Riserva - Weyerbacher Brewing Co.

Dreadnaught33

District of Columbia

4.4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A very nice beer shared by ahalloin. Had this many times finally reviewing it. 2010 vintage tried tonight.

Pours a beautiful dark red hue with vrynlittl head or lacing, a pretty look for a wild. The smell is very sour, though there isn't much else other than soured berries, I limit much though. The taste is very tart but it has a nice balance with lots of tart berries, lots of layers of flavor for a wild of this abv. Nice raspberries and blackberries in the tast. The feel is acidic but also bry flavorful and deep, lasting very long on the palate.

Great sour overall, awesome.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 00:12:22 | More by Dreadnaught33

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Split a 750 ml of the 2010 vintage... Poured into a diver glass

A: pours a murky raspberry red color, with absolutely no head and no lacing, although the label warned the carbonation levels ate low due to this batches high acidity.

S: I get a ton of raspberry aroma, I could smell it wafting out of the glasses after I poured them before I even rose the glass to my nose. When I due get the the glass to my nose I smell a ton of tart fresh raspberry with a hint of cherry skin, a bit of oak, there is a bi of raspberry sweetness in there as well along with the tartness.

T: they weren't kidding when they said this was very sour, damn, loads of raspberry flavor up front ending with a Puckering sour blast and some woody oak notes, cherry skin notes and oak tannins are also very prevelant in the taste profile. I can't get over how sour this is, I also get a faint touch of vinegar on the end along with a mild sweetness.

M: medium bodied, with a juicy lush mouthfeel, and a Pickering sour/dry finish.... Leaves me actually puckering my mouth.... The carbonation is low, as it said it would be on the warning sticker.

O: this is one of the sourest sour beers I've had to date, if your in the mood for some really mouth puckering raspberry sour deliciousness, give this bad boy a whirl, I'm still puckering.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 02:14:06 | More by PeterIngemi

harrymel

Washington

3.93/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Vintage 2011

Pours blood orange with a lightly pink thick sheet. Smells of sour raspberries, some oak, graham and lacto. Flavor is sour with a slight sharp sweetness and a nice grain feeling. There are some vitamin flavors as well. I like the flavor of this one. Medium bodied with plenty of carb and an off dry finish. This beer is a surprise for me - I'm not a weyerbacher fan, but this vintage of this beer is good. I've got a "flat" 2010 in the cellar still, and hopefully it's nice, but this one was quite enjoyable. 3.5/4/4/3.5/4

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 08:39:16 | More by harrymel

billab914

Virginia

3.68/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

2010 vintage poured from a 750ml bottle into my Lost Abbey stemware. The color reminded me of cherry juice a little, almost like a dull ruby color. Just a trace amount of white lacing circled the edges of the glass.

The aroma has a pretty good mix of sour, tart flavors and sweet fruity ones. I get more of a sour cherry flavor to it at first, but the sweeter raspberries did come out soon after. Pretty nice aroma overall.

The taste also blends the sweeter fruitiness with a pretty bold sourness. The sweeter raspberry and cherry flavors come out more up front, but it quickly starts to take a sharp turn towards the sour side in the finish. The finish is very tart, sour and dry with a little of the oak barrel coming out as well. The fruit flavors are very good in it, I got a lot of cherry flavors out of it which I really enjoyed. A little sharp and acidic at times, but pretty nice overall.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied for the style with carbonation being on the lower end. Overall it was a pretty solid American Wild. It was very tart and sour with some really nice fruit flavors. I do think it lacks some of the depth and complexity of the Belgian versions, but for an American version it was pretty good overall.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 23:02:15 | More by billab914

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Weyerbacher Riserva

LOOK: Pours a stunning reddish mahogany. Decent clarity with a chill haze. There is some yeast/berry sediment, most of which, I reserved.

SMELL: Aroma of sour raspberries, barnyard funk and Belgian yeast. There is a lemony element as well as a touch of red wine vinegar.

TASTE: In the taste, tart raspberry purée with some complex flavor and acidity. Barrel aged oaky notes and a hint of booze. Fair amounts of bitterness, tannins, vinegar and lactic notes make for an extreme flavor profile. Raspberry and dark cherry flavor lingers into the slightly sour finish.

