Brooklyn Sorachi Ace - Brooklyn Brewery

rdickey

New Jersey

4.8/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Appearance: A slightly too-rough pour reveals a pale straw colored beer, somewhat cloudy, capped by a massive white head. The head persists for a while, and leaves rings of white lacing as I work my way through the glass.

Smell: Lemons are front and center, but they are capably joined by black pepper, a mild funk and a faint hint of bubble gum.

Taste: Wow, this is a keeper. The thing that most strikes me about the beer is that it’s a coherent package – the lemons from the hops continue to be featured, but everything works together so well that you don’t think “oh, a lemon beer.” Aside from the lemon, there’s a certain earthiness and grassiness, as well as traditional Belgian spice. It all works exceptionally well together.

Mouthfeel: Very light and crisp, with relatively high carbonation. Again, it just works.

Drinkability: Quite high; I’d characterize it as sessionable but the ABV is just a tad high for that. Still, this is going to become a part of my regular rotation. Just exceptional.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 21:28:36 | More by rdickey

tectactoe

Michigan

4.05/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Ashley's in Westland. Pours a golden-straw color; translucent with a mild chill haze that eventually fades away as the beer warms up a bit. Big-bubbled, white head is thin all the way throughout, but its small size was most likely due to the pour. Small bits of wet legging cling to the glass momentarily and eventually drip down.

The Sorachi Ace hop is notable for its lemon-like characteristics. Anyone who didn't already know that will definitely realize it after taking a whiff. The nose is packed with lemon in many different hats; lemon peel, lemon zest, lemongrass. Very effervescent; light, yet powerful; smooth, yet crisp. Mild herbal notes, grassy and subtly earthy, showcase themselves alongside the lemon brigade. Belgian yeast is no stranger here, either, adding the classic bubblegum-like aroma that has become oh so familiar. Mild finishing spices; clove, coriander, and faint white pepper.

The taste really integrates the Sorachi Ace hop well - the lemon notes are vibrant and noticeable, yet still manage to blend well with everything else, rather than sound anything out. Lots of flavors clashing all at once with each sip; lemon zest, herbal lemon tea, earthy hops, clove, white pepper, heavy yeast. The malt character is straightforward and basic; sometimes simplicity is the key. They add a nice cracker-like finish with some mild, balancing sweetness. Very like phenol character that only really becomes noticed near the latter half of the glass. Crispy, thanks to the hefty carbonation, finishing pretty dry with fading notes of herbal lemons and spicy yeast in the aftertaste. Thin-medium bodied.

Very good suggestion from Ron. Dangerously drinkable; fresh, crisp, dry, simple, and executed very well. Nice integration of flavor from this unique hop; this beer went down pretty quickly.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2013 11:48:18 | More by tectactoe

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

This is a great saison. Nice earthy tones. Grassy and only mildly funky. Carbonation is pretty high; could deal with a little less of that. But this is consistent and on the spot for the style. More of a sipper than anything else. Another nice one from Brooklyn. Keep it up, folks!

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 04:36:51 | More by RblWthACoz

Illuminist

Indiana

4.06/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed this poured into a New Belgium globe glass.

Aroma: Citrus and lemon zest, spices like pepper or coriander. Good floral aromas

Appearance: Beautifully blonde and clear. Great carbonation with help from the glass. White, fluffy head that hung around fairly well. Some alcohol legs.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Bright and bubbly. Fresh splash of citrus zest. Lightly flavored and light mouthfeeel. Lingering, dry finish. Really cleanses the palate.

I enjoyed this thoroughly. Like the bottle says, "it tastes like sunshine in a glass." The Sorachi Ace hops gave it a Pilsner quality that I enjoyed. It's very drinkable and would be a great introductory Saison for white wine and champagne drinkers.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 07:17:26 | More by Illuminist

MrKennedy

Australia

4.03/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle from Platinum Liquor, into a Lost Abbey Teku.

