Brooklyn Sorachi Ace - Brooklyn Brewery

TonyBrew

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Dilly Deli. Served in a goblet super golden yellow. Very bright like a Saison or wit.
Loved the spices at first, but major citrus comes out (reminds me of Barrel House Hocking Hills Hefe from over a decade ago, not now). A very refreshing brew and an excellent follow up to an Avery Czar. It has a dry finish but very refreshing. A great body with medium head. Very happy with this brew, cannot wait till the Deli gets more.

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2010 17:50:12 | More by TonyBrew

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-Hazy golden orange with a thick, off-white head that slowly reduced and left thick, caking lace.

S-Big dose of lemon rind, mango and pineapple thanks to the Sorachi Ace hops. I have limited experience with this hop but from what I have I know I REALLY like it. Saison notes of spicy pepper, fines herbes and earthy mustiness meld well with the juicy fruit hop notes.

T-Out of the gate with a thundering hop blast of juicy lemon citrus zing! Then, the saison qualities take over in the finish with a subtle, musty character, peppery spiciness and the drying astringency of the herbal like notes.

M-Medium bodied, soft, creamy and quite smooth. A fairly complex ending with earthy, tangy and drying notes all making appearances.

D-Quite complex and very interesting. I like the IPA/saison combination as the qualities of both shine through and compliment each other. A delicious and intriguing brew. Kudos to Brooklyn for taking a chance and making it work.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2010 13:46:17 | More by Deuane

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a slightly cloudy pale golden yellow color with a half finger frothy white head that slowly settles into a thin lasting ring. Not much in the way of lacing.

Slightly earthy, spicy aroma with hints of peppery clove, ginger and something else I can't put my finger on. Crisp light fruit notes, mostly apple and pear along with a slight hop profile and subtle malt in the nose.

Lighter bodied with some earthy hops and zesty spice. Hints of pepper, ginger and corriander along with a slight metallic flavor which is kind of off putting. Slightly cloying with a long dry finish.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2010 07:29:16 | More by corby112

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Ebenezer's on 2/27/10. Served in a challice.

A - Cloudy golden orange-colored body with a one-finger rocky alabaster crown reminiscent of a bowl of rice pudding that settled into a wall of carbonation bubbles and thick swatches of lace.

S - Aroma reeks of tropical fruit, especially mango and pineapple, and works really well with the saison yeast to provide a hint of earthiness with spicy notes, especially white pepper and other herbs. A sweet malt character persists throughout. Citrus peel also emerges in the backend, which offers a compelling hop profile for a brew utilizing a single hop variety.

T - Brooklyn successfully combines a citrusy IPA with a farmhouse-style saison. The subtle funk and musty character of the saison works quite nicely with the spiciness of the yeast. Pepper, light herbs and citrus peel all work together effortlessly to create a sweet, fruity and funky brew.

M - Medium bodied with a creamy, frothy texture and soft carbonation. Light bitterness on the palate with a slight musty earthy character and sour notes on the tongue. Despite all of this, the finish is pretty sweet overall.

D - Very complex and unique single hopped ale with quite a pungent nose to boot. I enjoyed this one immensely and I found this particular hop to work exceptionally well with the saison qualities.

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2010 03:26:06 | More by ffejherb

glid02

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Taco Mac Metropolis in Atlanta.

Pours a clear golden color with a one-finger white head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of light malts with a good deal of woodiness and citrus aromas that skew more toward lemon than orange or grapefruit. Also present is a touch of anise.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Earthy light malt flavors with a decidedly oak-y backbone kick things off. Soon afterward light lemon flavors enter into things and segue into light anise flavors that carry through to a crisp ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a solid thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I didn't have a problem finishing my glass and could have another.

Overall I thought this was a uniquely tasty beer. Sorachi Ace is an interesting hop and this beer gave it the opportunity to shine. Worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

01-16-2010 22:49:52 | More by glid02

jneiswender

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had a class of this at the Brooklyn Brewery brewhouse on tap.

A-cloudy, old gold body and a great lacey white head

S-cloves, medicinal, herbs

T-bubblegum, clove, candy-like, herbal finish

M-light, high carbonation

D-I don't know if this is really a great representative of the style but it is certainly a tasty and thirst quenching beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2010 02:31:10 | More by jneiswender

kirkmichel

Georgia

3.95/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Yellow, clear-ish. I actually thought they poured miller light by accident, except that it had nicer lacing and was just a tad cloudier.
S- Lemony and fragrant, with a faint bit of orange and cloves. Yeasty.
T- Very lemony and floral. The citrus jumps right out, as does some hopiness....reminding me that looks can definitely be deceiving.
M- Pleasant, refreshing with just a bit of zing and some hop viscosity. Very well balanced.
D- Good, you could stick with this beer anytime and enjoy it (but watch out it's 7.5%)

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2009 19:51:20 | More by kirkmichel

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.63/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed on 8/12/09. Growler from Bellport Beer & Soda. Pours a hazy golden yellow with a small white head. Aroma of lots of spices (pepper, clove), lemon, melon rind, and wheaty malt. Flavor is quite powerfully spicy on the initial sip (peppery mostly, maybe some spicy hops) with a wheaty/grainy (corn and rice grains too) finish and some sweet fruits and lemon. Interesting beer and pretty tasty. Not exactly a session beer, but it worked fine!

Serving type: growler

12-18-2009 22:54:51 | More by LilBeerDoctor

rfgetz

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy bright straw color, fluffy white head, decent retention and lacing. Smell is of grass, yeast, bread, clay, lemon and slight herbal charachter. Taste is grassy and yeasty with a nice hints of lemon and bread, with a faint spice charachter in the background. Crisp, clean and refreshing. A very good and unique saison.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2009 14:07:32 | More by rfgetz

rhinos00

Colorado

4.38/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on-tap at Fat Head's in North Olmsted. Poured into a chalice.

A- Pours a pale golden yellow. Rather clear. Produced a fingers width of white head, that slowly turned into a ring throughout consumption.

S- Cloves, spices, grassy hops, and lemon. The sorachi ace hops are very noticeable here.

T- Grassy, earthy flavors upfront. Finishes with a little bit of sweetness with lemon accents. Somewhere in between, the presence of spices and cloves come forward. Really liked how the hops transformed this beer.

M- Light to medium bodied, great carbonation.

D- For a saison, I kept wanting to come back for more. Goes down really smooth. Easy drinking.

Overall, never had a beer with sorachi ace before, but I really like how it added a new dimension to what would have been a pretty standard saison. These two are a perfect match IMO.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2009 15:29:01 | More by rhinos00

GrittyMug345

Maine

4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I tried this on tap at The Great Lost Bear in Portland, ME on 10/30/09. Poured into a 16oz shaker pint. A nice tight one finger head died down to leave behind an elegant, thin lacing above a bright yellow, slightly cloudy, nicely carbonated body. The nose is intense on this one, big lemon, spicy hops, a lot of floral notes, and the slightly funky, damp brett. The taste is very floral, rose hips, a little lemon, a bit of black pepper or coriander, some nice notes from the yeast, very nice bitterness. Light bodied with lots of cleansing carbonation, nice dry finish. I could probably drink a couple of these, not sure I would though, it's nice for what it is but a little too floral for my taste.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2009 14:50:00 | More by GrittyMug345

Rudgers73

New York

3.83/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served at the Tap & Mallet, Rochester, NY. Pours a relatively clear, light golden color. The head is pretty much gone by the time it arrives at the table. The smell is dry, herbal, CO2, slightly medicinal. The taste is interesting. I would definitely consider this an American style Saison. Residual sweetness despite trying to be bone-dry, a mouthwatering punch of citrus-like flavor, but a nice take on the traditional hops used. I don't know much about these Sorachi hops, but I do know they seem to be the American equivalent of Saaz, IMO. They have the same light, styrofoam-grassy taste, but they also harness that west coast American piny flavor. All in all, I would like to see a more traditional Belgian Saison, bone dry and more subtle in the flavor department, but the hops are full of character, nonetheless.

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2009 01:52:40 | More by Rudgers73

adamette

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Looked forward to finding this in some form, of course HopCat in Grand Rapids came through as they carried this on tap two days ago during my visit. Review from notes taken at the bar. Poured into a clean, clear glass.

A Very clear, near water look with a shade of pale yellow color with bubbles rising up from the bottom. Thick, creamy head that leaves a curtain of lace announces this beer as a serious contender for your attention. 4.5

S Spicy, ginger smells wallow up from the surface of this beer. Intriguing, good smelling, really. 4.0

T Ginger, spices, slight malt sweetness, no hops tasted by me. I appreciated that the taste lingers for several minutes. Great taste! 4.5

M Light, refreshing, really nice, appropriate feel to this beer. 4.0

D Great drinkability since it is at one time tasty and light. 4.5

Serving type: on-tap

10-21-2009 03:31:06 | More by adamette

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had this on tap at Fat Heads in Cleveland. The menu described it as: "Spiced with a unique Japanese hop variety called Sorachi Ace. This hop imparts a bright, spicy lemon zest aroma and is backed by a wonderfully clean malt flavor".

The beer is very clear, light golden color, with a thin head that clings into lace wherever it touches glass. The Sorachi Ace hop is just as described, a lot of lemon citrus, no real fight with the pale malts for aromatic dominance. There's a fair amount of spice and what smells like honey in there too. The taste is damn near perfect, I like this hop and I like it's presence in this beer. Lots of lemon citrus and light floral tastes, this is delicous with a light touch. A somewhat thin body which matches my expectations for the style, overall another excellent beer from Brooklyn, outstanding.

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2009 15:57:14 | More by TurdFurgison

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a pale golden slighty hazed hue with a bright white head, appears almost pils like with very nice intricate lacing as the head settles. Aroma was spicy with a funky welcoming yeast edge with a very nice citric and tropical hoppiness about it with a touch of coriander or other spice addition possibly? Flavor has more of the spicy citrus and herbal hop blend from this rare varietal of hop, a nice zesty edge to the whole experience sweetness is balanced with some dry yeast flavors in the finish. Mouthfeel is light bodied very sessionable brew comes off quite nice and definitely intrigues the senses with each sniff and sip. A complex satisfying drinking experience that was very unique and it reeled me in, I hope this makes it's way back to the beer drinkers.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2009 05:05:37 | More by WVbeergeek

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Wow! A really unique beer. Pale straw gold and hazy. Medium bodied. Good head retention. It's spicy, lemony, and woody, no doubt due to the Sorachi Ace hops. In another beer brewed with them, I found them to be almost cedar-like. That's not the case here, but it is a bit woody, at least as far as dryness goes. It's a great combination: dry and bitter, but infused with citrus and some minor yeasty phenols. Interesting! Weird! I love the contradictions it offers, and also that it's not really that complex either - everything is put right out there on the table. A great summer beer. I would love to see this one brewed again next year!

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2009 21:55:13 | More by NeroFiddled

Gavage

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: pours a golden yellow color with a one finger head that breaks apart quickly to a surface foam.

Smell: lemon zest, grass, and some soft bitterness is detectable by the nose.

Taste: moderate malt profile with some hearty lemon zest, grass, pepper, a bit of earthiness, hint of yeast, and a mild bitterness make up a very flavorful beer.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Crisp to start, less crisp and a bit dry at the finish. Aftertaste lingers for a few minutes.

Drinkability: this beer was extremely quaffable and one could have a few of these without getting bored. One of my new favorites from Brooklyn.

Serving type: on-tap

09-16-2009 18:18:07 | More by Gavage

DawnL

New York

3.18/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pale golden color with good lacing.

The nose has a clean, crisp, soap bubble aroma. I'm guessing that will manifest itself in banana on the palate?

Banana and clove character to this brew. Definite brett flavor. This beer has bite.

This is a very surprising brew to have during a tasting. It tastes unique when paired with a line-up of session brews.

I found the brett character very similar to rye. It was a little overwhelming as I continued to drink this beer. It's still a worthwhile brew to try.

Serving type: on-tap

09-16-2009 15:03:10 | More by DawnL

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

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

On tap at Mahaffey's the other day.

The beer pours a striking gold color with good head retention and lacing. There is very active carbonation in this beer; not something I see all the time. I don't get a lot on the nose with this one, just some light honey and cracked pepper. Still, what's there is pretty nice. On the palate, this beer is pretty enjoyable. I get some lemon, orange and honey, all in a very light frame. There's almost a sweet ice tea flavor to this beer, that I quite like. The beer finishes nice and clean on the palate, with the alcohol well disguised.

This beer is very easy to drink, and makes a perfect warm summer's day beer. Quite nice.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2009 20:14:58 | More by johnmichaelsen

wyattshotmaker

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

on tap at the buckeye beer engine,poured into a pint glass.slightly cloudy yellow with not much head or lacing.nose is fresh lemonzest and a bit of sourness.

taste is upfront lemon-citrus,slightly tart with a crisp and dry finish.i picked up a very slight diacetyl buttery-ness,but it went away as the beer warmed up.

medium-light body,lively carbonation.adds alot to the drinkability.pretty good,not as good as what i was thinking it would be.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2009 00:10:23 | More by wyattshotmaker

shivtim

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Found this on tap at Leon's Full Service in Decatur, GA. Served up in a Brooklyn glass.

Pale, mostly clear straw color, with a decent white head. Noticeable carbonation. Looks good.

Nose is a sweet hoppy mix, with sugary lemon and spicy pepper. Good yeasty base.

Taste has a European hops lean, with some butter citrus zest and an earthy spice flavor... maybe taro root. Gentle hay and yeast.

Good mouthfeel and drinkability.

Nice job, Brooklyn.

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2009 23:22:02 | More by shivtim

scootny

New York

4.47/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I had this on tap at the brewery back in July but did not have my tasting notebook. Luckily DeCicco's had growlers so given my initial love for this one I bought two.

A pale gold with a light fluffy head and respectable lacing. Very clear with little carbonation evident.

