Upland Raspberry Lambic

Brewed by Upland Brewing Company
Style: Lambic - Fruit
Bloomington, Indiana USA

2008 Release; Sampled December 2008
You would be hard pressed to find a beer that made less sound when popping the cork / cap on it. Thankfully the beer has a light carbonation to it that musters up some frothy, pale, off-whit colored froth that almost covers the beer. The beer is a red / dark pink tinged, light amber color that shows a fairly clear, almost red-copper color when held up to the light. The aroma has quite a strong note of macerated, fermenting raspberries (it doesn’t quite retain the piquancy of fresh raspberries but is close). It is hard to smell anything but the raspberries in the nose; perhaps a hint of dusty malt, but I almost think I am imagining this. Wow the nose is profoundly boring, though not bad if you like raspberries.

Fairly dry tasting up front and there is a nice, though slight, lactic bite to this beer that is noticeable throughout the flavor profile. The raspberry flavors are much reduced from what the aroma was (thank god) and there is actually a couple of other things noticeable besides raspberry notes. The raspberry flavors here seem more an infusion from the aroma than an actual raspberry flavor; it lightly stains the flavor profile with a raspberry seed astringency, a light raspberry flesh fruitiness and a touch of tannic raspberry skin character. Some oak barrel flavors lightly add to the character to, with notes of spicy, tannic oak and a soft boost to the body / texture of this beer. Exceedingly quaffable, the light sourness, coupled with the fairly light body make this quite easy to drink; I could imagine this being quite refreshing on a hot summer’s day. This could definitely use more carbonation though as it only has a light carbonation.

Well this being my last one of these from this years release that I will get to try (send me a Kiwi please), I have to say that I am really starting to miss the funkiness and biting acidity of a real Lambic. These start to get a bit bland after a while, though they are certainly valiant attempts. In particular the super aromatic notes of the raspberry is just to powerful for this beer to remotely stand up to, so the nose is all raspberry. My particular, general apathy towards raspberry beers makes this one a bit less enjoyable than the other Upland Lambics, but it is certainly on the same level as the others.

750ml bottle orange-reddish color, I expected it to be pink. No head. Interesting smell, a little sour and a little funk. Flavor is perfume and fruit. This is quite fruity but no distinct raspberry flavor just a general berry taste. This is better than the blackberry but isn’t really sour or tart, kinda disappointing. Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 12-30-2008 04:10:16

’08 bottle...pours a hazy purple-pink color with a large rocky white head. Nose is massive amounts of raspberries, wheat, cheesy funk and some hay. Good, solid carbonation on this one...thankfully. Flavor is pretty much what was noted in the nose but with a subtle pepperiness that lingered in the lactic sour finish. Not overly sour but good nonetheless.

25 oz bottle, 2007 batch, shared by MrBendo I believe. Pours a very hazy orange gold body with a nice fine bubbled white head. Great fresh raspberry nose with a little cellar funk and some light powdery sugar. Nice tart slightly puckering raspberry fruit that plays nicely off the slightly vinegary acidity. Some oakiness, yeast, and just a bit of cheesy funk. Mouthfeel is soft and crisp with a slightly biting acidity. This was really nice, and the best of the three flavors we had that night, though I suspect that it was more because it was a 2007 batch than anything else.

750 bottle courtesy of tjthresh. Pour is hazed orange pinkish ruby with smallish white head that falls fast. Some visible carbonation on the pour. Aroma of tart sour raspberry and oak woodiness. Fresh and alive nose. Taste is the tart raspberry right away, followed by the Tannic woodiness, followed by a blast of sour fruit. Pretty straight forward raspberry and wood taste, but nice and clean. Palate is medium, a bit slick, with nice carbonation. This was a nice pair with Humboldt Fog. Tasty sour. Whats up with the typo on the label? "Aged in oak with whole strawberries." A million thanks on sending these to me Tom, I am really enjoying them.

Bottle shared by Odeed. Nose of framboise, yeast, and ultralight tartness. Pinkish orange with a ring of bubbles. Flavor has light tartness and raspberries. Is this contract brewed by Melbourne?

750, corked and baled. Thanks, Riverside! Hazy pink, looks almost literally pulpy with fruit. Nice fresh raspberry nose, but nothing like, say, the old beersel. Fizzy medium body. Pleasant raspberry mid-palate. A sterling effort for sure, and to be commended. Still a ways to go before equalling the masters in complexity or intensity.

Bottle brought up by a buddy. murky redish pink color, white head. nose is rasberries, jammy, farmhouse and almost pinneapple. flavor has similar aspects with an amazing drinkability. so smoth. i could session these beers. Never thought id say that about a lambic.