Really pretty hazy golden pour. Nice hiss as it comes out of the bottle and into the glass. Good white, tightly packed foam building on top before settling to a level just above film.

Smells of lemon and lemongrass. Makes HopBack Taiphoon seem tame. A little sweet at times, but the lemon definitely dominates any belgian yeast character that tries to get through.

Tastes of belgian yeast to begin. The lemon and lemon cleaner comes through in the middle. Some lemon sulphur gets through later and as this warms up. Probably the best experience i've had with Sorachi Ace hops. More lemon and lemongrass and less "in your face" sulphur.

ABV is higher, some vinous up front. But otherwise, pretty sessionable and drinkable given the specs and hop used. Body isn't too big at all.

Best use of Sorachi Ace hops i've come across. Nice showcase for it and it doesn't totally take over in the taste with the belgian yeast enough to work with it. Lovely beer and a lot of fun to drink. 750ml serving size is also about right, enough to drink on your own, but still a decent size to share.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 08:25:43 | More by MrKennedy

garuda

Pennsylvania

4.44/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Light gold, slightly hazed, white cap has good retention and decent lace.

S/T - Slightly tart, yeast funk, hay, grass, lemon candy sweetness. Moderate hop bitterness in the finish.

M - Medium body, lively carbonation, fluffy and smooth across the palate. Clean, dry finish.

O - This hop varietal seems to pair perfectly with the saison style. Accentuates the standard lemon/grass/hay flavors of saisons. Well done, I'd like to compare it to the bottle version.

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2013 19:56:11 | More by garuda

slammo

New Jersey

4.16/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Sorachi Ace is really something special. If you read the back label too intently you might never open it. The ingredients are well thought out and effective. Drinking it right now in February it reminds me of warm summer days and crisp dry satisfaction. The head is white and crisp, the aroma a bouquet and the taste exquisite. I want more.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 02:26:17 | More by slammo

SHODriver

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: pours a light and clear yellow with a three finger white head that is slow to fade into an ommegang tulip
S: smells lemony and grassy with a bit of spice and a slight pale malt aroma
T: taste is spicy yeast with some lemony and grassy flavor with some cracker like malt. just a hint of funk as well. swallow brings more spice and lemon with a bit of grassyness plus just a touch of medicinal herb
M: carbonation is assertive but not overly so and the beer has a medium feel in the mouth. fairly smooth on the palate.
O: a very nice saison. good flavors and complexity without anything outshining another flavor.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 04:09:06 | More by SHODriver

richj1970

Alabama

4.3/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from 750 ml bottle into Founder's Bolt Cutter glass.

A: Poured pale golden almost lemon color with nice three finger fluffy white head with large bubbles. Nice lacing.

S: Lots of lemon, oranges and citrus mixed with a grassy note that is really enjoyable.

T: More citrus flavors mixed with nice hops and spice. Reminds me of some nice champagnes in some respects.

M: Dry and nicely carbonated. Refreshing to drink.

O: I like this one quite a bit. I just wish they carried it locally. Nearest place to get it retail is about an hour and a half from the house.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 00:59:14 | More by richj1970

Muhly

Alberta (Canada)

4.11/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

(From tasting notes dated January 19, 2013)

Poured from a corked 1 pint bottle into a large brandy snifter. Served after warming 15 minutes from fridge.

A-Pours a very clear yellow gold. Very fine and foamy head that bubbles up quickly. Good head retention that leaves strings of lacing when it drops.

S-Singular citrus aroma unlike anything I have experienced. Very little malt.

T-Lemon citrus that finishes extremely dry. The Sorachi Ace hops are highlighted perfectly. Very little sweetness or maltiness.

M-Similar to champagne. Very dry and ebullient.

