Rapture - Weyerbacher Brewing Co.

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

reddish amber, burnt sienna in color/ cloudy with a small whispy offwhite head that left a light coating on the sides and bottom of the glass.

oak with a light funk are pressing here. Some light spice and as it warms up lots of cherries coming at me now.Cherries from the start, very nice. light oak and woody notes press in mid palate and as it warms a nice touch of spice starts to come through, almost peppery at times. Some light apple vinegar like flavor in the finish as a dry finish fades off.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 14:36:23 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.78/5  rDev -34.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle courtesy of yourefragile. Served in a Mikasa tulip.

Pours a red-amber color with a good off-white head and a bit of lacing. The nose carries some cherries and oak plus a bit of an acetic character behind the lactic acid. Flavor ramps up the acetic character a bit more; not surprising given what Riserva is normally like. Light-medium body with oak and acetic acid. Not the best sour, though not awful.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 14:21:24 | More by Thorpe429

UCLABrewN84

California

4.28/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared at FosterJM's birthday celebration courtesy of FosterJM.

Bottled 5/27/11. Batch 2.

Pours a slightly murky brown with a tan head that fades to nothing. No lacing on this one. Smell is sour, tart, and funky with some slight vinegar and sour fruit aromas. Taste is very much the same along with some woody flavors. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good wild ale with a really nice flavor.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 22:11:50 | More by UCLABrewN84

drabmuh

Maryland

4.33/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

At the time of this review this is the #37 beer on the Top Beers - American Wild Ale list. Served in a snifter.

Beer is orange, with a mild haze, big white head, small bubbles, low retention, moderate carbonation, minimal lacing, low retention, looks fine.

Aroma is bretty, oaky, strong, a little harsh. Interesting.

Beer is good, light in body without being too dry on the finish, enjoyable, good Brett b presence to the beer, the flavors are good, the dregs are very chewy and a little harsh but ultimately very nice. I would have this again.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 03:41:04 | More by drabmuh

MasterSki

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Mike (AgentZero) for sharing this beer. Served in a Hill Farmstead glass.

A - A finger of off-white foam settles to a thick collar, some wisps, and minimal lace. Dark orange-brown body.

S - Oak, vinegar, some lactic sourness, and perhaps a touch of plastic. Somewhat generic "American" wild ale flavor profile, and a touch too woody, but on the whole fairly pleasant.

T - Taste is a bit less exciting. There's some spicy red wine mingling with the oak and acetic sourness. The finish is dusty and somewhat medicinal.

M - Zesty carbonation, mild pucker, and a medium body. Finishes quite dry and tannic, with light acidity. Alcohol isn't present. Goes down quite easy, and doesn't cause stomach distress, which is appreciated.

D - A solid American Wild Ale. Nothing super exciting, but drinkable, enjoyable, and something I'd drink again if it were available. Unfortunately I can think of many beers of this style that I'd rather drink.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 04:13:44 | More by MasterSki

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer poured out as a nice brownish amber color. The head laces a little bit, and the retention isn't bad either. The smell is funky and pretty sweet smelling, actually very nice aroma on this for being a sour. The taste is tart from the barrel aging but isn't overwhelming at all. There is a really nice sweetness in the back end. Some light caramel flavors as the sour flavors fade. The mouthfeel is creamy, smooth, gently carbonated and even a little thick. Overall this is far beyond my expectations. I really enjoyed this and I'm not even a fan of this style too much. Really well done here.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 22:05:31 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.93/5  rDev -8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cheers to Riggsy for this one!

Pours a semi-hazed orange with a slight ivory colored head. Looks more like a glass of wine, zero head retention & lacing

S: Raspberries & oakyness

T: Much sourness up front, raspberry, a touch of vinegar & oaky dryness. Puckery dryness, leather, vinegar notes. Finishes puckery & dry, with a bit of sherry & tart cherries

MF: Medium bodied, dry,dry, dry & near zero carbonation

A nice sour, a fairly good jolt to the palet, sour freaks will enjoy this. I was hoping for a bit more diversity in the flavors

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 04:53:17 | More by russpowell

mdfb79

New York

3.95/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From 09/09/11 notes. Got to try a few pours of this at NotF.

a - Pours a murky reddish brown color with an inch of off white head and low carbonation evident.

s - Smells of cherries and oak, light vinegar, and light barnyadr funk. More sour than funky, but a really nice acedic nose.

