On the lighter side of chocolate brown. Small off-white head. Oily residue floating on top.

S: Ooh, very promising. Pungent oak, chocolate, citrus... wide array of flavors that comes off as almost spiced. Some brett funk in there, as well.

T: Sourness that sticks through the aftertaste. Also - mocha and berries. Not much true cherry flavor is noticeable, but the overall effect is similar to Red Poppy Ale or Supplication. Quite good - especially after a disappointing tasting of The Vine.

M: Notable acidity, with which the light-medium carbonation goes well. On the heavier side of medium-bodied, for which the high alcohol content is probably to blame. An interesting balance.

O: I've probably tasted better stuff by Cascade, but this is still a fine example of their work. Very pleasurable beer, and one of the best non-kriek cherry beers.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 06:13:04 | More by shleepy

zaphodchak

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

At Cascade.

Trace of white head, deep hazy brown body, some lace.

Decadent oud bruin nose. Sweet and port-like.

Rich tart taste, sweet brown sugar, caramel, and loads of fruit.

Bright, almost foamy champagne.

Outstanding, rich and decadent. Bought a bottle, expensive as it was.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2011 18:30:19 | More by zaphodchak

grittybrews

Washington

4.2/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From South Sound tasting notes:

Poured a ruddy brownish-red with a small eggshell head. Powerful, tart cherry aroma mixed with oak and slight funk.

Lots of carbonation and a full, creamy mouthfeel. Less puckering than the aroma would indicate, with sour cherry, lemon, malty oak, and hints of dark fruit. Lingering tartness on the finish.

Very tasty and not as boozy as the ABV would indicate.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 16:05:13 | More by grittybrews

mdfb79

New York

4.2/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From 02/11/12 notes. Had at a local Cascade tasting. Poured into a tulip.

a - Pours a dark reddish brown color with two inches of fluffy white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of sour dark fruits, tart cherries, brett, wine, oak, fruity malts, and light vinegar. Really nice, sour nose, I love it.

t - Tastes of tart cherries, vinegar, oak, tannic, sour dark fruits, and wine. Not as sour as the nose, but still very nice.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Acedic body.

o - Overall a really nice sour, one of the better Cascade beers at the tasting in my opinion. Nose is very sour and full or dark fruits. Would love to have it again.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 01:38:02 | More by mdfb79