O-I've rated this beer quite highly because it highlights the wonderful Sorachi hops so perfectly. Its a hop forward beer that is extremely refreshing. I don't think I'll find anything quite like it and will certainly seek this out again.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 21:55:51 | More by Muhly

TheFightingMongooses

New Jersey

4.06/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

750 ml bottle poured into a tulip. The only bottled/freshness date is a small 2012 printed on the back label. I just have to mention that I love the label design/artwork! It's simple yet incredibly classy, especially the back panel.

Appearance - Big fluffy white head from the initial pour goes down slow. The beer is crystal clear pale golden with moderate yet active carbonation.

Smell - The aroma is light and refreshing. I get slightly sour white grapes, a touch of straw/hay, a good mix of clove-like spice, and a bit of sweet honey. Pleasant, earthy, fruity, complex, awesome!

Taste/Mouthfeel - The beer is silky smooth and light on the tongue, with hints of coconut (or maybe vanilla) and pineapple over a solid honey-sweet malt foundation. The spice is well integrated. At first the aftertaste was coarse and disagreeable, but as I keep drinking it becomes less noticeable.

Overall - The weird aftertaste is the only thing that detracts from this beer, otherwise it is outstanding! This may become my go-to saison when I want something light and complex.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 01:41:32 | More by TheFightingMongooses

ferrouswolf

Delaware

4.4/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bought a bottle after seeing it in the store and looking it up here. I don't normally go for hop-driven beers, but I decided to give this one a try. Here goes!

Appearance: a nice hazy golden color; slight hint of red, but more on the yellow side of yellow-orange. Rocky foam head that sticks around awhile before fading to a ring and partial coverage across the top. Not much lacing.

Smell: lemongrass, bamboo skewer aromas. I could smell it soon after opening the bottle.

Taste: a nice pilsner malt nose followed by a wave of grassy, lemony freshness with herbal and bamboo flavors moving to a short, dry finish. Some lingering bitterness, but properly restrained and not unpleasant.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied, and fine bubbles on the tongue. Almost --but not quite-- too carbonated.

Overall: I don't normally go for hop-driven beers, but this is excellent. Definitely demonstrates the broad range of flavors in beer. I wish the flavors were a bit smoother and more connected (perhaps in a rye version?), but the hops and yeast melded well into a delicious harmony. Very tasty; worth seeking out if you're not really into overwhelming bitterness but want to try a pure expression of a hop varietal.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 00:26:11 | More by ferrouswolf

sjones5045

New Jersey

4.19/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Pour yellow with a great amount of white head. Looks like a beer in a beer commercial.

The smell is sort of like that musty farmhouse ale smell but I also pick up a Belgium strong kind of sme too with some spice.

The taste is pretty good. It's very carbonated and it does have a bit of the Belgium strong feel but with the lemon notes from the Sorachi coming through. It's a very interesting beer. The lemon taste isn't quite like anything I've had. It does finish with a bit if bitter but it never goes over the top.

Overall, I like this as something different and refreshing. It doesn't wow me but it definitely has a right ace and right time for it.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 00:59:19 | More by sjones5045

sevenarts

New York

3.8/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pale and slightly cloudy yellow. White head, good retention and a bit of lacing.

S: Lemony, grassy, funky with lots of underlying Belgian yeast.

T/M: Lemony and hoppy up front. Then a bit of spice and some musty yeasty notes. The finish is back to the lemon with a lingering bready, yeasty quality. Smooth and quite creamy.

O: A really interesting saison variation with a nice, distinctive hop character from the sorachi varietal. Tasty and subtle.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 21:36:16 | More by sevenarts

SourCK

3.68/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: Golden and unfiltered. Very carbonated with a thick white head a little over one finger thick.

Smell: Strong scent of lemon and citrus. Subtle hop character. Hint of barnyard.

Taste: Characteristic belgian yeast flavor dominated by lemon. The hop flavor is over powered by the lemon. I like the tart character, but wish that the beer was a little more balanced.

Mouthfeel: High carbonation levels, typical of saisons. Somewhat coarse and tingles the palate.