FEEL: Mouthfeel is medium bodied, moderately carbonated with a dryer finish.

OVERALL: I was not disappointed with the elusive Riserva. This is a big intense wild ale that has become highly sought after. The flavors make this offering worthy of such praise. Can stand up to any strong flavored cheese its paired with.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 19:31:04 | More by Stinkypuss

mdaschaf

Washington

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

2011 Vintage purchased from Downeast Beverage in Portland, ME. Review from notes.

A: Depending on the level of sediment, the beer was either a clear dark purple or a cloudy lighter purple/brown color. No real head or lacing.

S: Very acidic with some nice tartness. There is some raspberry, oak, a little vanilla, and a little vinegar.

T: Similar to the aroma with a nice tart/sour quality. More raspberry and a little strawberry with a little wood.

M: Medium bodied, on the sour/acetic side of the spectrum. Not everyone I shared it with was a fan, but I enjoyed it a great bit.

O: A nice American Wild Ale, glad I was able to grab two bottles of this.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 21:01:45 | More by mdaschaf

russwbeck

Virginia

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

2011: $15

A: Pours out a very pretty clear red color with about a finger of white head. The bubbles racing from the bottom of the bottle hold a thin ring of head at the top that doesn't lace all that well. Luckily I was able to avoid pouring the crazy amount of yeast that had collected at the bottom of the bottle. 4.5

S: Big hit of sweet raspberries and really tart, sour oakiness. I was actually pretty shocked to see how high the ABV was, and it is extremely apparent here. It smells delicious, but I am docking it a little because it hints towards disjointed instead of balanced. 4

T: I believe that having an American Wild Ale that is this tart, yet paired with so much booze is a first for me. It starts off very tartly acidic, and evolves into sweet raspberry puree, before being taken over by hints of oak and a boozy finish. The tastes develop very well on my tongue and leave me wanting more after every sip. It's a good thing the raspberry is so sweet, otherwise the beer would be too tart and boozy. 4

MF: Medium to heavy body for an American Wild Ale with a nice amount of carbonation. I'm going back and forth on how drinkable this is. The tartness, sweetness, and booziness does get to you after a while, but it's just really tasty. 4

O: This is a great beer. I really like what they're doing here, and am excited to see how it ages. 4.5

2010: $24

A: The pour is different from the 2011. The carbonation is much lower than normal. Absolutely no head, but still a nice ruby red pour that seems to be a bit more hazy than 2011. 4

S: This aroma is much better balanced than the 2011 was. The alcohol has taken a big step back, with the sour and tart characteristics taking over. The sweet raspberry puree hides in the background, but is stronger than the booze notes. Oak and sour dominated, I much prefer this vintage's aroma. 4.5

T: The variation in tastes between the 2010 and 2011 is absurd, it's like they're different beers! The oak has stepped up its game, with the alcohol mellowing extremely nicely, making the beer more balance.. The raspberry puree lends a very nice amount of sweetness to the tartness (which I don't think is too aggressive. I was expecting an enamel ripper from what the sticker said). Instead of developing on the tongue, this taste is more consistant, which is good and bad. The palate is just bombarded by oak, sour, and raspberries...and I just happen to love it. By the time I reached the bottom of the second glass, however, the sour had taken over-defining enamel ripper. The aftertaste, however can border on unpleasant at times. It's a bit musty and almost seems to come from "extra" fruit. 4.5

MF: The body on this vintage is more thin and much less carbonated than the fresh vintage. I can't say, however, that it hurts the drinkability. I really found the thin, undercarbonated body matched the other characteristics of the beer really well. 4

O: It is actually really difficult to compare these two. My recommendation would be to buy a bottle of this year's and see what happens. 4.5

2009: $26

A: Very clear ruby red pour with an initial head of about two fingers and white in color. The head is nothing more than a few bubbles, and recedes into the beer quickly. I will say that a ton of bubbles are racing up through this beer, which I was not expecting. As before, just a ton of sediment in the bottom of the bottle. You have to make sure you dump the last inch or so of liquid. 4.5

S: This is more a return to the 2011 vintage than the 2010 vintage in terms of aroma. A really nice amount of raspberries really take the forefront, with oak, some booze, and some tartness playing along. I certainly wouldn't refer to it as boozy, but it certainly has mellowed over the last 3 years or so. It's wonderful blend of sweet fruit and sour tartness. 4.5

