R&D Sour Ale - New Glarus Brewing Company

MasterSki

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared by Sean? Todd also shared one of these a while back too, so thanks to both of you guys. Served in a Cigar City snifter.

A - White foam settles to a collar, wisps, and minimal lacing. Hazy red-orange body.

S - Aroma is a mix of lactic and vinegary acidity, light sulfur, stone fruits, and mild oak. Very convincingly lambic-esque other than the more present oak flavor.

T - The taste has a bit more stone fruit sweetness, with flavors of peach and apricot. Less acetic here, with more lactic sourness, and a touch of oaky vanilla.

M - Medium body, with pleasant carbonation, and a pucerkingly dry texture. A tad juicer than you'd expect from the style, and no discernible alcohol. Moderate acidity

D - This is a really excellent beer, and bodes well for New Glarus' 'lambic' program. It's definitely more sour and acidic side than traditional lambics but otherwise surprisingly authentic. Would happily drink this regularly even though I imagine it might cause stomach distress in large volumes.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 01:33:16 | More by MasterSki

sweemzander

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500mL bottle poured into a tulip.

(A)- Pours a lightly hazed orange hue. Small white froth and bubbles.

(S)- A huge nose of funky cheese, dry hay, and subtle lactic oak.

(T)- Oaky, with the subtle lactic bits. Not as funky as the smell was, but more of the oak shines through. Not as sour as expected, but its very subtle at this point.

(M)- A good carbonation level. A nice quick sharpness that is signs of a present acidity that grows into a softer oaky funk.

(O)- I love New Glarus' experimentation beers and this is no different. Time might help this develop more, but it really showcases what oak and funk can do together well. I look forward to trying this again in a year or so.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 14:05:33 | More by sweemzander

ncketchum

Wisconsin

4.23/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to RoamingGnome for this bottle!

Served chilled in a Duvel tulip

A - pours a murky light brown-yellow, loads of carbonation, yellow-white head, about 3 fingers worth

S - wow, very intense sour, tangy citrus, a little funky, the oak creeps in in the end

T - again, very sour lemon/grapefruit up front, then a solid amount of bitterness overtakes the palate.

M - Thin, a bit dry, this would be quite refreshing on a hot summer day, good amount of carbonation

O - a different beast than Enigma that I recently got hold of, more intense in all aspects, not as sweet. Probably the most sour of the sours I've ever tasted in my short sour-history. Very solid, really glad I got a chance to sample this one. Definitely recommend.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 00:58:15 | More by ncketchum

maximum12

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a couple bottles at New Glarus in August during our raid over the border to the Great Taste of the Midwest. Always a pleasure. Both events. 500ML bottle split with my wife.

Leave an ounce or so in the bottle since it's gloppy & foosty. The resulting pour is a partly sunny orange that causes no joint pain. Nose is nicely sour without tearing out any graying nose hairs, plus a little apple, clean rain earth, straw. Nice. Very nice.

R&D Sour Ale is my kind of sour, leaving all my enamel on my teeth. Nicely tart, almost sour, with a kick of dry that sucks my saliva like water from a well. Lovely citrus. For a sour this is easy to drink.

Simple. Direct. Tasty. This isn't one of those depth-of-field beers, more of a sour for those who don't like gullet-ripping sours (like me). Delicious. A- from my wife, who never reached that level for a sour. Excellent. Another win from New Glarus.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 02:47:41 | More by maximum12

mobius387

Wisconsin

4.64/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

appearance: golden yellow, lots of bubbles, thin white head. honestly, looks like an ipa

aroma: oak, funk, wheat, lemon. but pretty light overall.

palate: it stings, it drinks easy, its bubbly, pretty much all you can ask in the feel of a beer. great variety, every sip is fun

taste: huge oak and funk, some citrus, some maltyness, some cherry? very robust, very balanced, just flat out awesome

overall: honestly, this is about the best sour ale ive ever had. its not my favorite style, and it lacks a little bit in the aroma department, probably could be a bit funkier, but just about the most balanced, yet with enough kick, sour/lambics ive ever had. maybe could benefit from more of a fruit forward taste, like stronger lemon or cherry, but then again its very diverse in its offering. this is on par with upland lambics and the west coast sours ive had. great offering from NG!