Overall: This was a good representation of the saison style. I think there was too much lemon zest over powering the other flavors for my taste. I would drink this beer again, but I won't rush out to buy another immediately.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 00:47:00 | More by SourCK

TubaManJack

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

So after seeing this beer on many shelfs I decided why not

Appearance - Huge thick white sudsy head a light yellow body that is quite hazy.
Smell - Unriped bananas and hops. The nose of the hops is unique and a mix between being pungent funk and light herbal.
Taste- this is a farmhouse ale no question with its lighter malts and slight sourness from the yeast. However the hops do play a larger role than most. The hops do prove a different component that I am having a hard time pining down.
Mouthfeel - full slightly dry mild carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2012 02:20:48 | More by TubaManJack

RichD

Rhode Island

4.15/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from this big ass corked and caged bottle into my Samuel Adams perfect pint glass.

A: Pours a hazy, straw yellow with an enormous head. Lots of sudsy goodness with this one. It actually fades pretty quickly.

S: Smells very lemony with a touch of yeast. Not my favorite, but still good.

T: The taste consists of a lemony zest which undoubtedly comes from the Sorachi ace hops. A little peach flavor comes in after and I can taste some buttery yeast that comes in at the end. Good stuff.

M: A creamy, but kinda light flavor is left in the mouth. Quite crisp and enjoyable. It makes me long for another sips.

Overall: This is nice. I hope to get one for the summer time as I can see me drinking this on the deck on a warm day. I like this and will definitely buy another bottle in May or June for the summer. Brooklyn has a winner and I know why they decided to bottle this one and distribute it.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 22:19:23 | More by RichD

DaveAnderson

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've been seeing this on shelves for a while, and finally just went for it. I chilled it down, and prepared to serve it. I made the mistake of getting intrigued by the label after removing the cage, and about 20 seconds later, was rewarded with a pop and thunk of cork off ceiling. Into the glass it went.

I want to describe the beer as hazy yellow, but it's not just yellow. If I hold it up to the light, it seems to get darker, almost peachy, but really pale. It's hard to find the right words, but it's quite lovely. The head looks like beaten egg whites, so fluffy and white and with such fine bubbles. It doesn't really stick around, though, and leaves behind little lacing.

This smells very metallic. As it warms, this dissipates and leaves something more delicate, like pears, and a hint of butter. It's very subtle.

It tastes nothing like it smells. Wow. It's zesty and peppery and clean. Bitterness is very restrained. It's soft on the tongue. The fine bubbles are contributing here. Must be the Champagne yeast.

This is really pleasant to drink. It's clean, refreshing, and light, but never boring. I dig it.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 06:33:06 | More by DaveAnderson

DenverLogan

Colorado

4.53/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

First beer of evening...I have a whole big beautiful bottle to myself...stamp #2342. Pours a beautiful hazy wheat gold with continuous small white head. A few dark floating particulates at the bottom add intrigue. Aroma of lovely fields of grain and bread. Taste of a good saison, not too spicy or citrusy, but components of lemon, orange zest, black pepper, grains of paradise, chives, lemongrass, sourdough bread, modest hops & slight finish of funk! Overall very tasty ans satisfying.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 03:57:57 | More by DenverLogan

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.13/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap in a 10 oz chalice glass

Appearance – Served a yellow-orange colored brew with a one finger fizzy white head. The head faded quite fast leaving only a light amount of lacing behind.

Smell – The aroma is fruity and yeasty. Lemon and orange greet the nose with some highlights of tropical fruits mixed within. A yeasty smell brings with it some pepper, grass and a spicy note. Rounding out he smells are some notes of a citrus and floral hops.