T: Yet again, a new take on the taste for this beer. I can't really say I expected three years of vintages to have such different flavor profiles. Again, the 2009 vintage harkens back to the 2011. The beer certainly doesn't seem as disjointed as the fresh vintage was, but I can't say the flavors are better overall, they're just not as strong. The taste starts right off the bat with sweet raspberry and is taken over quickly by a nice tart character. There's an underlying oakiness, but nothing assertive. I'm shocked that there's hardly any booze in the taste at all. It's more balanced and mellowed, but less impressive. 4

MF: Lighter body than the others with a medium level of carbonation (much more than 2010). It's really drinkable. The lack of booze really makes this quite an easy drinking beer. Really dry finish, the sour character completely coats the mouth. 4.5

O: I believe the 2009 might have scored the highest, but they all had their high points. They were such different beers, this had to be one of the most eye opening cellar tastings I've done. I absolutely recommend you buy this, drink it fresh, and age it. 4.5

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 16:00:39 | More by russwbeck

BostonHops

Massachusetts

2.43/5  rDev -38.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

750ml corked and caged bottle served in a snifter glass.

2010 vintage.

pours a murky, rusty cranberry tone yielding no head whatsoever. hmm... sticker on the bottle warns this batch is very different from prior years. so it seems.

appealing, bold nose smacks of rasberries and apple cider. big tart/sour presence through and through. my hopes are buoyed. but whoa... taste, unfortunately, takes my suddenly lofty expectations and does an about-face, pile-driving them into the frozen dirt outside. rasberries out in front quickly become engulfed in a tidal wave of cloying sourness, drowning my palate with such mouth-puckering acidity i wonder if it will ever un-pucker. way overdone. also on the boozy side.

medium-bodied mouthfeel with very low carbonation, makes it tough(er) to drink. disappointing. i really wanted to like this beer, especially paying almost $19 for the bottle. alas, it's simply not for me.

originally reviewed: 12-29-2010

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 21:00:25 | More by BostonHops

cosmicevan

New York

4.23/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Many thanks to Littleb for hooking this one up a while back. enjoyed from a cantillion zwanze day glass.

2010 vintage

a - de-caged and de-corked with hardly a pop (expected based on the sticker on the bottle). the brew poured an effervescent champagne looking pinkish red almost brownish orange too with essentially no head but some soft tiny bubbles.

s - smells super tart of raspberry and oak. really nice, but very vinegary.

t - WHOA THAT'S GOOD SQUISHY!!! talk about super sour and super tart, but super delicious. HUGE vinegar and raspberries. tart, but digestible. some oak is present, but this bad boy is SOUR.

m - very light carbonation (as expected), medium bodied and very juice like. doesn't really feel like a beer and with all that tartness there is no way you detect the huge ABV.

o - i would DEFINITELY have this beer again. the sourness is huge and it works. would love to try a different vintage, but wouldn't mind revisiting this one again. if you are a fan of sour beers, this is a MUST try. the low carbonation would normally hurt this beer, but the tartness is just that good.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 22:34:23 | More by cosmicevan

4thelvofbeer

Virginia

4.7/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Definitely leaning (way) toward the brothers' rating on this one.

A: Pours a light carmel brown with a one finger head that quicky disapates to a few floating bubbles.

S/T: Sour nose, fruit flavors and raspberry jam with a nice sour pinch.

M: Cool, smooth and refreshing, really nice!

O: I love this beer. Really nice wild ale. Got the farmhouse funkiness, with plenty of fruit and ale. Nice oak background with a long jammy-raspberry finish. Really, REALLY, nice!!!

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 00:39:08 | More by 4thelvofbeer

FosterJM

California

4.3/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1270th Review on BA
Bottle to CCB snifter
750ml C/C

2011 Bottle
Thanks to CPAbeer and StormKing47 for this one

Shared with JazzPatel, GuruDel & MrHirschybar

App- Really picked up the colors of the berries and added a red tinged hue to the base beer which I would say is a muddled brown. No real head, a ring of bubbles and slides gently.

