Cascade Sang Royal - Cascade Brewing / Raccoon Lodge & Brewpub

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.46/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

2009 Project. Without further ado, I bring you Cascade Sang Royal.

Prying the cork out was a serious bitch. Pours exceptionally dark for a wild ale. Deep burgundy red-brown with a collared ring of beige foam. Man, can I get started with the aroma? Because, the sour whiff is just carrying off of this one.

A big oaky and sour aroma on this one. All sorts of refermented wine barrel drudge and bad grapes and wild yeasts. Brightly sour nose with lots of evident aromatic tannins, some acetic qualities, and a wild mushroom-y funk. Hints of blue cheese. Some twisted citrus with notes of unripe lemon, clump hay, tart raspberry, some leather, blackberry, red currant, and light tobacco. The malts aren't completely shot, either. As it warms, I get hints of contorted grains.

Oak, sour grapes, sour raspberries, acetic sour, tart currant, vinous notes, unripe lemon, mushroom, blackberry, pomegranate seed, rhubarb, blue cheese, tobacco leaf, and finishing alcohol. Super complex, just like the nose. I can't get over the journey that this beer takes me on. Has all of the satisfying vinegary sweetness of a real-deal Flemish Red with that smacking tartness and funky bliss of an American Wild Ale. So wine-like and almost savory in a way that it brings out the umami behind the tartness. Lots of tannins support the sour with mouth-drying bitterness; the only kind of bitterness that a beer of this style should offer. Weighty body masks its heaviness. After all these years, the carbonation still gives it a little pop--just like the pop the cork gave when I finally forced it free.

An excellent wild ale from one of the most impressive small-time breweries that I've come across. Lovin' Cascade from all the way out in Pittsburgh, PA. Somebody get in touch with me about a Kriek. I'm sold on these guys.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 04:22:19 | More by thecheapies

Dreadnaught33

District of Columbia

4.28/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottle shared thanks to raveskdr thanks Chris! 2009 vintage.

The look is great, it has a blueberry sort of dark purple look to the body with a ring of off white head, very inticing look.

The smell is nice, it has a very good dark fruit smell to it with a good tartness and certain Cabernet wine aroma as well. The oak makes a mark in the beer too, overall it is very deep and rounded off.

The taste leads with the signature sour cascade yeast hitting right away, with cocoa powder, red grapes, plums, other berry flavors, and some woody pulpy barrel tastes as well. A little flavor killing in the aftertaste rush of sour sort of nearly plastic flavor kills a little of the complexity you preview at the start of the taste.

The feel is nice and vinegary in its sour flavor and feel. Not a whole lot of carbonation and definite berry seed pucker.

Overall a nice beer, easy drinking for how sour it is, held up really nicely in a red wine kind of way, round and tangy!

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 01:07:05 | More by Dreadnaught33

oline73

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into a snifter.

Pours a cloudy reddish dark brown with a layer of off white head that fades to a ring around the pour. Smell is a bit funky with some vinegar and tart wine. The taste is rather sour, I'm getting vinegar and berries. There is some dark funk in the finis. The wine notes are layered nicely. Quite complex.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 04:23:20 | More by oline73

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

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

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

SpeedwayJim

New York

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

Thanks to Sam for this one. 2009 vintage. Poured from a corked and caged 750ml bottle into a decanter and then into a HF flute. Shared with schen9303.

Pours a 2 finger cream colored head with moderate retention. Beer is a dark, clear mahogany. Lacing is patchy and thick with moderate cling. Decent but not great.

Nose is sweet crushed red fruit, vinegar, oak, and a distinct mustiness. Appetizing but not overly aromatic.

Opens sweet cherry, vinegar, vanilla, and a building tartness that peaks towards the middle. More red fruit and some creeping woodiness at the end. Finish is vinegar tartness. Aftertaste is cherry skin. Surprising how much of the fruit shows through the vinegar tartness. Great sweet undertones. Really solid.

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Spicy and slightly abrasive in the mouth and warm and oily going down. Messy finish with a filmy aftertaste. Decent but the way this hides the alcohol gives it bonus points.

