Bullfrog Black Cherry Bomb

Formerly brewed at Bullfrog Brewery
Style: Sour Ale
Williamsport, Pennsylvania USA

750ml bottle. This one opened to a very loud pop and I was expecting it to gush, but thankfully, it didn’t. Poured a dark black color with a large sized borwn head. Aromas of black cherries, wood, chocolate, a little earthy, and a little funky. Tastes of tart cherries, roast, chocolate, wood (although lighter than the aromas), and some funkiness. Nice sour and tart finish. This was aged in bourbon barrels; I got the woodiness but I didn’t get any bourbon in either the aromas or tastes. This one was very nice!

Thanks to hopdog for sharing this one. Pours a deep black with a medium bubbly deep tan head that left slight lacing. Aroma of tart sour cherries, dark chocolate, light roast, funky, touch of coffee, cherry pie filling, light alcohol and a very slight hint of bourbon. Flavor of tart cherries, followed quickly by a nice roasted malt/chocolate/coffee mix, tingly carbonation, woody. The only negative about this beer was the mouthfeel had too much carbonation. Otherwise this was one amazing beer!

750ml bottle picked up at Brewpub. I also had the pleasure of trying this at the debut at BCTC ’08. Poured black with a medium sized tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of sour cherries, chocolate malt, dark fruits and green apples. Taste comes in funky at first with some tart apples, sour cherries, and mellows towards the end with smooth chocolate notes, and finishes crisp with oak. Very interesting use of wild yeast. Outstanding.

Bottle from PUB’N via trade. Pours deep black with 1-finger dark brown head and great lacing. Nose is very tart, with heavy black cherry, dark malt, sour masjy dark fruit, cacao, and yeast. The nose is a lot like JP madragura Oscura. Tastes very tart, with heavy black cherry, dark malt, cacao, fig, molasses, and oaky notes. Rich, fairly complex palate.

750ml Bottle: Huge gusher! Lost 1/4 of the $24 bottle to gushing. Wonderful aroma. Smells of sour black cherries, roasted malts, chocolate, Brett, and yeast. Poured black with a hint of currant in color and a medium-sized, dense, brown with a purple tinge head that lasted throughout. Opaque. Sparkling. Flavor is medium sweet and lightly bitter. Tastes of sour black cherries, chocolate, roasted malts, and Brett. Medium to full body. Fizzy texture. Lively carbonation. Sweet, chocolate, black cherry finish is dry.

Bottle, at BCTC. Poured very deep brown, with a moderate-sized brown head. Rich, roasted chocolate malt aroma, with some sour cherry, other dark fruit, and wild yeast in the background. Big chocolate malt flavor, with cocoa powder, caramel, wild yeast and very restrained tart cherry notes. The cherry becomes more pronounced in the finish, but the cocoa still is the dominant flavor. It’s a nice stout overall, and another interesting offering from Bullfrog.

Dark brown (near black) with a dark brown head, creamy and rich, looks like the foam on a nice espresso. Nose of some strange, funky and dry fruity, lactic and milky but not hugely funky and acidic. Spices, bread, roast, rye, etc., all over this beer… the cherry is pretty muted. Texture is mildly prickly, body is medium to full, and a flavor develops over the middle and into the finish of sour malted white bread, not exactly great. More chocolate than fruit and more roast than sour.

Debuted at Belgium Comes to Cooperstown 2008. 750mL bottle @ BCTC. First beer of the actual fest for me. Pours a dark brownish red with a small white head. Nose of black cherries, roasted malt, and brett. Delicious sour cherry taste with some nice malt presence. Medium to thick mouthfeel, akin to a sweet stout. Very nice and one of my favorites at the fest.