Smell- A ton of raspberries in this. I think this is what all raspberry beers should strive for(I have not smelled Roos or FramBoos). Gentle, lingering with a soft sour tinge on the nose. A little tart.

Taste- This was really nice. I loved the lightness of the flavors and how balanced it was. The raspberries are flavorful but not cloying. The sour is there but doesnt make you do a warhead face.

Mouth- A little bit too thick for me. It was more of a full medium with a nice medium carbonation and had a nice lingering fruit/sour combo.

Drink- Tasty fruit sour. Just wondeful. The look and feel bring it down just a little bit, but this was delicious and a sleeper for us at our tasting.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 22:41:38 | More by FosterJM

lnashsig

Texas

4.48/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2009 Weyerbacher Riserva: Ale with raspberry puree added and aged in Oak Barrels (American Wild Ale)
ABV: 11.4%

Corked and Caged 750ml bottle, poured from bottle into Jester King Farmhouse Ale glass.

Appearance: Pours a blood orange red color, very little head that dissipates quickly. Not very surprising given the ABV of this ale.

Smell- raspberry preserves, a little whif of funk on the end. I'm also reminded of pie filling, the aroma is is more sweet than sour, only giving up a small amount of funk among the overwhelming sweetness.

Taste- puckering tart raspberry sweetness is quickly overtaken by an acidic sour presence. Waves of sugary sweetness are matched by equally puckering lactic acidity that introduces an almost salty quality to the finish. The complexity and the balance of sweet vs sour makes this a very interesting beer that could otherwise be pretty monotone if it was made to be all about the raspberry sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Even with 3 YRS of time on this bottle, ample carbonation still exists, and serves to deliver a nice dry finish. Impressive.

Drink-ability: for 11%, I get no booze at all. This bottle will be enjoyed, every drop. Possibly the most enjoyable fruit beer I've ever had, I would guess its peer group would include beers like Blushing Monk and Fort, this being easily better than both.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 01:14:28 | More by lnashsig

BEERMILER12

Maine

4.15/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 Vintage

A: Pours a slightly hazy blood orange color with almost no head, as it fizzled out while still pouring with an almost soda-like effervescence. Semi-expected with the amount of pop the bottle gave when opened, yet odd (and fairly impressive) because it was aged in oak and is 11.4%

S: Big funk, sour raspberries, alcohol as expected, slight oak character (albeit extremely muted behind the funk and raspberries)

T: Extremely sour from the funkiness, a good dose of raspberry, and light oak notes hidden in with the rush of alcohol that comes after the puckering sour and fruitiness

M: Medium bodied with ample carbonation. Only enhances the funk and sour nature of this beer, which can be slightly overwhelming at times if you're not used to sour beers

O: Pleasantly surprised by this, definitely a solid stab at top notch sours. The nice twist of raspberry puree and oak give it some complexity that is welcomed into the style with open arms. As the beer sits and the carbonation settles down a bit, the oak comes out more and helps smooth things over a little. So does the alcohol, though, but that is expected with the abv and general lack of body that comes with the style. Certainly recommended if you enjoy sours, especially with the price point (I got mine for $6.99, which is a steal for a sour of this quality)

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 07:33:06 | More by BEERMILER12

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.1/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle from Sammy, shared at Steve's birthday. 750ml into some tulips. 2009 vintage.

Pinkish red body, and a transient white head. Nothing is retained or laced. Nose is quite sour, acetone, funk, a whole bunch of raspberry but a strong accompanying acidity. Very mild oak and sweetness. Sweeter raspberry flavour on the palate, tart, acetone, oak sweetness. An interesting almost Cantillon-esque funk, but generally shittier and not as refined or exquisite. The funkiness or whatever it is just seems to pull this beer apart, really in disconnect with what else is going on here. Medium body with a sharp and abrasive sourness/acidity. Not impressed, this vintage ain't doing to well at this point.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 15:21:12 | More by liamt07

brystmar

New York

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 vintage.

Murky red-brown pour with ruby hues. White head briefly leaves mild lacing.

Strong raspberry aroma right off the bat. Some booze and a touch medicinal, but mostly raspberries. Taste follows suit: nice and tart up front, fruity middle, oak as it descends. Oak barrels impart some bitterness after swallowing.

