Figaro - Cascade Brewing / Raccoon Lodge & Brewpub

Thorpe429

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks, Aaron! Served in a Cascade goblet, also courtesy of Aaron. Pours a moderate golden color. Nose has a good amount of Chardonnay with backing fruit and acid. Flavor has light fig and touch of lemon. Very dry and crisp with a nice acidity. Very easy to drink and the alcohol is almost completely masked. I never would have guessed that this was pushing 10%.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 19:57:42 | More by Thorpe429

UCLABrewN84

California

3.85/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle pour at the 2012 Peter Reeves Memorial Sourfest at Churchill’s Pub & Grille in San Marcos, CA.

Pours a clear orange with a foamy bone colored head that fades to nothing. No lacing on the drink down. Smell is sour, tart, and funky with some slight fruity aromas. Taste is much the same with a fruity and acidic finish. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty but there are no real distinct fig aromas or flavors in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 01:40:30 | More by UCLABrewN84

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.23/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Review #2200.

The one and only bottle purchased at my last trip to Churchills Pub. $40, I didn't think it was a bad price all things considered. Poured out a substantial blonde looking ale with a thin whispy white head on the top of it, no more than 1/2". An aroma that owes more to white wine than anything resembling your average beer (not that Cascade puts anything in a 750 that could be called average. . . their ipa's well, that does fit the bill). Lemon peel, and what I suspect is the white adriatic fig make out a sour, white wine grape kind of feel to it. I didn't pick up on any spiciness, I dunno if people thought it would have a bite like a fig newton or what.

Taste, nobody does clean, lactic sourness better, and this beer from Cascade is no exception. There's almost no funk in it, but tons of sourness and depth. The chardonnay aspect seems to produce lots of acidity, but said acidity also helps cover up what is almost 10% alcohol so very well. I think you'll taste lots more lemon in this one than fig, but the fig contribution is above nil, it comes off like a hodgepodge of different spice accoutrements. The toasted oak notes go very well with something with such a light body but impressive tart and sourness. Very acidic, very sour, but hides alcohol very well. Would drink again.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 18:35:14 | More by Beerandraiderfan

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.43/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the barrel house back in June.

The beer pours a solid gold color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is quite complex and impressive, as I pick up considerable wine (chardonnay?), concord grape, honey, vanilla and light sour. The flavor profile replicates the nose, but the interplay on the palate of honey, vanilla, concord grape and light sour is unusual and intriguing. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied, with a fairly long finish of wine, honey and light sour. As is typical of Cascade beers, the alcohol is well integrated into the flavor profile, and I really get no sense that this is a nearly 10% abv. beer.

Not that I'm exactly surprised, but this is another very impressive wild ale from Cascade.

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2012 16:54:57 | More by johnmichaelsen

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.15/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had on-tap at the Cascade Barrel Room in Portland, OR.

Pours a very clear golden colour, with striking clarity. Some ringing, patchy lace is pretty much all that exists of the white head. No visible carbonation. Solid, but not inspiring.

The nose is gorgeous, however. Vinous, bright sauvignon blanc characters give a clean, pickled acidity. Gooseberries, passionfruit all laced with a slight earthiness. Very impressive. It's not all the complex, but you just want to keep inhaling it nonetheless.

Light, acidic sparkle on the front gives a clean crisp entry, before the middle gives characters of gooseberry, sharp, bright herbs and a hint of chlorine. Clean finish with a light citrus overtone. Despite the acidity and sparkle, it feels really smooth all over; so much so that it almost feels like its defining characteristic—the feel is creamy. It's odd for a wild, but it works.

Really nice drop this one. Like many of the others, the acid builds up after a while, but the smoothness holds this in check for longer than some of the others. Still, this is another impressive beer in an amazingly impressive range from Cascade. This was the last I tried on my visit, and it left me with the impression of having experienced a truly remarkable place.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2012 03:26:41 | More by lacqueredmouse

largadeer

California

2.65/5  rDev -35.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Draft at City Beer's 5th anniversary. Figaro is a high gravity sour brewed with figs; the exact details escape me.

