Thumbprint Enigma - New Glarus Brewing Company

markaberrant

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 1 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Serve in 12oz tulip.

Pours a murky, muddy light brown with a red tinge. Some soapy bubbles form a ring, and quickly drop, leaving a lifeless looking beer. Looks downright disgusting.

Smells like sour cherries.

Taste is not nearly as funky (sour lactic) as I was expecting, the sour cherry is quite pleasing. I can even taste some malt and hops in there. Very nice vanilla notes. Finish is smooth.

Full bodied, and not prickly at all. I think this is what allows the malt to have a presence.

Drinkability is high for me. I love this style of beer, but I usually find that 1 is more than enough. Not the case here, I could drink several of these in a row. Alcohol level seems quite moderate too.

The ugliest beer I've ever drank, but as far as sour beers go, this has to be my personal favourite. Everything is kept in check (sweetness, sourness, acidity), but still remains complex. Thanks Demcorhip!

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2007 21:38:21 | More by markaberrant

nmann08

Maryland

4.01/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark amber/caramel color, with a wispy white head that dissipated very quickly.

Nose is fruit, cranberries, cherries, apples. The funk is there, which actually lets it take on a sour apple type smell. Oaky, but no vanilla.

Taste is tart fruit. Sourness is there, but a little timid. Caramel, a bit of medicine type flavor. It's pretty sweet, which is cutting the sour a bit too much for me.

Mouthfeel is good, decent carbonation, dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 22:10:23 | More by nmann08

ajzy

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

06-14-2013 00:03:22 | More by ajzy

ygtbsm94

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

06-08-2013 02:28:39 | More by ygtbsm94

savagepm

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +9%

06-06-2013 01:13:03 | More by savagepm

westwood

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +9%

06-05-2013 14:41:45 | More by westwood

Nachos4two

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +15%

06-05-2013 14:29:06 | More by Nachos4two

Zuidman

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -15.3%

06-05-2013 03:22:36 | More by Zuidman

Ish1

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -3.1%

06-05-2013 01:31:59 | More by Ish1

scotv

New York

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

06-02-2013 01:07:29 | More by scotv

sleuthdog

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottle poured into GI tulip
This bottle courtesy of franklinn

Pour: Ruby red with a three finger effervescent off white head dissipating quickly leaving the glass streak and lacing free.

Smell: Tart cherries, oak, bit of vanilla, cinnamon, spice and a funk.

Taste: Tart cherry is most certain front and center in this beer. There is an oak note lending to some vanilla, caramel and bit of sour funk. It is sweet but not overly so because the more tart-sour notes seem to tame this aspect. This I enjoy because I thought Belgian Red was too sweet and one dimensional.

Mouthfeel: Lovely with a crisp refreshing aspect. I do wish it had a bit more body to it as I find it slightly thin. This is just a slight knock though because I find it very enjoyable.

Overall: I am just getting into the sour world. Have had some of the big guns at a tasting and this is a great introduction to the sours. I wish I did have more of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2013 01:05:27 | More by sleuthdog

Anonymous1

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

06-01-2013 15:08:53 | More by Anonymous1

maq89

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +21.1%

06-01-2013 02:47:51 | More by maq89

beergorrilla

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -15.3%

05-30-2013 03:37:55 | More by beergorrilla

Zaphog

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -15.3%

05-30-2013 02:29:54 | More by Zaphog

DarthGuitarHero

Minnesota

3.25/5  rDev -21.3%

05-29-2013 18:49:03 | More by DarthGuitarHero

straightlambic

California

4/5  rDev -3.1%

05-29-2013 18:44:43 | More by straightlambic

Larrygto

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

05-24-2013 17:51:43 | More by Larrygto

jonstubb

Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +21.1%

05-24-2013 01:52:19 | More by jonstubb

dcloeren

Texas

4/5  rDev -3.1%

05-21-2013 19:39:06 | More by dcloeren

SrMonkey

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

05-18-2013 15:39:45 | More by SrMonkey

drgonzo2k2

California

4/5  rDev -3.1%

05-18-2013 14:52:04 | More by drgonzo2k2

hopoilcrazy

Tennessee

3.43/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Kevin for this one!

A - Dark amber color. Light fizzy head whittles down to nothing after about thirty seconds

S - Green apple is definitely the dominate aroma, but others swirl around: caramel, phenols, acrid fruit

T - Not too sour, if anything too sweet. I don't think this was meant to be an oud bruin, but that is what I was expecting. Big spicy clove and cinnamon flavors, and an almost implied cotton candy like sweetness on the palate

M - Solid light body and great carbonation

Overall, an enjoyable beer, but just not a homerun

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 07:07:34 | More by hopoilcrazy

greg4579

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +9%

05-15-2013 12:48:00 | More by greg4579

illy0sis

Texas

5/5  rDev +21.1%

05-14-2013 22:17:11 | More by illy0sis