t - Tastes of cherries and raspberries, wood/oak, dark fruity malts, and vinegar. Again, tiny bit of funk but some nice sour dark fruits.

m - Medium body and low carbonation. A touch undercarbonated.

o - Overall this was the first Weyerbacher wild ale I've tried and I enjoyed it. Not overly funky or sour, but some nice tart raspberries and cherries. Would like to have a bottle of this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2011 18:14:14 | More by mdfb79

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appears a hazy red toned amber with a small, off white head that slowly faded into a mild collar and floating cap.
Smell is of cherry pie, rhubarb, grapes, and red wine.
Taste is of the aromas with a tart cherry and vanilla flavors.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, tart, yet balanced with a mildly acidic and sweet tart flavor lingering. Well done!

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2011 00:59:41 | More by weeare138

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

First had: 750ml bottle at Weyerbacher, Easton, PA

Named in honor of Harold Camping's continuing failed predictions, this beer is not a failure at all. Pours a chestnut brown mixed with ruby, a bit murky, with a delicate layer of bubbles for a head. Aroma of tart cherries, vinegar, and spicy yeast. Great taste, sour cherries, plums, slight acetic acid notes, woody, with nutty malts in the background, and a touch of yeasty funk. Think East Coast response to Russian River Conscecration. Medium mouthfeel, a bit lip puckering, which was expected. Very good beer, lots of character, and very drinkable. I didn't want to commit myself to a whole case, but I did end up finding a nearby bar that had a single bottle for sale (for a whopping $27).

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 14:34:36 | More by Rifugium

HopHead84

California

3.6/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

11/20/3011

Bottle shared by Carlos.

A: Red tinged orange with a small white head.

S: Nondescript berry with grape, oak, and a little plum. Lactic notes are pronounced. The tartness is pretty clean. Vinegar is evident.

T: Soft lactic notes with a pleasant acetic acidity. Notes of grape and raspberry are apparent, and oak is well integrated. There's a moderate tartness throughout and a drying oak finish with mild tannins and an increased acetic quality.

M: Medium body with lower moderate carbonation.

Overall: A solid Wild Ale. A little simple but enjoyable nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 00:33:41 | More by HopHead84

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Thanks to smoked for hooking me up with this. Corked and caged bottle poured into a snifter. This brew appears a fairly clear color that is caught somewhere between a copper amber and orangish red depending on how you want to look at it. When held to the light, it shines with almost a ruby coloration through the body and lighter yellowish indications towards the top. An initial surge of tan head forms across the top with a finger's strength that quickly fizzles away to a thin penline around the outside perimeter of the glass. A light swirl agitates some bubbles from solution but fails to compose any significant formation of a head. The retention is fairly poor.

The smell of this brew is inviting with a notion of sour berries, specifically cherry that is met with a light herbal tinge that makes for a lightly medicinal aspect to the aroma. A light funky aspect of cheese and feet is present along with a mellow smoothness of vanilla sweet character from the barrel aging. As the brew warms up, there is a light musty aspect of moist wood that adds a nice dimension to round out the nose.

The taste of this brew has a flavor of unripe mixed berries coupled with tart cherry upfront. Some funky, stinky cheese flavoring is present mixed with the barrel aged inclusion of moist wood and mild vanilla smoothness that accents the fruited flavoring. There is an herbal hop presence that brings on thoughts of a bit of mineral aspect and more medicinal quality about this brew as it warms up. The overall character is well rounded and enjoyable but seems a bit one-noted and not as complex as most wild ales. As it gets increasingly more warm, the sourness gets a bit more sharp and drying to the finish.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest to light level of carbonation. An overall enjoyable mix of flavors with nothing off-putting about it. At this stage, it almost reminds me more of a young flanders red than an american wild ale (if that means anything.) I suppose some age could do this brew no harm, as-is I have no complaints, its an all and all decent brew that is worth trying if you have the chance. I am interested in seeing what this brew evolves into with some time.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 03:16:23 | More by stakem

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.4/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a light white pink head. Color is a hazed peach.

Aroma: Sour cherries and fruit. Oak and spices. Not as sour as riserva.

Taste: A little sour but more fruity. I get a lime flavor here. Cherry tartness. Oak and some spices. A little caramel malt.

Mouthfeel: Sour and tart. Light bodied with a low to medium amount of carbonation. Ends slightly clean.