Appearance: Hazy amber with a thin, fleeting head.

Smell: Heavy-handed spices and...pumpkin? Reminds me a lot of pumpkin pie. A huge lactic character, too. There's a touch of fig, but the spices are really pervasive and somewhat unpleasant.

Taste: An absolute shit-ton of spice and lactic acid. Sweet and heavy but also pretty stomach-churning - it doesn't taste bad by any means, but it's difficult to drink. Tastes more like pumpkin than fig to me, but maybe that's the spices playing tricks on me. A bit boozy, too; burns going down. By far this is my least favorite of the City Beer anniversary beers.

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2011 13:43:56 | More by largadeer

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.93/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On cask at the Barrel Room yesterday, served as the Live Barrel offering.

Mostly clear yellow with a dense, white head with great retention and lacing, this was one of the better looking beers I had at Cascade yesterday. The nose is surprisingly muted. There's dry white wine without any fruity aromas. The fig character seems muted, and I'll add the caveat that I've never had an Adriatic White Fig. Some stone fruit, lemon peel and honey are present.. The sourness is also fairly mellow, which is a pleasant change. The palate opens sour, mildly so with a great, fresh, fruity fig and apricot character. Honey and fruit are present, along with a bit of alcohol warmth as well as a mild spice character (is this is a different version from largadeer's review below?). Medium-light in body, medium-light in carbonation, this is solid stuff.

Serving type: cask

08-08-2011 00:52:23 | More by DefenCorps

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Served a cloudy amber-orange color with a thin finger of frothy white head. The head faded down fairly quickly leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of lots of different fruits including some fig, white grape, prune, and some citrus. There is also lots of tart and funky elements as well.

T - Starts off with a nice kick of acidic sourness with some fig and white grape flavor. There is a bit of citrus and some funky elements as well. Through the middle, the tartness gets a bit stronger with some more funky flavors coming through. The finish is a mix of all of the different fruit flavors and lots of sour/tartness and funky flavors that linger.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with some puckering acidic tart flavors.

D - Very drinkable. Really sharp and pungent flavors. The mix of fruit flavors really provides a nice complexity to the flavor and has a nice balance to it.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2011 03:33:54 | More by ngeunit1

ehammond1

California

3.73/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle (2011 Project)

Churchill's Pub & Grille
San Marcos, CA

Dark orange and light amber in color with a thin near-white ring of small bubbles atop. Leaves dots of stick down the glass.

Lots of lactic acid/sour character in the aroma, along with good amounts of lemon zest, and what must be white fig notes, but I would describe it more as a white fruit (pear) aroma, if asked blind.

The flavor is very sour, like most Cascades, with good amounts of lactic presence, mild white wine flavor, and lots of lemon flesh and zest. There's a mild white fruit character as well. Very drinkable and very tasty. I wish this was more fruit-forward though, and better balanced with the sour character. A minor criticism, as this is still a delicious sour ale.

Medium bodied with high carbonation.

Good, but not one of my favorite Cascade sours.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 17:20:50 | More by ehammond1

claspada

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a light amber in color with a smallish, quickly dissipating nearly white ring of small bubbles that leaves some dots of lacing.

Aromas beging with a lot of lactic characteristics with good amounts of lemon zest, and some lesser green fruit notes which must be the white figs, but it comes across more like a raw pear.

The flavors begin very lactic and sour, even more so that the typical Cascade sours. After I get past that there is a mild white wine flavor with lots of lemon flesh and zest. There's that same mild green fruit characteristics as well.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. Finish is super lactic and tart, even for Cascade's standard.

Overall this may be my least favorite Cascade beer I have had to date. The flavors are just so lactic and tart and one dimentional for my tastes. While not a bad beer it is just a bit too brash for my tastes.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 15:26:04 | More by claspada

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle opened on 10.24.12
2011 Project

A - Pours a clear, medium orange with a very fizzy light tan head that fades very quickly.

S - Citrus fruit, chardonnay, apples, oak, and fig.

T - Sweet subtle fruit, flowers, more oak and chardonnay, some slight tartness.

D - Lots of carbonation with a lighter body.