Cascade is one of the most underrated makers of Wild Ales in America in my opinion and this beer is no exception. Wasn't a huge fan at the beginning but this kept growing on me and growing on me. Age has mellowed this one out but hasn't robbed it of any complexity or flavor. A very solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 23:47:23 | More by SpeedwayJim

ShanePB

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Vintage 2009
Served into a snifter

A: Dark ruby amber colored body, hazy and cloudy with no head to speak of. Absolutely no lace or retention bubbles of any kind. Appears almost flat?

S: Merlot grapes, oak, an acidic sourness akin to lemon, and tons of red wine qualities. Could be almost a Pinot Noir type of aroma as well. Touch of sweetness here too.

T: Big sourness at the front with plenty of grapes and red fruits to complement it. The woody, oak flavors and the malts give this a sturdy backbone and balance out the sweet, sour flavors really well.

M: Carbonation is moderate, not overly done like most Wild Ales but this is far from flat. Not too dry or sweet in the linger either.

Simply put, this was awesome. We had this side-by-side with a fresher 2011 Sang Noir and it completely blew it away. Different aging and fruits, I know, but still.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 13:26:57 | More by ShanePB

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

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

kawilliams81

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a Bell's tulip.

A- Pours a murky dark ruby with a 2" tan head. Thick walls of lacing remain on the glass.

S- Dark fruits, cherry, vinegar, and a slight herbal/mint-like note.

T- Tart cherry, vinegar, very vinous flavors especially at the finish.

M- Medium body and high carbonation. Frothy and acidic.

O- 6/10 sour factor. Very good sour and the grapes give this beer sour a different and good flavor.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 17:16:44 | More by kawilliams81

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

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

UCLABrewN84

California

4.4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to ehammond1 for sharing this one at NoSignsOfPain's birthday bottleshare hosted by mrbubbler.

2009 vintage.

Pours a slightly murky honey brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is sour, tart, and funky with some fruity and wood aromas. Taste is much the same with a woody aftertaste and an acidic finish. This beer has a high level of carbonation with a very crisp and prickly mouthfeel. Overall, this is a great beer with some very nice aromas and flavors.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 06:34:28 | More by UCLABrewN84

mikeyv35

New York

4.25/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Date: 04/29/12
Type: 750ml. Bottle
Vintage: 2009
Glass: SH Large Tulip

Pours a brown mahoghany in color w/ ruby red hues w/ a thin 1/3 finger off-white head that left good lacing. Aromas of grape skins, vinegar, cocoa, and wet dog/wet socks. The flavor was mouth puckering sour cherry and grapoes up front, leading into vinegar, and finishing w/ mild cocoa and mild funky wet dog. Thin to medium bodied and lush due to adequate carbonation levels. Brew finishes pretty dry. Easy to drink if you can get past your teeth hurting after a glass.

Overall, nice brew from Cascade again! I thoroughly enjoyed the cocoa malt background in the finish of this wild ale.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 16:38:25 | More by mikeyv35

brystmar

New York

4.35/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Opened with friends right after Sang Noir. Beautiful pour again; brownish red body and good head + lace. Tons of cherries, complimentary bourbon.

Sour fruit takes center stage; funky yeast accents the fruit. Mild earthy bitterness combines with the bourbon for a pleasant blend of flavors. Delicious. Mild bourbon coats your mouth for minutes after drinking. Distinctly different from Noir, but slightly below. Still fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 02:53:53 | More by brystmar

dirtylou

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle (2009 vintage) from the brewery; split

appearance: served in my delirium chalice, dark muddy garnet body, creamy tan lace with light retention

smell: tart cherry, lots of oak, vinous notes

taste: another Cascade classic - i'm not positive I could successfully pick this out from Sang Noire in a lineup, but that isnt a bad thing. A flood of tart cherry, lots of funky lactic yeast, big fruit vinous notes, defined oakyness, balsamic, dark fruit, rustic autumnal notes

mouthfeel: like all of the cascade beers, hides the booze well and stupidly drinkable

overall: great stuff, worth the price tag

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 23:36:13 | More by dirtylou

RuckusDu

Colorado

4.3/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2009 Project into Duvel tulip

A - The one finger head came quick and went quick. Maybe some slight tan in the head but mostly white. Body is very dark and definitely on the red side.

