Craftsman El Prieto Sour Black Ale

Brewed by Craftsman Brewing Co.
Style: Sour Ale
Pasadena, California USA

Tasted at the brewery. Thanks again to Mark’s for his hospitality. Black (it’s a derivative brew from their baltic porter). It a very nice tasting brew with a grapey-sour finish.

Tap @ Father’s Office in Culver City. A beer I have not had an equal for. First half of aroma is sour - underripe fruit, harsh grain; then suddenly this is taken hostage by a darker carameled whiskey flavor like a barrel-aged barley wine. The same two-faced character appears in the flavor: step one is a nice dark sour flavor seemingly based on bing cherries; step two is a thick, dark aged quality where all fruit is cast aside and there is only wood, malt, and time. Misses a 10 on flavor because the flavor has two distinct parts: marrying these two heads would be genius. Misses overall points because I don’t know if I have the gumption to drink such a creation again.

Draught. Mild sourness with chocolate notes. Amber-brown with an off-white head and good lacing. Balanced flavor, acidity held in check by dark malt and cherry notes. Good body for the style.

Strong Candy aroma, black cherries, cranberries, and sour apple. Cherry cola colored, clear brown almost pinkish red, with a thin creamy chocolate head. Strong candy sweetness upfront, strawberries, cherries, and a well balanced sour finish. Palate is clean and crisp, well balanced and enjoyable. It’s very tasty.

Draft... RBSG ’08... Clear, very dark crimson ale with a mid-sized, creamy, off-white head. Never-ending retention. Soapy, sour aroma * in a good way * with accompanying roasted notes. Full-bodied with a creamy mouthfeel and pillow-soft carbonation. Tart, tangy and lightly bitter with nice roastiness. Sweet-tart finish.

On tap at The Linkery during the RBSG Pub Crawl Tour on 08/01/2008. Dark black body with a small tan head. Slightly sour aroma with some fruit. Somewhat sour flavor with light caramel and fruit. Medium light body with high carbonation.

RBSG: Tap @ The Linkery. Poured a very dark brown color with a beige head. Great tart aroma with earthy caramel notes. The flavor is tart and acidic. Caramel malt flavors with leather and mild earthy notes. It was nice and sour and refreshing. Very drinkable and tasty.

On tap at the Stone brewery. Pours dark mohogany with a thin tan head. Tart dark fruit nose, earthy and acidic. Finish has a blend of caramel and berries, the sweetness only temporary before the tartness takes over. Pretty solid beer, I hadn’t heard of this brewery before.