Cascade Blackberry Ale

Brewed by Cascade Brewing @ Raccoon Lodge
Style: Sour Ale
Portland, Oregon USA

25 oz bottle. Pours a clear ruby body with a small tight bubbled pink tinged head that had excellent retention. Pretty light nose, some bright blackberries, oak, a little brett, caramel, light vinegar. Nice tart flavor with just a little bit of acidity, nice oak depth, ripe juicy berries, with a slightly brett laced funky finish. Dry and tart with a nice sharp acidity and perfect spritzy carbonation. Pretty darn nice beer, I hope the rest of their sours are this good.

750 ml bottle courtesy of DuffmanSW. Thanks, Sean! Poured into a narrower fluted tulip. Pours an opaque murky rusty berry color, tinted with deep crimson hues, purple, and a sort of brown. Almost a dark pinot, but hazier, darker, more opaque, with a dirty whitish reddish head that is moderate, dies to a small film and laces a bit. Aromas are sweet blackberries, a touch of lactic sourness, slight vinegar, wet oakiness is smaller, but there. A touch of faint vanilla, a light sour and sweet mix. Initial is lighter bodied, a bit blank up front, moving into tart blackberries, with some subtle sweetness lying beneath. Berries, faint vinegar, vanilla on the backend, wet wood, lactic sourness is light, but heavier in some sips. Berries stick to the palate in the aftertaste, as some light tannins make their way in on the backend. A bit underbodied, and sips seem to vary on intensity of flavors (Not sure if this is a strength of weakness). Overall, I like the idea of the brew, a good mesh of sweetness and sourness, that is quite sessionable. However, the shortcomings on this beer’s complexity are there (A bit underbodied, inconsistent, could use a touch more sourness), but can be overlooked for a quality sessionable sour like this. Very nice. I can see why ratings that did not get a proper pour (And serving size) might be lacking for this beer. Try and get a good 12 oz. to get a full feel, and not just from the top of the bottle.

Odd color pour, if you’ve ever seen a black guy with a black eye, it looks like that. Tons of active carbonation and a big head. Nose was of unripe berries, figs, and yeasty esters. Taste was tough to gauge. Too carbonated, obvious blackberry up front, very slight sourness, almost a bretty feel and taste.

Bottle at Toronado. Why is the label so similar to Speedway Stout’s? Someone is ripping someone off. The beer is not similar though. Dark purplish-brown color with a lasting off-white head. Aroma of blackberry, oak, and chocolate. Flavor lots of blackberry and other dark fruits, oak, and pickles. A slight sweet character moderates the tartness, which is not too extreme. Pretty good overall.

Bottle thanks to BVC. Another outstanding one from in my opinion the underrated Cascade brewery. Nice tart sour, but not so sour that the the sweetness and fruit flavors do not come through. Well balanced and a joy to drink.

@dmacs UFC100 Gathering–750ml bottle–pours a thin tan head and hazy brown color with orange tint. Aroma is tart blackberry, medium malt. Taste is tart blackberry, medium malt, earthy.

750ml bottle, pours a dark purple brown with an off white/pinkish head. Aroma of blackberries, dark fruit, oak, a hint of chocolate, yeasty funk. Flavor is blackberries, slightly tart, some oak, hints of chocolate and a slight touch of vanilla. Sweet and tart finish. Very enjoyable in this summery weather we’ve been enjoying here in So Cal.

Poured a purple brown color with a small, off white head that left light lacing on the glass. Aroma of blackberries, vanilla, dry oak, wild yeast, citrus, and toast. Taste of blackberries, citrus, dry wood, light acidity, and a sour finish.