S - Cherries and tartness are very strong. Really quite amazing even though it is so simple. I am getting some raspberry as well. Fruity and sour and strong.

T - There is funk all the way through but it is mellow. Some good cherries and raspberries as in the scent. The acidicy is nicely balanced with just slight sweetness of the berries. Again, simple, and the flavor matches the scent quite well.

M - The drying bitterness takes over on this one though it is nicely carbonated.

O - Quite good. Not overly sweet and a great sourness to it.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 21:26:38 | More by RuckusDu

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2009

Appearance. Pours an incredibly deep red-brown with half a finger of creamy light tan head.

Smell. Dark cherries, some woody funk, some sour fruits. Smells good.

Taste. Sour cherries, and lots of 'em. Tartness is there, and a little wood and leather. Very nice.

Mouthfeel. Medium body with medium-strong, fine and lively carbonation.

Overall. Just a fantastic sour. I love this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 02:01:41 | More by Rutager

srandycarter

California

4.38/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Murky, color of cooked dark brown sugar, small off white head, leaves to disk fast. Not much cling.

S - Funk is all I get out of it. But, it's lively and fresh.

T - Beautiful. Sour, funky, bright, pleasant.

M - Medium body, great carb, balance is well played so that the sour funkiness calms down by finish.

D - Very easy to drink , especially at that ABV!

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 04:01:00 | More by srandycarter

Fux

France

4.33/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours dark brown with a small off-white head. Medium retention, leaves a thin film on top of the beer.

S: Smell is lactic, oaky. Fruity, mainly grapes and other dark fruits.

T: Sharp attack, sour, but not harsh. Some funk, blue cheese, also oak and red wine in there.

M: Good carbonation. Medium bodied.

O: Nice red ale. Got a nice complexity and nice balance between the tartness and oak sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 00:41:12 | More by Fux

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

jibbyvonjibb

California

4.3/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2009 vintage
9.345%
bottle, 750mL, corked

A: Black with hints of red. Tiny head. Nothing to get excited about.
S: Acetic acid. Lactic acid. Toasty. Oaky. Promising aroma.
T: Sharp sourness in front of tongue. Cherries. Biscuits. Dark chocolate. Dry finish. Great balance of toasted malts with fruity acids.
M: Medium carbonation. Dry, but plenty of acid and alcohol to balance. Mouth puckering in the finish.
O: I like this one. Very complex and drinkable. The cherries might not have center stage, but the show is good without them. Reminds me of Lost Abbey's Red Poppy, but sharper in lactic acidity.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 06:11:34 | More by jibbyvonjibb

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.35/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml cork'n'cage of the 2009 project, poured into an Old Engine Oil tulip. Huge thanks to Dan for sharing this sour treat.

A: Clear deep crimson body with a half inch of creamy off-white head. Ok retention, spotty lace. Not bad.

S: Pure, intense lactic sourness, with a hint of grape skin. Very, very acidic. I love it.

T: Starts out sour, then opens up into some nice grape juice sweetness, and finally closes out with intense, pure, puckering tartness. Awesome.

M: Fairly light body with late-arriving carbonation. Ok.

O: This isn't the beer for you if you want delicacy and complexity, but if you love straight tongue-ripping sourness, then seek it out. Terrific stuff.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 13:52:11 | More by woosterbill

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.43/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer is ruby / garnet hued with a finger or more of lacing after a careful pour.

The aroma offers barnyard funk, oak, and sour cherries, vinegar, booze. Complex and intriguing...

Bold flavor and highly enjoyable. A lot of cherry flavor really shines through. Misc. dark fruits, oak, wine, wild yeast. Yeah baby. Acetic without being harsh. Again, complexities abound. A delightful sipper. One of the better brews by Cascade.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2012 01:20:58 | More by Huhzubendah