O - Smells more complex, but still tastes very nice. This one should develop nicely.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 04:42:48 | More by HuskyinPDX

merc7186

New York

4.2/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bomber into snifter glass.

A: Orangish/Golden Straw Hue, Passes Most Light, White Head Ring, Some Lacing

S: Chardonnay, Mild Fig

T: Fig, Charonnday, Pear

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Semi Sour, Mildly Sweet

Overall, a really nice fruit forward taste before the sour taste envelopes, solid flavors.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 01:40:17 | More by merc7186

Phelps

Arizona

4.1/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Figaro is a blend of strong blond beers aged for three months in fresh chardonnay barrels before some additional time spent with Adriatic white figs and Spanish lemon peel. Enjoyed at the Cascade Barrel House in Portland, poured into a taster glass.

Clear gold in color. A frothy, thin head of pure white soon becomes a thick, sticky ring.

Chardonnay is immediately noticeable in the aroma. Lots of white grapes, some buttery oak, green apple, vinegar, a little red apple. Smooth, mild sweetness.

Some cider character comes through in the flavor — might be the white fig. Sweet and fruity up front with a sour flash of vinegar in the back. White grapes, vinous oak, a hint of vanilla. Great showing from the barrels here.

The smooth medium body quickly fizzes into a more pillowy feel. Lots of carbonation here. A gentle tartness with no discernible alcohol.

Figaro makes me feel like singing. A great beer that strikes a perfect balance between sweet and sour. Good complexity, too.

Serving type: on-tap

07-24-2012 22:31:33 | More by Phelps

Gobzilla

California

4.23/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: poured a orangish in color with pale yellow highlights and a nice finger of foamy white head with good retention that left a little wisps of lacing sticking to the glass.

S: lots going on in the aroma consisting of white grapes, acidic character, slight herbs, not so much presence from the figs, plenty of chardonnay barrel qualities, and a bit lemon citrus.

T: the figs fruit was more apparent on the palate alongside the great chardonnay barrel character, but had herbs, lemon peel citrus, vinous, hints of raisins, acidic funkiness, very nice oaky accents and a touch of vanilla as well.

M: the brew was medium in body with good amount of carbonation which had a slightly fruity, citrusy, acidic, funky, vinous, oaky, mildly sweet, and tart finish.

O: A lot of people at the tasting weren't really digging this beer but I thought it was really good. More for me Haa.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 02:51:28 | More by Gobzilla

GRG1313

California

4.75/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This Cascade just blew me away. One of the single best beverages I've tasted. Two years ago the Vlad and the Bourbonic "made" GABF for me. Now, Figaro may even be better.

Pours gold with short head that fades fast, but nice looking.

Nose is just all funk, tangerines, purple grapes and figs. Inviting, complex, very layered and pleasant in the extreme. Some tart apple acidic character in the nose just forces you to dive in.

Mouthfeel is tart, rich, nicely acidic and perfect carbonation, at least for me.

Flavor profile is amazing. Super complex, layered and easy. Hands down one of the nicest wild ales I've experienced and I've experienced a lot of them. Big rich and assertive oranges, tangerine, green apple and undertones of fig. There is a sweet/tart/funk front palate that just grows as the funk and tartness develop. Flavors are somewhat unique from other wild ales and sours and extremely impressive.

Finish is tart, crisp and has an orange/herb/spice character that leaves you wanting more.

I only wish I was in S.F. longer so that I could stop by City Beer again and have more. Hopefully, cans of this ( bottles??!!) will show up elsewhere. This is one not to miss.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2011 18:16:53 | More by GRG1313

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.23/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First thing I notice is the cork which is split with markings indicating the grabber was likely off center...beer may not have held up for much longer...
However, the beer pours a glistening, effervescent amber color with almost no head or sediment (although I have yet to reach the bottom). The nose is a sweet perfume, although it's not distinctly of fig or lemon. Regardless, there is something very unique and inviting about this beer's nose. A good swirl releases almost too much chardonay mixed with acetone, but the beer settles and smooths out as it warms. The taste is quite yummy with a reasonable amount of sweetness that isn't as acidic as expected. It definitely has a slightly figgy essence and decent amount of white grape in the finish. I would have preferred more fig in the nose and taste, at least something more distinct. But this is a damn tasty beer, one that's worth trying and one that would probably be quite good on tap.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 01:33:34 | More by ThePorterSorter

nataku00

California

3.83/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap poured into a small fluted glass at City Beer for their re-opening following renovation. I had tried a glass of this back during their 5th anniversary but didn't have time to take notes on it. Did think it leaned toward acetone in the aroma though. Hopefully some more time helped it out.

