Oskar Blues The Duke

Formerly brewed at Oskar Blues Grill & Brew
Style: Sour Ale
Lyons, Colorado USA

Draft @ Aroma’s. Notes of sour cherries, oak, and a nice, spicy hop finish. A really drinkable sour beer not over the top w/ sourness. Reminescent of Cuvee de Tomme.

Tap at Falling Rock during GABF. Tart aromas and flavors. Cherries and berries. Very acidic. Satisfying after craving something sour. Very yummy

On tap at Falling Rock. Slightly murky, cherry wood colored pour with a thin layer of off-white head. Rich nose of crisp red wine acidity, along with some cherry skin tannins. Fruity, dry, vinous, and a hint of oak. Medium bodied, mildly carbonated mouthfeel with a delicate sizzle. Crisp tartness up fron with some light acetic notes, although the vinegar qualities are well restrained. Not a lot of malt sweetness apparent, but it definitely has a bit of a chewy, dextrinous feel. Develops an intense, cherry skin tartness as it builds toward the finish, where it ends with a woody dry, pit-like flavor. Overall, a very tasty, fruity, well constructed example of a sour brown. I like the texture, especially how the acidity adds the impression of effervescence in place of the light carbonation. It also has a great balance between fruit, tartness, and acidity without being overly acetic, a problem I find when trying to really appreciate this style. I found it to get a little bit thin mid palate between the initial fruity tartness and oaky finish, but overall an excellent beer, and a pleasure to drink a pint.

Served as "Duke de Lyon" on draft at Falling Rock. Great aroma of dry hay, sheep barn, and wet wood. Complex and sour without being extreme. Cherries, rye bread, apple cider. I don’t know if this beer is "cheating," but it’s pretty damn good. Kind of like hearing REM do "Pale Bue Eyes." It’s a great version, but you just can’t do without the VU original.

<Draft @ Falling Rock: Clear dark red amber color with a small off-white head. Great tart aroma with notes of sour cherry and wood. Tart and fruity flavor with a semi-dry finish. I didn’t find it very complex but it was so tasty and drinkable not overly acidic.

On tap at OB. Deep brownish red in color with a off white head that left a nice lacing on the glass. Sour cherry aroma. Tart. Malty bready fruity flavor. Grapes and cherry woody notes. Sweet tasting. Finish is bitter. Very drinkable.

Redish brown, with a tan head. Aroma is sour cherries, funk, oak, and some caramel. Flavor is sour cherries, apples, and oak. Another nice one from Oskar Blues. Thanks to jimbowood for this bottle.

"Duke of Lyons" on tap at the Brick Store 1/29/07: Pours a transparent mahogany with dark ruby hues and an airy, wispy light tan head. Has an authentic fresh earthy oaky tart aroma with some subtle caramel maltiness and vinous dark cherry notes. Body starts with some lightly toasty malty sweetness, showing up more as it warms, with nice fruity complexity and lots of oaky woody notes. Could use a touch more malt for balance, but otherwise very authentic and enjoyable.