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 22:12:01 | More by mobius387

RoamingGnome

Wisconsin

4.1/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From 9/13/12 Tasting Notes

500 ml bottle poured into CBS snifter. Served this slightly chilled.

A) Pours out a light acorn brown with a little haze. There was a good 2 fingers of froth, which slowly settled to a dusting. Not much lacing.

S) Distinctly yeasty and a bit funky. There's some spice to this, combined with a nice earthy/oaky aroma. A bit of flower petal. You could pick up the sourness.

T) Wild and funky. Nicely spiced, mild pepper on the backend. This is has a pleasant woody/earthy/grassy flavor that mingles with the sour, creating a mouth watering experience.

M) Medium body with a pretty zesty amount of carbonation. The carbonation combined with the sourness created in this brew provide a pleasurable mouthfeel. As indicated above, my mouth was watering like crazy after each sip, which really made me want that next sip all the more. I think I'm beginning to understand the allure of this style.

O) Just happened to be at New Glarus for this release, and I must say I'm glad I scooped up two bottles. I am admittedly not someone with much sour experience, but this brew really grew on me with each passing sip. It's not the type of beer I could see myself drinking everyday, or after mowing the lawn, but it is the type of beer I could see myself having a total craving for under certain circumstances. Highly enjoyable... If you can get a bottle, give this a try. Glad to recommend...

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 04:16:01 | More by RoamingGnome

thebigredone

Wisconsin

4.23/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to lem4prez for hooking me up with this!

Smell is a combination of funk/sweet tarts/oak. Nice, but not extraordinary.

Taste is lemony/funky/a bit oaky with a nice sour kick at the end. Very tasty, and frankly a bit more puckering than I was expecting, which is great.

Overall, this is a very nice sour. Probably more of what some people call an entry level sour, but it's still quire good. After tasting this, I am really looking forward to trying everything that comes out of NG's new lambic cellar!

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 21:19:35 | More by thebigredone

caskstrength

Minnesota

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

Hazy orange, white bubbles, bright and fresh looking.

Funky lemon blue cheesy wonderfulness on the nose.

Sour funk, lemon, dry yellow fruit, grass. Yummy.

Nice pucker complementing the flavors. Dry enough without being a distraction. Well constructed, enough sweetness to balance the dry sour funk.

Very good beer. Competes with top shelf wild ales and lambics I've had. Definitely a step beyond the Cranbic and Enigmas they've churned out. Wish I had a couple more bottles.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 18:39:32 | More by caskstrength

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

4.38/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Hazy orange, peach color with a thin white head.

S - Sour with wet oak, tart cherries, grapes, wet hay and some funky yeast notes.

T - Fairly sour with grapes and grape skins, oak, lemon, wet hay. For how sour it appears at first it is very easy to drink.

M - Medium body with good carbonation and a very dry finish.

D - Very well done. Funky and easy to drink all in one.

Thanks to emerge for this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 00:00:06 | More by brewcrew76

russwbeck

Virginia

3.18/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

The bottle is very informative, I like seeing stuff like brew date and other information right on the lavel. The beer pours out of it without head. Brown in color with shades of yellow. Very clear and bubbly.

The aroma is tart, malty, bready, and sour. Overall I'd call it sweet and a little vinegary.

Moving to the taste, it's a bit bland. Sour and tart. Same malts and breadiness as the aroma. Really nothing more than a base American Wild Ale.

Light body, lower than average carbonation, decently drinkable.

It's sort of a base beer and nothing else. Nice research attempt, hope they improve on it!

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 19:23:36 | More by russwbeck

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

3.73/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

'Fresh bottle' review for a baseline against which to compare my other bottle's future cellaring evolution.