After having so many top notch sours lately, this previous favorite of mine simply cannot compare. Regardless, this is a solid American sour beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 01:48:11 | More by brystmar

bbeane

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Plenty of carbonation in this one... cork came out with some force behind it

A- Poured into an oversized snifter... starts with a decent fizzy white head that disappears leaving little lacing. Beer is cloudy with a reddish tint

S- Has a nice aroma... sweet cherries with some funky tart backbone

T- Starts out with a subtle sweetness that is quickly taken over a sour funky notes and boozy heat

M- Light bodied with light carbonation

O- Doesn't compare to the Rapture IMO, but a decent attempt at a Wild Ale. I wish I had a second bottle to cellar for a few years as I think some age would do this brew wonders

CHEERS

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 01:54:53 | More by bbeane

DovaliHops

California

3.68/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Newest vintage...2011 I believe. Pours a very murky amber color with a slight hue of pinkish red. Medium white head that disappears very quickly. Not the prettiest beer, that's for sure. Scent is..Wow...strong raspberry puree/jam aroma. Lovely, tart berry aroma with some sweet cherry scents as well. Slightly medicinal. Taste is initially tart berries...raspberries and strawberries. Some definite alcohol presence. Some maltiness as well. Slight cherry cough-syrup flavor lingers on the back of the tongue. Not nearly as sour as I was expecting. Slightly warming alcohol burn in the throat. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, fizzy, and warming. Drinkability is fair. Overall, not the best wild ale...I would say this is more of a fruit beer with the lack of sourness and heavy fruit profile. By no means is this a bad beer, but it is very interesting. Would have loved to see more pucker to this and less booziness/medicinal flavors.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 06:07:23 | More by DovaliHops

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

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

750 oz bottle poured into a tulip glass at cellar temperature.

L - Cloudy amber-brown color with a 2 finger pinkish-white head that dissipates rapidly. A few noticeable carbonation bubbles (hard to see with the haze) and alright lacing.

S - Raspberry, grape, and cherry aromas with definite vinegar acidity. I get some oak notes, as well. One unpleasant smell that I get is an astringent rubbing alcohol aroma. I don’t know if it’s the booze mixing with other aromas like vinegar, oak, and fruit, but it is slightly off-putting.

T - Sweet raspberry and other berry flavors followed by sharp vinegar acidity and sourness. The funk from the oak barrel and the possible Brettanomyces shows up at the end. Thankfully, that rubbing alcohol smell doesn’t show up in the taste.

F - Medium-bodied, good tingling carbonation sensation, and a biting, almost harsh, dry, sour finish. Definite warming sensation from the alcohol.

O - This is a nice drinkable beer for the style and for the alcohol content. It’s got a nice balance of sweet and sour but still plenty mouth-puckering tartness for those sour-heads out there. A couple of downsides are the slight rubbing alcohol aroma and the very sharp finish. However, if you can get past those, this is a pretty good sour.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 01:32:15 | More by BlackBelt5112203

jsanford

Georgia

3.33/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Brewvival 2012

Strawberry-brown with a creamy white head. Big aromas of raspberry, oak, and red wine vinegar. Taste is similarly tart, basically raspberry vinegar, sweet and sour at the same time. Medium-thin mouthfeel, fairly crisp and drying. Not my favorite brew of the day, just not much going on other then raspberry and vinegar.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2012 14:43:47 | More by jsanford

suspect

New York

4.58/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from a corked and caged 750ml bottle into a Duvel tulip. Big thanks to Jon for the hook up.

A: Super hazy brownish gold color. Aggressive pour leads to a 2 finger white head that sticks around for a few minutes before fading to a slight ring. Lacing is spotty yet present. Appearance is probably the weakest point to this beer.

S: Funk - in a clean way, not barnyard but the epitome of sour. Lots of raspberries, yeast and some malt presence. Really nice smelling beer...complex, yet simple.

T: Follows the nose but the fruit stands out way more in the flavor than the nose. Bready yeast and slight malt profile blend in to make one of the best tasting sours I've had yet.

M: Perfectly carbonated sour. Crisp, dry finish, wonderful feel.

