RU-55 - Jester King Craft Brewery

UCLABrewN84

California

3.61/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to JustXBeer for sharing this one at Retsinis' tasting.

Pours a murky orange-brown with a foamy beige head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is sour and tart with some fruity, wood, and acidic aromas. Taste is much the same with a fruity flavor on the finish. There is a medium amount of acidity on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that smells much better than it tastes in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 04:17:20 | More by UCLABrewN84

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.04/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poure out as a reddish brown color, the head comes and goes quickly. The retention is very minimal along with a light lacing. The smell is a malty with an interesting sweetness, also caramel or cherry on the nose and lightly toasted. The taste of the beer has a really interesting flavor as well. More malty and dry than sour. There is an earthy grain flavor in the finish with the sourness up front. The mouthfeel of the beer is dry, lightly carbonated. Overall it's a pretty good brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 01:44:05 | More by Knapp85

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.86/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 4

There has been some debate on the RU-55s with the old cap not being carbonated. This one does have the old (plain gold - no logo) cap, so let’s see what happens. 750 mL pours a mostly clear dark crimson color. A fairly aggressive pour yielded a fair amount of carbonation...looks lowly carbed, but not completely without CO2 and actually leaves some spotty lace behind....nice.

Nose has a very nice woody sourness to it. It smells similar to a Rodenbach, but with extra wood funk and more sour. I like it.

It is definitely low on the carbonation, but not completely devoid of some bubbles. The flavors are all there though...tart fruitiness, medium amount of sourness and a nice wood presence. It’s still a damn good Flanders style ale, especially once it gets to room temp and the sourness is more pronounced. If it was under $10 a bottle, I would buy some more, carbonation problems be damned. If they fix that issue, I would love to grab a few of these, even at the steep tag of $15.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 01:23:56 | More by twiggamortis420

champ103

Texas

4.09/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A: Pours a very attractive ruby red/brown color. A two finger, tightly packed and well formed white head rises with good retention. This is a looker.
S: Initially, I get a huge whiff of sour fruit. I almost took a step back after pouring this. A tart acidic bite of cherries, plums and apple skins. Then a quick musky aroma comes next, almost funky earthy yeast mixed with wood. Then fades in a second to some toffee and chocolate covered cherries. Lots going on here.
T: Tart and acidic up front again. Cherries being the main component here. Light earthy funk with some wood flavors. Fruity, earthy, and rustic. Very enjoyable.
M/D: A medium body that is crisp and effervescent. A very nice tart, puckering dryness as well. The tart and acidic character is strong, which I like. Very enjoyable to drink, but with the acidity this is something to sip.

Man, I continue to be so disappointed with most of Jester Kings releases. They make styles that I love, but are hardly ever worth the price tag or even close to the better examples of the style. This however hits the mark. Nice character, and depth of flavor with a crisp drying fuller body. Which almost always seems to be missing in some of their other beers. This is expensive, but very enjoyable and well done.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 22:09:00 | More by champ103

drpimento

Wisconsin

3.05/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Not bad, but not a fav by these guys. Served with a nice tan head that subsides slow to the bottom. Aroma is malt and tart. Flavor's like nose and dry. Body is ok, carbonation good. Finish is like flavor, of relatively short length, and forgettable.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 02:05:13 | More by drpimento

ngeunit1

California

4.16/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark red with a finger of frothy tannish head. Fades normal.

S - Sweet caramel and bready malts, sour and funky yeasts, Brett, lactic acid, Belgian yeast, dark and berry fruits, vanilla, oak.

T - Sweet caramel and bready malts, sour cherries and other dark and berry fruits, Brett, lactic acid, other funky and sour yeasts, oak, vanilla, Belgian yeast, tart green fruits.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a sour, funky, and warming finish.

D - Good wild ale. Nice overall balance with good complexity.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 04:26:10 | More by ngeunit1

claspada

New Jersey

4.21/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours murky, hazy ruby red color with a small white head and some solid spotty lacing.

Aromas begin quite fruit and oak forward with stone fruits, dark cherry, plum skins and then the oak enduced aromas of earth, vanilla and wood. The lighter stone fruits, apricot and peach emerge more as it warms.