Brewed : Dec '09 Bottled : March '12
4 3.5 3.5 4.5
Pours into my wine glass a pretty standard hazy amber color with about 20 seconds of a fizzy 0.5cm head that dissolves to nothing, no lacing is present. The body is thin, crisp, and light; carbonation is on the lower side of medium strength. In fact, it feels slightly less over-the-top soda-pop fizzy on the surface of my tongue than most American Wilds I've had to so far, and I'm actually impressed by that because it doesn't distract or hinder the flavor at all.

Speaking of which, fresh, this presents only a beginner's level of Brett yeast character. Flavor and aroma profile are very much like a freshly brewed Cran-bic with the cranberries removed and medium levels of oak tannins added... Medium amounts of apple cider vinegar comes in first and tapers off somewhat *too* smoothly and rapidly as the tannins rise to fill in the vacuum. With only the barest whisper of raunchy funk to frame it, it feels like the sketch of something that -could- become a work of art.

The stand-out feature that seems to accentuate the woody apple vinegar party is a nice whiff of floral perfume that pops out upon first cracking open the bottle, but fades out over time. The wood does provide a garnish-level spike of vanilla that appears as the glass warms up, but I wish I could have had both the vanilla and the florals at the same time.

Time will tell if cellaring further brings out either more funk or a more aggressive sourness, either of which would help to ink or color in this sketch of a masterpiece.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 22:07:35 | More by WastingFreetime

tewaris

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Shared by Jason, thanks! From the recent release coinciding with Great Taste.

Clear amber with ample effervescence. Aroma is funky, musty, earthy with hints of balsamic. Tastes somewhat sour, oak-y and quite clean. Feels light and spritzy and finishes dry. I think they hit it with this one, I liked it very much!

4, 4.5, 4, 4, 4

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 23:03:47 | More by tewaris

Etan

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from the recent release graciously shared by Ravot. Thanks!

A: Murky orange body, small white head.

S: Heavy wheat and lactic notes. Sweet berries and horsey brett funk come out as the beer warms.

T: Moderate lactic tartness and plenty of oaky funk. Horseblanket, plum skin and green apple, drying oak, more brett notes.

M: Light with moderate carbonation.

O: Really good, very funky and balanced. Reminds me of some of the better Belgians.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 12:15:48 | More by Etan

seeswo

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours a light brownish orange with a sizable head. The nose is oaky, tart and funky. Smells fantastic. Tart, lemony/citric acidity are the major flavors with some complexity from the oak and an undefinable funkiness. Finishes nice and dry. The only downside is that this beer is light enough to occasionally come off a touch watery. I think there is a lot of room for growth in this beer and i'll be hanging on to several to see how they do over time. I've recently had a lot of world class international gueuze, and I am really surprised at what they have been able to do here in comparison. If you compare it to other American products, this is easily one of the best. Nice work NG!

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 13:26:42 | More by seeswo

Urbancaver

Ohio

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

Pours a hazy Orange. Looks okay but not stellar. Smells awesome. Funky. Tart. Very interesting nose. Tastes sour but not overly acidic. Overall good mouthfeel. An interesting and very solid sour. A solid showing from new glarus and one I would love to have again

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 02:02:23 | More by Urbancaver

Duff27

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Murky Dark golden with a short white head. Collar left, minimal lacing.

Tarty aroma in the same vein of cranbic/apple ale

Woo! Thats a ride. "vinegary/lemon hints". Oak plays a huge role. I'd give it an 7.5 on the Duff27 sour scale.

Medium mouthfeel, well carbonated that works wonders.

A serious sipping sour says me. One of the best Wild Ale I've ever had, simply great. Thanks for sharing TATURBO!

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 01:27:59 | More by Duff27

emerge077

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dark auburn orange color, fluffy head on top that slowly recedes and eventually breaks across the surface. Woody wet oak and minerals in the aroma, tart citric acid, funky signature wild yeast reminiscent of enigma, cranbic, and r&d gueuze. As it warms there's some wet hay and trace wet wood elements that emerge.

Sour and puckering in the first sips, citric lemony fruity notes, maybe some grapefruit and cherry skins to a lesser extent. Past the sharp sourness, there's a creamy sorbet middle and traces of Brett yeast in the dry oaky aftertaste. The sourness is very clean and there's some Interesting character from the wild yeast. Light to medium bodied, bone dry and quenching, zero sweetness, with a certain authenticity to it's farmhouse character. Certainly bodes well for their lambic program...