O: Fantastic beer. The best of the best in the class of sours. Really surprised at how good this one is. Bravo, Weyerbacher, bravo.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 03:34:45 | More by suspect

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml caged and corked bottle, 2011 vintage. Served in a Unibroue tulip, the beer pours a hazy reddish/brown color with about an inch light tan head that fizzled away quickly. There's a small amount of lacing left on the glass. The brew smells like raspberries and raspberry jam, apple cider vinegar, sour fruit, oak, and some funk. Taste is similar to the aroma, but the sour and earthy flavors are stronger than the sweet ones, not that I'm complaining. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's smooth and easy to drink with good carbonation. I think this is a good overall brew and definitely worth trying. $18.99 a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 23:09:11 | More by bluejacket74

KMcG

Virginia

3.08/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I brought this for my brother-in-law to try. We both were a bit surprised. This is review is from notes I took last weekend on the 2010 edition.

A: No head and dead still! The color is brown with a slight lavender hue in the light and cloudy.

S: Cherries and raspberries. Vinegar, alcohol and something that reminds me a sweet fruity BBQ sauce.

T: Tart! Sour! I get a pickled beets sense, but the raspberry is apparent. There is also sour apple and some funk. The oak comes through and the alcohol lights it up.

M: Very low carbonation, heavy body, and a super sour sour.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 02:13:55 | More by KMcG

output01x

Ohio

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

Poured from a 750 mL. corked and caged bottle (2011 Vintage) into a tulip glass.

A vigorous pour yields a 2-finger cream-colored head that slowly dissipates after a few minutes to a thin dusting and thick foam ring. The body is a very cloudy pinkish brown with traces of rose when held to light. Some decent lacing can be seen throughout consumption.

This nose is sweet, tart, and really funky. Aromas of rotting raspberries, mildew, and sour milk combine perfectly. Typically, one would not find any of the aforementioned aromas appealing. However, they really seem to work in this beer.

Each sip starts with flavors of raspberry and strawberry preserves and rhubarb. These flavors really come out in superb clarity. Swallowing this beer unleashes a strong and sweet pure raspberry flavor, which is met within seconds by a dry, funky sourness. A slight alcohol heat builds in the back of the throat, which honestly seems to clash with the awesome sourness.

Medium to full bodied with excellent carbonation, this beer is remarkably smooth. The body is thick but silky, like melted chocolate. The carbonation is fizzy but only seems to be a help.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 06:47:51 | More by output01x

bminor7

New York

4.28/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

25.4oz from Tully's, Wells, ME. 2010 edition.

Looks like a port-aged bourbon. No head whatsoever. Clear.

Nose of lactic acid. Cherries. Red wine vinegar. Like a crisper and lighter Mad Elf.

Taste is all acid, a strong, mouth-watering stinging wild bite. This is nice. The sweetness is well balanced and the rest of the flavor profile crisp and relatively light. Cherry tones but little malts. No alcohol flavor, really. Not sure if I believe the listed ABV.

Mouthfeel is just right. Very drinkable if you can keep up with the acid.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 02:07:00 | More by bminor7

claspada

New Jersey

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

Update: So much funkier and sour even 4 months later, like Dan said, this is probably the best batch ever.

Bottle from the Feb 2012 release.

Pours a hazy rusty amber color with an inch or so of slightly soapy off white head; not much lacing to speak of.

Aromas are initially fruity and sour. Raspberry puree, berry jam and amplified up sour patch kids. As it warms I get more of the earthiness and funky aspects. Light cider vinegar and emerging oakiness. Vinous and tart throughout.

The tastes follow the nose but are amplified. It tastes like you crushed up a crap ton of raspberries and made a puree out of them and let them sour. Berry preserves and white vinous oak notes join the party next. There is a subtle but persistent underlying funkiness which is mild now, but I can see will greatly improve over time. Also not super sour now but that will also emerge a great deal with time.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. Finish is lightly tart and dry and surprisingly balanced right now but I can see this developing into a very dry, tart monster.

Overall I was skeptical of this beer after last year's sub-par version but this is definitely the best version yet of this beer. So balanced now, slightly leaning toward the fruity end but with time this will develop into a super American Wild Ale. Granted it will never be up to the quality of lets say a Cantillon, but still super nice for a domestic example.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 01:36:35 | More by claspada