Overall, decent, but I surprisingly like riserva better. This was kind of light flavored. Somewhat drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 23:45:56 | More by mothman

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks goes out to the sent me this one in a recent trade (can't remember who it was)! Served from bottle into a Mikkeller taster flute. Poured a slightly hazy dark red with a one finger white head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, tart cherry, wood, vinegar, and a subtle amount of funk. The flavor was of sweet malt, tart cherry, fruit, funk, vinegar, and wood. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a pretty good brew. I have to be honest and say that I have been quite impressed with the Wyerbacher Wild Ales I have had and this one was no disappointment. All of the flavors and aromas on this one were spot-on for the style and quite enjoyable. Everything blended quite well together making this one very easy to drink. A definite must try if you get the opportunity.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 22:54:36 | More by thagr81us

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.2/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Shared this at a tasting today.

The beer appears a sunset orange hue with a small, off white head. The aroma offers sour cherries, oak. Nice lactic and acetic presence. The flavor is tart and sour...wonderful. Sour cherries and oak are the dominant flavors. I'm a big fan. Easy drinking with a bit of a pucker in the cheeks. Glad I have some more of these to enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 21:15:57 | More by Huhzubendah

FosterJM

California

4.3/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

1293rd Review on BA
Bottle to Tulip
750 Ml C/C

Batch 2
Thanks to CPAbeer and Stormking47 for this one

App- Still not sure how this beer got so damn dark but with this and Monomoy Kriek. Im thinking wine barrels. Was an off dirty brown with a small quick receding head and zero cling.

Smell- A lot of the tannins come through 1st on this one. The fruit and oak come next with a thick and deep earthy floral note.

Taste- A very nice wild ale. Has a great layered flavor with a lot of juicy fruits and then comes the oak and a bit of the pinot tannins on the finish.

Mouth- A light body with a bit of a low-medium carbonation. Needs a bit more bubbles on this one.

Drink- This is a very tasty beer with well rounded flavor and a juicy kick on the end. I was sad that I drank my bottle but then Callmecoon gave me one as a gift.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 03:03:05 | More by FosterJM

Jwale73

Rhode Island

4.38/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to Soonami for the chance to try this. 750ml corked and caged bottle. Pours the color of cider with no head, just a soapy skim. Nose expresses citrus, cork and light pit fruit. Taste follows nose; however, there's also a light, buttery character. Mouthfeel is light-medium in body with a lively, even carbonation. Not the most complex wild, but great balance and tastes wonderful. Just as good as I remember it from NOTF.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 23:51:33 | More by Jwale73

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle purchased at The Hulmeville Inn, split with oglmcdgl and sourbatchkid.

Rapture has a dark red appearance with some dark brown mixed in with maroon. A nice strong beige finger of foam with minor sticks. Some yeast on the bottom of the bottle, careful pours needed. Smell is ripe with grape, cherry, fruit and some oak with the expected vanilla. Some funky scent with alot of warming. Cold, Rapture shows off the malt presence, caramel, mixing in with the ripe fruits up above. Cherry comes out alot, with grape. Some funky bugs, brett? lacto? creating a nice pleasant tartness, that seems young. Feel is medium with a nice carb with a twang on the backend. Glad I split this one, Rapture was not the bomb. Seeing how this spent 18 months in oak, plus another 6 additional months in the bottle, I was looking for more pucker. Hopefully this beer comes together in future batches.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2011 07:24:08 | More by onix1agr

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.6/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a snifter. Batch 2. Big thanks to stevefinny for this.

3.5 A: Mildly hazed amber plum color. Two fingers of fizzy beige head that falls quickly and leaves no lacing.

4.0 S: Cherry and mixed berry fruitiness to start. Just underneath that there is a savory component that is hard to describe - maybe like a pithy fruitiness, perhaps if berries had peels like oranges. Moderate tartness that seems more fruity tart than sour tart. Dusty type funkiness with old, dry wood, and attic. The faintest of medicinal qualities. Oak and vanilla. Vinous red grapiness to round things out.

3.5 T: Cherry is by far the strongest flavor in the taste. Assorted berries probably come next. Surprisingly more sour than fruity tart, which fooled me in the nose. Only a cursory sourness though. The oak comes through a lot stronger and leaves a hint of tannic astringency. Same type of funk as mentioned in the nose. There's a decent complexity to this, but the flavors run shallow. Additionally, this would benefit greatly from just a hint more acetic acid. It just seems like it's missing something. Still, it's a tasty brew.