Darker orange with a slight bit of haze with some thin tan collar of head. The thin head does leave a decent bit of lacing that slides down the glass quickly. A few bubbles floating up here and there but not very active.

Nose is mainly sharp acidity, white wine vinegar, plums, but tamed a bit with an earthy and woody aroma. Poured pretty cold initially, but as it warmed, there are some sweeter stone fruits and a small hint of ripe fig.

Tastes pretty good, good initial sourness, white wine and cider vinegars, slightly sweet stone fruits. More over ripe figs in the flavor than in the aroma, almost like a rotten fruit flavor. Back end of a drink has earthy flavors. Finishes dry with a lingering earthy funk and vinegar acidity.

Medium with some good small bubble carbonation to help keep the tongue from being overwhelmed. Definitely a sipper with the bold flavors. Not as bad as when I tried it earlier this year so some additional age might help smooth harsher rotten fruit flavors that doesn't appeal to me.

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2011 06:13:24 | More by nataku00

KDawg

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

poured from tap into a tulip. Pours a nice blonde color with a real foamy head.

Very zesty aromas of spices, lemon curds, some raisins and tart citrus tones. There is definitely a sourness to it, but it's slightly tart than it is outright sour.

Medium/full bodied with a real nice and smooth feel. Good flavor depth with notes of lemon curds, spices, and tart citrus'.

This was a really nice and well balanced beer. Had a nice tartness to it as opposed to being downright sour.

Serving type: on-tap

06-26-2012 14:17:21 | More by KDawg

jethrodium

California

3.15/5  rDev -23%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap at City Beer Store. This was one was marked "LP" and I believe spent a little bit longer in the barrel than the other version. Pours a slightly hazy light golden amber with a small white head that settles to a ring and leaves some light lacing on the glass. The aroma is fig, cinnamon, lactic acid, and some oak. The taste has some initial sweetness with fig and cinnamon. There is also a lactic tartness and a bit of oak. It finishes with a bit of sweetness and lingering fig. Medium body. Low carbonation. A bit more sweetness than I like and the cinnamon was a bit too prominent. This was a bit better than the version I had about a year ago which I remember as being burningly acidic.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2012 05:57:56 | More by jethrodium

writerLJBerg

Oregon

3.43/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Live barrel at cascade barrelhouse. Overpriced 8oz. Seriously, 7.50?

A: Placid orange color. No lacing by the time its transferred from the tap to my seat at the bar.

N: Lactic sourness pervades. Lemon and orange zest. Some white grape. Not complex in the slightest.

T: Medium sour quality without much depth. Lemon and lactic acid. I swear I got a seed in my teeth. Really don't get the figs or much else. Chardonnay barrel shows up with the slight vinous white wine aspect. Points for hiding the 9.5ABV,though.

M: Spunky and biting. The best part about this beer.

O: I expected worse. This is clean and summery, but it doesn't have a lot worth recommending since it never grows out of the base strong blond ale. In fact, if I had this blind, I might think it was the base beer. Not going to remember this one as anything other than a tick, and maybe the previous barrel was better, but if this is similar at all to the bottles, it's a pass.

Serving type: on-tap

08-15-2012 02:27:02 | More by writerLJBerg

deathcharms

California

4.6/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Great beer. Wasn't too big of a fan of it on tap. From a bottle it is delightful. Light golden color on it with a great fruity nose. Taste is a well balanced sour that blends well with the ABV and fruit quality in the beer.

Overall, not my favorite Cascade beer but its a really good one.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 03:41:13 | More by deathcharms