Sour Black Mamba - Bear Republic Brewing Co.

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

2/5  rDev -38.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Kind of an ugly brown in my book, no head to it. Didn't smell sour, smelled like a brown ale and a blue moon. Brown malt and wheat.

Taste, tasted not so much sour as spoiled. Some unidentified spice component, oxidized vinegar. Wet musty wood flavors somehow mixed with bitterness. This was one of my least favorite beers at Beachwood's Sourfest this year, it was a chore and a regretable order. Not recommended, many of the darker/black base beers when attempted to make sours just don't seem to jive for me, for every Tart of Darkness, there's like a few turds like this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2011 03:29:16 | More by Beerandraiderfan

Halcyondays

California

3.18/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On-tap at Beachwood I and II,

A: Pours a dark red-brown with a medium off-white head, some lace.

S: I get pickles on the first sniff which is not inviting. Some wit herbs are nice.

T: Dark vinegar, with some dark malt and coriander. Some acidity, an interesting flavour.

M: Medium-bodied, chalky, medium acid.

O: This was an OK sour, nothing to really wow me, but I like the idea of using a black with base to make a wild ale.

Serving type: on-tap

09-21-2011 23:54:27 | More by Halcyondays

womencantsail

California

3.53/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Beachwood Brewing

A: The beer pours a dark brown color with some reddish notes and a finger of off-white head.

S: Straw and grass aromas are prominent on the aroma. Overall, though, it's sort of watery. Some dark fruit notes, especially cherries and raisins. There is a mild oak and a little bit of lemon peel.

T: Sort of sour and musty on the flavor with a fair amount of straw and grass, just like on the nose. A good amount of oak with a mild roast character. A weird combination of green apple, chocolate, and sawdust.

M: Medium bodied with low to medium carbonation.

O: Sort of like a homebrewer's first attempt at a sour. Not really bad, but nothing that made me want to drink more of it.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2011 00:35:54 | More by womencantsail

flannelman808

California

3.43/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

2009 vintage had at Beachwood sourfestjammy

Bear republic, Sour Mamba:  5.3% black Belgian wit

Swamp brown with a very nice very ligh colored head with good retention.

Mild vinager, cherry (bing) and lemon

Malty sweet up front with a Bret expression which is pretty unusual.  Low carbonation feel.  Wilting herbs (sage) and funk but not shitty funk, old dark fruit begging to rot.

Flat 

Not so good, it's interesting but doesn't have enough acid to balance the funk.  Yeast didn't eat enough maybe.

Serving type: on-tap

09-07-2011 04:18:13 | More by flannelman808