The tastes follow the nose with sour tart cherries, plum, vinious red wine oakiness with light vanilla and oak following soon after. There is a solid sour fruit component but overall at this stage the sour flavors aren't as potent as I expected.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium to low carbonation. Finish is tart, fruity with mild oak to add a drying effect.

Overall this is unlike most Oud Bruin/Flanders Red Ales on the market. It lacks the huge vinegar (The Bruery) and lactic (Cascade) flavors which makes this a much more balanced drinkable sour/wild red ale that I could drink more than one of without wrecking my palate. I would personally prefer a little more so I will be waiting on the remainder of my bottle for several months to see where it goes.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 14:42:43 | More by claspada

wagenvolks

Texas

4.49/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

750 ml bottle into a Jester King 1st Anniversary tulip.

I've had the good fortune of meeting Russ, the brewer after whom RU-55 is named. He even complimented my homebrew; we later hot-boxed the grain mill room. Good times.

RU-55 opens with a soft hiss and slowly foams up from below. Not a gusher, but the carbonation is active. Pours as it should, with a rustic deep amber body and a thin cap of khaki bubbles that cling to the edge of the glass. Aromas range from slightly sweet browned apple flesh to balsamic vinegar to chocolate-covered cherries. Equal parts sweet and funky, with a hint of barrel sugars for good measure.

The flavor is aggressively sour, but balanced with enough amber malt presence that it doesn't strip away the enamel. Think Russian River's Consecration without the currants. The finish is dry and fruity with vinegar, black cherry, leather, and woodiness from the barrel-aging. Mouthfeel is juicy where it should be, up until the drying finish, and light in carbonation and thickness. All in all, an excellent sour ale that holds up with some of the nation's greats. Very glad to have this beer at my disposal for the foreseeable future!

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 02:52:33 | More by wagenvolks

inlimbo77

Delaware

4.11/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml, January '13 release
Kennett Winterfest plastic cup

A: Murky reddish amber. Thin color of light tan or off white head. Like more flanders style beers, not tons of carbonation initially. Some bits of lacing are building on the glass.

S: Oak. Vanilla. Vinegar. Sour cherry pie filling.

T: Really awesome stab at the Flanders Red Ale. Definitely getting that funk that you'd expect. Cherry flavors. Acidic quality, but not overly mouth puckering. Pulling some vinegar. Oak. Vanilla hints. The finish is tart and dry, but not bone dry.

M: Light leading to medium.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 14:23:12 | More by inlimbo77

tectactoe

Michigan

4.15/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This'll be only my second offering from Jester King. I enjoyed the other one (Das Wunderkind) quite a bit, so I'm looking forward to giving this one a go. RU-55 pours a murky, dark, stained-wood brown with some very, very tepid ruby hints. Completely opaque and capped with a soapy, gray-tinted head that quickly settles to a skin.

The aroma is nice, lively, and "pops" from the glass. Tart black cherries, sour apple skins, and plentiful grapes. Lots of vinous notes coming off with a big lean towards the oak barrel. Some vinegar surrounds the edges and keeps things interesting. Certainly the type of aroma that gets your saliva glands working right away. Funk is low, almost even nonexistent on the nose - the focus is certain on the tart, fruity elements.

One gulp and the vinous aspect of this beer leaps forward ahead of the pack - lots of wine-like grapes, wet oak, and puckering cherries. The tartness spikes quickly and settles on your taste buds, turning into a long-lasting sourness. The middle of the road introduces a very light tomato flavor, not exactly off-putting as it may sound, but rather pretty intriguing.

Vinegar notes are pretty profound and get even bigger with time. The finish contains a heavy dose of sour stone fruits, dry oak, and a very, very light, yeast-funk. Just a touch of corky mustiness, not quite in "barnyard" territory yet. It works, though, as the complexity of the sour profile are strong and interesting enough to stand up on their own. Thin-medium bodied, plenty of lively carbonation for a nice, crisp mouth feel that couples well with the dryness of the oak in the finish.

Again, I am more than pleasantly surprised by a Jester King offering. I don't know if I like this one as much as Das Wunderkind, but it might not be a fair comparison since they are slightly different styles. Either way, this beer was very enjoyable, and it has only reaffirmed by faith in this small-time Texas brewery. I pulled some similarities to RR Consecration out of RU-55. When you're getting compared to Russian River sours, you know you must be on the right track.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 11:43:14 | More by tectactoe

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.3/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

750 mL bottle poured into a snifter at cellar temperature. Like many Flanders reds before it, this one gushed upon opening.

