Quote:
Originally Posted by the_bird
NO! Save it for July!!!!
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I did! But just barely made it into July before I had to open it! Tasting notes:
Appearance:
After wrestling with the cork for an agonizingly long time, it opened with a slight hiss. Murky mahogany brown. A little fizz during the pour, settling to a very thin ring of bubbles. Almost no head.
Aroma:
Very lambic. Strong sour apple with sweet dark fruit and a slight medicinal twinge. Very intriguing, especially since I'm not well educated in sour beer.
Flavor:
Wow is this complex! The first sip REALLY opens up the nose, bringing out some wood and slight, sweet floral notes. The sour apple from the aroma is subtle, but cherry and raisin are very prominent. Molasses and deep caramel round out the sweet notes, then a distinct lambic sourness washes across the back of the tongue. Though I know this was extensively barrel aged, the oak is VERY subdued. Definite medicinal phenols in the finish, but they're oddly almost welcome rather than off-putting.
Mouthfeel:
Very well executed. Clearly full bodied, but lightly carbonated with relatively light mouthfeel for such a big beer.
Overall:
This is a fantastic beer. It's so ridiculously complex that every sip keeps you extremely interested, searching for more flavors and subtleties. This was a perfect way to celebrate settling on a new house. 'topia, you better make this a house specialty, brewed by small batch for limited release at least biannually.