The smell is a sweet roll and light sweet malt breadiness with a lemony brightness. Not the usual hop pine or citrus bouquet. This is light and summery. A crispness and refreshing quality even before the first sip. Peppery spiciness and a bit of grassiness combine with a light fruit melange. Apples, grape, pear, and tropicals banana, and pineapple

This is just a perfect summer beer. Taste mirrors the nose. An apple tinged malt backbone flows easily into a tripel like Belgian sweetness. The fruit melange speaks out. That peppery spice again. Then the Saison funkiness emerges to lay a platform for the bright and super clean hops. The Sorachi hops give a finish so clean and perfectly dry that it's almost like champagne. Before that finish the expert balance they give leaves the signature for the whole brew. The is a delicate, subtle, and watershed brew. You think think you taste the alcohol but when you look for it...that taste is not alcohol.
This is sooo close to a 5 in taste for me that I have to remain calm.

Feel is light and quaffable. Carbonation is mild but lightly, creamy, and finely effervescent. You just don't want to run out because it feels so good.

The other reason you don't want to run out is because this is one of the most drinkable beers in my recent memory. Never mind the slightly high abv. The alcohol is invisible. The refreshment level is off the chart. The finish will give the dryness that deep thirst craves. You will find it very easy to go a little overboard with this one. Enjoy the swim.

A real triumph for the Brooklyn brewery. A brew that really showcases what may be Japan's best contribution to the brewing art. This is one of my top ten beers of all time, maybe a top five. A perfect beer for review # 200.

Serving type: growler

09-06-2009 03:13:03 | More by scootny

ToasterChef

Maine

4.22/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I ordered this beer knowing nothing about it. I vaguely recognize the name, but I don't know from where. BA says it's a farmhouse ale that was only brewed once, so I order one. It is served to me in a 12oz pint glass, and it looks good. A finger of white foam that goes tot he top of the glass atop a full pour of golden orange beer. It's translucent and has plenty of bubbles rising to the surface; I'm expecting some high carbonation. It smells sweet and spicy with a bit of floral hops hidden in the back. Wow, there is a really interesting taste to this beer. It has a strong malt character reminiscent of some other high quality farmhouse ales, and a unique aftertaste that is bitter and alcoholic. I bet that is the Sorachi Ace hops showing their stuff. It has a full body and decent mouth coating properties. I can see myself drinking a few of these, but not too many. It feels strong, and the aftertaste may not feel so impressive after a few rounds, but if you see this one on tap, I recommend getting a pint. It's another great Brooklyn beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-02-2009 21:38:24 | More by ToasterChef

PEBKAC

New York

3.9/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Month old growler from Bierkraft. The only reason I go there really. The twenty-five percent plus markups on their bottles don't seem to affect their growler pricing thankfully($9.95 for the fill if you already got the glass & the polyseal cap).

Inch of quickly receding beated egg whites. Pretty, table skirt trim lace, with a veil of ethereal scum floating on top. Dusty golden wheat body.

Smell is big on alfalfa(ever have a guinea pig as a pet?) & stiff hop resins. On a smaller scale, baby powder, those wonderful ginger mint hotel soaps you "confiscate" from your little excursions into foreign beer territory, & at the very end, the harsh exhaust of pissy ammonia being it's only big detraction.

Rindy tangerine & bushy greens upfront. Rubbing alcohol harshness brings a lemon, Theraflu-like astringency. Bitterness withers your tongue at first, but wipes cleal & snaps crisp with a little grass that continues on & just barely lingers, opening it up to the dry cracker malt laying in wait. Backend evens out just like a pils should it seems. Touch of apple though. A little time sitting out softens the hops greatly, giving it a pleasant orange juice note, but as a side effect, it turns yeasty as well(it doesn't float everyone's boat).

Mouthfeel is awesome. Very crisp, big/rounded carbonation that just refuses to grate on your tongue. The beer is dry through & through, getting your mouth watering for another sip. The alcohol doesn't hide very well, & is my only complaint.

I got the lemon, & the grass, but not the lemongrass. Not my favorite, but pretty unique. :)

Serving type: growler

09-02-2009 02:10:37 | More by PEBKAC

Billolick

New York

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

Growler from DeCiccio's in Ardsley, NY, enjoyed this one so much over the course of this hot and sunny summer day that my review is of the final pour, cloudy lemony/medium apricot light amber, creamy off white head, leaves plenty of tongues of lace as well as mighty fine looking sheeting. Simply delicious saison, mega lemon, soft pineapple, fruity hop bomb of a saison. Love saison, love fruity and aggressivly hopped saisons/Belgians. Gonna run back ASAP to hopefully get more of this nectar. Fine work Brooklyn.

Serving type: growler

08-26-2009 02:38:17 | More by Billolick