3.5 M: Lighter medium body. Good moderate carbonation. The carbonation, while not heavy, is not as spritzy as I'd like. Smooth nonetheless.

3.5 D: Decent effort and worth a try if you can find it, but don't plan on being blown away.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 05:16:37 | More by DavoleBomb

mdaschaf

Washington

4.13/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to ShanePB for this one!

A: Pours a hazy red/copper/brown color with a small tan head that reduces quickly to a ring around the top. No lacing.

S: Dark cherries, vinegar, and a little bit of caramel. There is definitely some wood coming through and a little bit of vanilla.

T: More dark cherries and a little bit of red grapes with a slight tart green apple flavor as well. There is a little bit of brown sugar and caramel.

M: Light to medium bodied, carbonation is lively. Not overly sour, but overall has a nice tartness. Slightly dry finish.

O: A really nice wild, seems more like a flanders, but it doesn't change the fact that it taste good.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2012 01:37:15 | More by mdaschaf

claspada

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy reddish amber with a modest somewhat fizzy head that disappears quickly leaving some spotty lacing

Aromas begin with oaky tannins and a little tartness. Light sour and vinegar notes also begin to assert themselves as it warms more to room temp. But the wine/oak coupled with berries dominate here for me.

The tastes begin with a little sweet berry coupled with some raspberry vinegar. Pinot and oak also assert themselves. As it warms you get more of the tart and dry blackberry flavors. A bit of tartness lingers on the tongue throughout the finish.

The mouthfeel is medium in body, dry with some medium-light carbonation.

Overall I really enjoyed this wild ale, probably more so than many other highly rated ones from the West Coast. Very balanced, not too sour, vinegary, fruity or oaky, just right in all the important flavor areas for this style. Wine barrels really bring out nice berry/cherry vinious qualities which I have come to love in this style. Weyerbacher continues to impress me by branching into a new style (for them) and knocking it out of the park.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2011 18:38:32 | More by claspada

ktrillionaire

Florida

4.47/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to G311 for the hook-up. The brew pours a rustic and cloudy umber hue, and is capped with a very short-lived head. There is a lot of cherry available in both aroma and flavor, as well as a palpable woody dryness. As it airs out, the fruit suggestions segue from tart cherry to a berry melange. There is a definite red wine complexity, as well as a dark caramel note underlying, not unlike, say, La Folie. The tartness is moderate and fairly varied in nature, with the most discernible being some acetic-balsamic notes on the nose. Slightly petillant, with a good weight for the profile and character of the brew. I enjoyed this one very much. Weyerbacher is the MOST underrated brewery out.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 14:03:02 | More by ktrillionaire

rye726

Colorado

4.28/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this one at GABF 2011. I was quite surprised by the quality of this beer and sampled it at least a half dozen times. It had a nice tartness that was well balanced by oak, wine and sweet malts. Nice nose as well. Crisp body drinks well. Nice finish. Would love to try this again. Possibly the best beer to ever come out of Weyerbacher. Except for maybe Double Simcoe when it is uber fresh.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2011 21:12:31 | More by rye726

scottfrie

California

4.48/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle from StormKing47. Thanks Josh! Batch 1.

A: Pours a dark, clear, iced-tea color with a very short lived head that faded to a thin collar.
S: Dry, funky, and very fruity. Berries are noticeable, strawberries maybe. Definitely oaky and dry.
T: Fruit skin tannins, dry oak, and definite strawberries come through. Flavors are easy and smooth. I get some sugary fruit notes along with darker prune-like fruits in the finish.
M: Clean and sweet body, very smooth for a sour with no harshness. Even carbonation. Dry but not crazy.
O: Very clean, easy sour, with great fruity flavors. This one was well done. Thanks again, Josh.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 03:20:36 | More by scottfrie

Sean9689

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Not sure who opened this one...750ml bottle into Darkness tulip.

A - Pours a rusty reddish/brown color, white head, some bottles around the sides of the glass, no cap.

S - Lots of acetic notes, red wine, oak, more Oud Bruin then anything.

T - Very sharp sour cherries, vinegar, oak, light funk. Finish is tart cherries, oak, and vinegar.

M - Light to medium, good carbonation, dry finish.

O - A pretty solid Wild that reminds of of a Flanders Oud Bruin. Relatively easy to drink and right up there with Oude Tart and Red Poppy, IMO.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 19:29:40 | More by Sean9689