 kmweaver (2125), Takoma Park, Maryland, USA
Nov 10, 2007
750mL bottle, generously shared by artusory. Thanks, Ryan!! Pours a hazy, toasty golden color; bright white head with brilliant, fine-bubbled lacing holding tight to the sides of the glass; a bit more clarity or retention and it would be perfect looking. Probably the most satisfyingly aromatic beer I’ve had in a while; the fruit character actually reminds me a lot of a certain Finger Lake (I know, but the whites can be excellent) reserve gewurztraminer wine that I haven’t had in years but still think about: tons of lime, dripping tree fruits (tropical, lychee), and sweet sweet honey notes, all surrounded by a mouthwatering tartness and funk and toasted oak; I couldn’t stop smelling this. Tons of citrus and tropical fruits (passion fruit, lime) at the core, but, unlike Castleton, where highly-carbonation citrus takes center stage, this has so much surrounding it: toasty, chardonnay-tinged oak and well-integrated sourness; not intensely funky, but some funk and mustiness and dripping, ripened fruit; better than the Cuvees, better than PH1, and equal to Blauw. Excellent integration and depth. Lengthy, tart and citrus and tropical fruit in the finish; when the tartness subsides, a soft doughiness appears at the very end.
thickfreakness (106), Austin, Texas, USA
Oct 8, 2008 Thanks to cloudskipper for this Batch 2 bottle. Shared with bgramer last night. Pours bubbly hazy yellow with a small layer of foam on top. Aroma begins with green apples, lemon and barnyard; pineapple, wood, light banana, cobweb; musty and more funky as it warmed up. Flavor was lots of green apple, tart grapes, lemon, subtle funk at beginning; slight oaky tannins, banana, and a slight alcohol bite as it warmed; slight corn in after taste. As it got completely to room temp it was like juicy ripe pineapple and got more sweet overall. It coats the mouth with tingly bubbles and leaves a lasting impression on the palate. I absolutely loved this one; it had so many layers and subtle flavors/smells.
Gregis (923), Shawnee, Kansas, USA
Oct 5, 2008 Batch 1. Bottle generously shared by mreusch. Pours a cloudy Tang-orange with virtually no head, just a tiny ring of white bubbles clinging to the edge of the glass. The nose is a pleasant, tart citric sourness. Light to medium-bodied and slick with a tart finish that rolls into a bit of acidity, hitting the chest like mild heartburn. Mildly tart citrus with a touch of cardboard. I’m thinking that this bottle may have been a tad past its prime, but overall, this is a pretty drinkable sour. Thanks again for sharing this with us, Matt.
HighWine (1), , California, USA
does not count  Oct 1, 2008 This is an amazing beer. I am not a big sour ale guy but this one looked so good at Toronado’s 20th Anniversary Celebration that I took a chance. Remarkable. I still kick myself for not buying several bottles to take home.
Snojerk321 (1024), San Diego, California, USA
Sep 28, 2008 750ml bottle (2008 version) from Tornado Bar San Diego. I walked into the bar, saw this bottle staring back at me from the fridge, I didn’t talk to a girl the rest of the night! Pours a slightly hazed straw yellow with very little head to speak of. Big tart and funky aroma with citrus, sour Chard grapes, and some old cheesy funk. Sourness lingers on the palate for what seemed like days, took me about 1 hour to drink one glass! $50, the most I’ve paid for beer (@ a bar) to date....well worth it.
fredandboboflo (633), East Setauket, New York, USA
Sep 28, 2008 Bottle from 08 Night of the Funk. Aroma bardnyard, cheese, tart kiwi, citric qualities. Flavor citrus, later dividing into orange, lemon, and grapefruit, fresh young berries, tart and sweet with some earth. An absolute pleasure.
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