L – Murky deep amber color with a 1.5-finger bubbly, frothy, tan head. Really nice retention, especially for a sour ale, with some patches of lacing on the side of the glass.

S – Again like many Flanders reds before it, this has a lot going on in the aroma. I’m getting caramel, figs, sour cherries, apples, and grapes, some funky Brett, and the slightest touch of oak. As time goes on, the funk and the oak seem to fade and the sweet caramel and figs seem to become more apparent. Of course, this could all be in my imagination, too.

T – Again, lots going on. The primary flavor that I get is a blast of sour grapes, cherries, and apples. As the mouth-puckering tartness begins to fade, caramel sweetness, cranberry dryness, Brett funk, and oak mustiness all become apparent toward the finish. This is really tasty.

F – Medium-bodied with nice carbonation, a mouth-puckering and mouth-coating feel, and a sour, musty, and dry finish. The whole conglomerate of funk, acidity, and mustiness lingers for a nice bit.

O – I think this beer is awesome. I first had it at Brewvivial 2013 in Charleston and I was hooked. I needed to have some more. I finally found a bottle and got a chance to fully savor the experience. Of course it may not be as complex or layered or mouth-puckering as some world-class Belgian examples, but it comes pretty close. It’s very tasty and very drinkable given the acidity and ABV. Great beer from Jester King.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 04:10:39 | More by BlackBelt5112203

MattSweatshirt

Texas

4.28/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Gusher after a few days in the wine fridge. Pours a hazy red-orange with a small off-white head that leaves some lacing.
The nose on this beer presents a nice fleshed out array of oak barrel, big fruit notes of strawberry, cranberry, and cherry, chocolate, slight mustiness, and vinegar.
Get a little of that vinegar. It is very fruity with big cherries some strawberry and cranberry. Finishes with some of that tart apple flavor. There is some sweetness to it. Has a nice oakiness to it. The light chocolate from the nose is present in the taste. The flavor is really nice and has everything I’m looking for in a Flemish style sour beer.
Medium bodied with a light tingly carbonation. Nice tart bite that allows for great drinkability and quenching that sour itch. Dries out the mouth.
A wonderful beer. I’m glad JK stepped into the Flemish styled sour game and did well with this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 05:49:37 | More by MattSweatshirt

brewtus

Ohio

4.26/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours brown with a bone white single finger head, laces really well. Smell and taste are pretty similar, nose especially has a lots of oak, some vegetable notes, lots of funk, some dark fruit. Taste is drinkably sour and extremely enjoyable. It's just sweet enough to balance out the tartness. Over all this is the best sour I've ever had, being fairly new to the style. Leaves you mouth watering and waiting for the next sip. Glad I got to try this.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 20:46:46 | More by brewtus

afluentturtle

Texas

4.34/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Served in a tulip glass.

Appearance: Poured a deep red/burgundy with two fingers of light khaki head, that dissipated slowly.

Smell: Sour apples, farm house funk, maybe some cherries and raspberry.

Taste: Sour cherry and tartness up front, malty earthy funk in the middle, and ends with oak and wood.

Mouthfeel: tart dryness, very crisp, light and surprisingly refreshing.

Overall: A very solid brew that can stand up to any other beer, not overly sour, would be a good introduction to the style. Would probably get again.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 18:12:25 | More by afluentturtle

Sethzilla

Texas

4.28/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

From 750ml bottle, poured in to a tulip glass... didn't gush :).

Very thin, quickly dissipating head. Beer is an opaque red-mahogany hue, a color that almost certainly compliments the barrels that the beer was aged in. The aroma gives faint funk, but lots of tart apple and undertones of cherry and strawberry. Another smell reveals more of that intriguing farmhouse funk, and some oak and another strong dose of sour/tart apple. Taste is tart and acidic sourness. There is a sweet toasted flavor that really balances well with the funk and tartness. More apple and cherry in the taste, and funk on the end. The beer is relatively full in the mouth, somewhat sticky but still leaves the mouth dry.

Overall, I really enjoyed this beer. It is a great blend of sour/wild/red ale. It's complex and still refreshing, For me, this one was worth the higher price tag. Will seek more.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 03:08:56 | More by Sethzilla