Valley Brew Decadence Grand Cru 2007

Formerly brewed at Valley Brewing Company
Style: Sour Ale
Stockton, California USA

Thanks to CaptainCougar for sharing this one. Clear deep amber beer with a thin white head. Sweet malty aroma initially accented by soft sherryish nuttiness. Light sweet fruitiness as well with notes of cherry and other berryish fruits. A bit of sweet mintiness and a light earthy spiciness as well. Soft tart aroma as the beer starts to warm but it doesn’t really make it through to the palate. Honey/hazelnut and orange peel throughout. A hint of wildness but it pretty subtle. Comes across as a cross between Belgian Strong and Flemish sour... which I guess is what it is. Really tasty brew.

Tried twice now, once shared by EDA and once by CaptainCougar, both at different RB gatherings, both in hand bottled bombers. More orange colored than red. Aroma has some vinegar, only lightly balsamic, and a very fruity sour. taste is sour with a malt-like maltiness, like fruit muffin. Medium body, lightly sticky/syrupy mouthfeel. I feel some alcoholic-sour in the aftertaste, which is unlike any sour flavor (must come from the blending).

Thanks to CaptainCougar for sharing - flemish sour? - for real? - I never would have guessed - clear straw/copper pour - aroma is equal parts belgian sugar and tart fruit skins (apple, white grapes) - quite indicative of the flavor - semi-tart apple and pear - relatively high acidity (now I know why) - a bit floral on the back end - medium alcohol presence (but still fairly low considering the abv) - decent.

Name: Decadence Grand Cru
Date: June 09, 2007
Mode: Hand Bottled
Source: Tasting, Noog 3D
Vintage: 2007
Appearance: clear dark gold, wispy off white head
Aroma: tart wood aroma with a cherry pit character
Body: creamy body
Flavor: caramel and vanilla flavor, lots of woody oak character, nice fruity character

Name: Decadence Grand Cru
Date: June 12, 2007
Mode: bottle
Source: tasting
Vintage: 2007
dry tart flavor is well in control allowing some sweetness and fruity to come through, with enough warming and breathing it becomes a really nice tart flanders red

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

7.4 oz bottle from Steve, shared with Ryan (frumpty). Bottled April 2007. Thanks! Pours a cloudy deep straw orange with a small off-white head and a little lace. Nose is sweet and sour--brett, oak, barnyard, a little caramel and some tangy fruits. Flavor is nice, but I wish it was more sour. Maybe some more time in the cellar would help the brett and lacto develop more. Mouthfeel is a little sharp at times as the blend is still very young. Tart finish. A very nice creation. Alcohol noticed, but for the most part well hidden. Would love to try the pomegranate lambic on its own and somehow obtain an aged bottle of this down the road. Thanks again, Steve!

Shared with (and thanks to) Beerguy101 and mwsf. A hazy deep orange color with a small foamy beige head. Has that great tart "barnyard" scent. Nice blend of fruit (who’d believe pomegranates would make good beer?) wet hay and that special Flemish tangyness.

Aroma tickled the back of the throat. Flavor was really sweet and tart with a nice overall acidity. I had no idea this was 12% alc. Very tastey overall and sour. Excellent beer.

Bottle at Columbus Tasting 8 - Thanks Sliffy! - Poured copper with a short white head that didn’t stay long but left lace. Aromas of caramel, a touch of some cherry, maybe some grape, and some yeast. Flavor is doused with cherry, caramel, yeast, some definite funk, and a little spice. Warm throughout by the alcohol but not really a factor in the flavor or the aroma. Finish was quite dry but amazlingly smooth on the palate. What a quality brew this one is!!