Cascade Gold Yeller

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

Draft pour @ Brouwer’s Sour Fest 2009. Murky copper colored body, small to medium white head with lasting ring of medium-sized white bubbles. Prickly up front with a syrupy and oily texture and flavor of corn syrup (ugh!). Turns moderately sweet across the middle with notes of white wine and candy corn. Body is medium thick but texture remains oily/syrupy throughout, and while the the acidity is prickly and lively, together with the corn/slightly fusel notes it just doesn’t come together into anything I would consider good.

On tap at Belmont. I’m not sure if this is the case, but this sort of tastes like the base beer for Apricot. Pretty decent overall, medium sourness to the finish, softer acidity, hints of citrus and lightly woody. Could use a bit more dryness. Pours gold with a tall smooth white head.

Draft at Uber. Crystal clear light gold with creamy bits of swirling froth. Tart, lightly lemony notes on the nose, combined with some crisp piney hop. Light body, well-placed soft carb. Not watery, but definitely not a heavy beer by any stretch--this is the summer session sour that, 8% aside, it was sketched out to be. Light tartness with a little bit of oaky funk and vanilla sweetness, combined with some crisp PNW hop near the end. Interesting, refreshing combination.

Consumed at Uber Tavern sitting at the "exclusive" party table. Some really cool dudes were in attendance including after4ever, homebrewcolin, BRUUUCE!, bvc, suzygreenberg, and some guy that didn’t like my motivational sweatshirt. If I ever see you again your are done! We were also sitting with Ron and Preston - those guys are really cool. My girlfriend wasn’t there. Orange golden pour, thin head, nice lace. Amazing aroma of acidic tartness, light barrel notes, and soft underlying fruitiness. Lightly tart flavors, somewhat fruity, quenching tart finish. Lightly acidic, soft sour lemon notes. Light wine barrel oak notes mixed in too. Nice bubblly carb adds to the quenching nature of this beer. This to me could be consumed all day to the point of it becoming problematic. An unbelievably awesome "session" sour at 8%. Ron’s beers just keep getting better. I loved it!

Draft@ Uber Tav May 2009. Hazy light amber with a fleeting head. Tart citrusy lemon and wine barrel aromas. Prickly stinging mouthfeel. Well soured lemon and wine barrel flavors, with lightly sweet vanilla and mild heat to finish. Booze and sour; not my favorite combo but this one came through ok.

On tap @ Belmont Station. Hazy golden color with a thick rocky white head. Mild mix of malt and a light suggestion of acetic tartness on the aroma. Taste is slightly tart, slightly sweet, and thankfully doesn’t get overly fruity. Struck me as being a sessionable sour golden. I really liked this one.

draft @ Uber - vibrant yellow with slight haze; musky aromas of wood, lemons, sour tartness; white wine and grapes; the sweetness kind of trumps the fruitiness IMO; tartness is mild with texture is quite light for 8%; fruity with nice oakiness coming out; sweet and yummy; would love to try with some age on it

Another great wild ale from Cascade Brewing. Tap @ Belmont Station... Poured golden with a thick white head. Tart aroma with a little earthiness candy-like sugars. Smooth palate with a light carbonation. A nice sourness to the flavors with earthy vegetable notes and very sweet wine and oak or other wood characters.