Taste – The taste begins with a lots of the fruit that was detected in the nose. Orange and apple create the bulk of the fruit taste up front, but are joined by tropical notes as the taste advances. While upfront the yeast is on the tamer side, it grows rather strong more toward the middle and the end. With the yeast comes a peppery and grassy/haylike taste more classic of the farmhouse style. At the end with flavors that the yeast brings getting stronger a yeasty, sweet, haylike/grassy and sour fruit taste is left to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the creamier side but yet maintained a rather crisp feel. The higher level of carbonation only accentuates the crispness, complementing well the tart and fruity flavors of the brew. Not too shabby.

Overall – A very nice drinking and flavorful brew. I would definitely recommend, as it was a nice blend of funky, smooth, citrus, and sweet. One to give a go to if you get a chance.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2012 02:06:21 | More by Darkmagus82

Siriusfisherman

Montana

4.23/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Pours a deep, hazy gold with a huge, frothy head that dissipates quickly. Good lacing.

Smell: The aroma is of sweet estery fruit and phenols with a good helping of lemony hops. Some light breadiness and spicier yeast character as well.

Taste: Clean bitterness up front with a very pleasing zesty-lemon hop flavor through the finish. The esters are prevelant but light in nature and the peppery yeast character blends perfectly with the light maltiness and hops.

Mouthfeel: Very thin, but slightly creamy. There is the huge carbonation kick that is characteristic of the style, gives a crisp and refreshing effect.

Overall: A delicious Saison, I love this style and I love this beer. A great showcase of the Sorachi Ace hop for any of you homebrewers out there.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 23:12:02 | More by Siriusfisherman

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap, served in a pint glass

The body sits a pale, hazy orange color with a thin one finger cap. Not a very pretty pour by the bartender. The cap has some good staying power, as it never truly disappears. Some lines of lace strewn about.

The nose is full of wet hay, undercooked bread, black pepper, and lemongrass. Some bubble gum/cotton candy lying underneath. Fairly straightforward saison base with the addition of sorachi ace over top.

Soft bubble gum, undercooked bread, and wet hay roll onto the palate. Soft, lush feel. Lemon grass and lemon peel through the middle with some black pepper. The finish is some cotton candy/bubble gum and lemongrass and a hint of black pepper.

Medium feel, soft, and lush. A little bit of warming pops up late.

This is a pretty decent saison. Some unique character from the sorachi ace hops, but nothing special. Strong flavors, solid representation.

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2012 21:56:52 | More by ColForbinBC

bonkers

New Jersey

4.15/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I poured from a bomber into a snifter, golden yellow pour, hazy, 2+ inch head, tons of lacing. The aroma is lemony, peppery, spicy. The flavor is very lemony, fruity, hint of pepper, drying finish. Highly carbonated, easy drinking, light body. A very nice saison, I am a big fan of the Sorachi Ace hop.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 01:46:57 | More by bonkers

Jmamay22

New York

3.28/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Cork popped and beer poured reveals a orange colored amber beer with a slight haziness with thin head. Smells of fruity yeast and pineapple lemony hops.

The flavor is less distinct and loses some of the fruity complexity in the scent. The lemon hops, which I imagine is from the sorachi developed hops (never had sorachi before) is prevalent. While this may have been the goal of Brooklyn brewery it comes off as a one note beer without much depth. Mouthfeel is lively and the beer finishes extremely dry. It would be interesting to see wider use of the hops to offer some variety, but I have never seen another beer advertised using this variety.

An interesting beer that I'm glad I tried, but Unlikely I would purchase again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 20:38:18 | More by Jmamay22

jimilayne

New York

4.63/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Purchased at Eagle Provisions in Brooklyn. Poured from bottle into a chalice glass.'

Appearance: Nice sun yellow body with a thick, foamy 2-finger head.

Smell: Strong bitter yeasty nose with some citrusy and hoppy goodness. Doesn't reflect the taste and

Taste: Yeasty, champagne-y taste but not overpowering on the tongue. Refreshing even. Hint of lemon in there. Based on the nose I expected it to have a strong lingering aftertaste, but it doesn't.

Overall: Surprising burst of deliciousness after the bitter nose. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 00:32:49 | More by jimilayne