Bristol Skull & Bones Cuvee

Brewed by Bristol Brewing Company
Style: Sour Ale
Colorado Springs, Colorado USA

The body of this ale is a thick, purplish brown with a head that... Wait, I had no head on mine! The aroma wasvery sour dark cherries, kind of funky with wet hay and woody characteristics. Thick and creamy, it delivered a face-puckering sourness, tart with cherries and spices. The finish was oddly bitter-sweet-sour. I like.

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/events-detail.asp?eve Third Annual Festival of Barrel-Aged Beers, Chicago, IL 11/12/2005<font size=-1>

3rd FoBAB. Super dark brownred with a very small, tan head. Cherries, cinnamon, caramel, hay, horseblanket, red grapes, oak, light tobacco, strong tannics and noticable acidic character. A fairly thin body, due to the lack of carbonation. Tart, fruity flavors dominate with complex, barnyardy delightfulness throughout. Some light sweetness followed by strong acidity. Tremendous Brett character as well. A solid beer, but probably not quite as outstanding as it could have been. It seems a bit more malt to carry the acidity would have been nice. Nonetheless, a tasty beer.

Appeared caramel/brownish-colored and flat, and produced extremely sour, "off" aromas: locker room, sweaty gym clothes/shoes, leather... cherry and wood to even it out. Flavor was vinous & sour with a thin and astringent mouthfeel. When all was said and done, I’m not sure if I really enjoyed it or was totally offended by it.

<font size=-4>Sampled at <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/events-detail.asp?eve Third Annual Festival of Barrel-Aged Beer, Chicago, IL<font size=-1>

Fobab 2005: Deep purple hue with an oily cling. Wow what an aroma! Brett, tannic oak, and cherry come to the forefront big time with just a touch of vanilla wafers, dusty esters, and some belgian sugar. The taste follows suit with that nice acidic fruit and wild yeast nature supported by an french oak tannic background. Some heather, wild flower, and clove hints. The feel is puckery and dry on the finish, lively and sharp upfront. An outstanding brown sour, I love it and the best I had this day.

On tap: Fruity tart aromas with moderate vinegar an woodiness. Dark brownish-orange with no transparency and an insignificant off-white head, just a few bubbles around the edges. Sour/tart cherry flavor up front with a very woody finish and light spiciness.

09.29.05 GABF Dirty red-brown. Good, balanced sour. Light on the fruitiness, could also be more astringent. Plenty woody though, and some tree fruits. Nice stuff.

Cloudy chestnut, mostly diminishing off-white head. Sweet/tart nose, fruity and vinous in a woody way, browsing its way through cinnamon and nutty complexities. Well developed tart character, with the cherries on the front line, but letting room to less adequate apple vinegar and dulled pears as the finish closes by. Light-medium body, quaffable, moderately high carbonation, sharp palate.

GABF 2005. Medium head, cloudy brown. Aroma is dry and spicy with lots of cherries. Taste is a big hit of sour and tart cherries. Dry, clean finish. An in-state rival to La Folie.