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 00:25:59 | More by emerge077

vespahulb

Illinois

4.6/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Happy to have waited in line to snag a bunch of these.

Upon first whiff, I was really taken with the aroma. Cinnamon, gingersnaps, baking spice, lemon, wet hay, and stinky-yeasty-apple aromas envelope the nose. Damn. This is something incredibly complex.

In the mouth, the balance of tart, sour green apple and lemons with spicy yeast are seamless. Not so much of a malt presence, as the lactic acid is really the show here.

Overall, this is an astoundingly great sour. The complexity is there, as is the impeccable balance. I really look forward to how this one evolves over the next couple of years. Really something special.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 23:03:18 | More by vespahulb

crossovert

Wisconsin

4.38/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle.

Opens with a hiss and some carbonation jumps up towards the cap. A nice sour pucker is release in the smell. The beer is a hazy peach and has a fizzy head that quickly dissipates.

The smell is quite nice. It is initially pretty sour but after a few whiffs more scents come out. Cherries, vinegar, oak, grapes, some malt sweetness, and a very nice but not over the top but of cheesy funk.

The flavor is also great. Medium sourness that doesn't linger. Instead oak and vanilla dominate the finish. Up front it is acidic and sour with vinegar, sour apples, and lemons. Mid palate is malty and fruity. The funk isn't as prevalent in the flavor. It is mostly just a well-balance sour. The mouthfeel is pretty carbonated and it ends up pretty dry.

New Glarus strikes again.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 02:46:34 | More by crossovert

BarrytheBear

Wisconsin

3.48/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from the brewery after a panic stricken white knuckled drive over hills and through woods in the desperate hopes that I could land a bottle if all the out-of-staters, Great Taste attenders, and rabid local fanboys hadn't gobbled up all the bottles. Whales, garbles, garble, garble, blah!

Into a taster glass, pours a straw yellow with orange highlights and a thin white skim. A fairly steady stream of bubbles rides the glass. Rumors of this beer being a brown were, errr...erroneous.

Smells of wet grain, straw, lemon drop, and rose water. Funk is present but subdued.

Lactic creaminess on the front end. Middle is light with a gentle prickle of lemon sourness. Heavy mineral and salt throughout. Finish is very salty and mildly soapy. After the initial soft sourness, there's not much oomph or substance lurking. The aftertaste consists of a long lingering sodium fade akin to gargled saltwater.

The body is light and the carbonation ample but not overly prickly.

Well, like most New Glarus beers there's a cleanness here that makes this accessible and approachable. That said, there's also a training wheels aspect here that leaves me wanting more. Those accustomed to bigger, more boisterous and buggy sours will likely leave disappointed. Those looking to share a nicely, albeit slightly underwhelmingly, constructed beer or and as an introduction to the style should be pleased. Maybe some more time will instigate the bugs?

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 20:25:08 | More by BarrytheBear

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

R&D label reads:

Spontaneously fermented in oak barrels for over two years.

final fermentation in the bottle.

Brettanomyces funk sour and highly carbonated!

Open carefully and enjoy.

---

500ml bottle poured into tulip glass.

review #475

Appearance: Brilliant and clear golden straw bodied beer. 2 fingers of white head that drops to a small cap. spotty lacing.

Smell: oaky, earthy, hay & straw, with mild funk to it. You get some hints of citrus notes mostly lemon.

Taste: The beer starts out with moderately sour lemons and hay notes. A decent of bretty funk and mustiness. Oak barrel and earthy notes compliement each other. Finishes with a touch of vinegar, a lactic sour note, and lemons.

Mouthfeel: this beer drinks on the lighter end of a moderate body. The beer has carbonation thats on the high end of moderate. This beer has a really delicate mouthfeel to it. The beer is very drinkable; its very easy to drink the 500ml bottle yourself.

Overall: This sour is really well balanced with nice complexity. Its a very brett forward sour!

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 01:23:25 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT