Sour, Saison, Gose, Farmhouse

3 Fonteinen Framboose Oogst 2018 Saison 6.3% abv.

Saison

An overall tomato/vegetable juice impression with a barnyard pong, yet manufacturer says drink till 2039. Hard to know whether to like or loathe this. There’s something to be said for the effort of the brewers, but it won’t be to everyone’s taste. A gift (and probably expensive) - a step too far perhaps, however

Tasted Jan 2023


Anderson Valley Brewing Boonville CA Horse Tongue Slightly Sour Barrel Aged Wheat Beer 5.4%

Sour/Weiss

Eponymous sour/weiss, fresh, crisp, lemon/lime and orange. Nice expression of the sour genre

Tasted Apr-Oct 2019


Bad Shepherd Passionfruit Sour 4%

Sour

Like a tart passionfruit pie, with sweet and sour in happy conjunction, the acidic flavours deliver a lip-smacking freshness to this well-made summer thirst quencher. A v. good example of the genre

Tasted Nov 19-Jun 20


Beatnik Kiwi Sour 4%

Sour

Kiwi fruit sour with nice dry balance, good summer refresher

Tasted Nov 19-Jun 20


Beerfarm Pineapple Sour 4.2%

Sour

Reasonable balance between sour and pineapple. A lighter alternative that will appeal to some

Tasted Apr-Oct 2019


Brooklyn Bel Air Dry Hopped Sour 4.5% (tap)

Sour

Lemon and lemon, a bit of grapefruit, but a reasonable starter. Sessionable and all the right lip-smacking characters

Tasted Jun-Oct 2023


Coedo Sayama Green Tea Saison 5% 32 IBU (tap)

Saison

Served in a wine glass demanding nosing that confirms green tea. Follows through on the palate but add pleasant round mild malt flavour, banana just held in check (as you’d want), resin, pine nut, mid-bitterness, tannin a plenty. Sophisticated with just some slight reservations 

Tasted Jan-Mar 2023


Garage Project Electric Dry Hop Acid Test

Sour

4.2% abv.

Sour with lemon and grapefruit, good acid and lightly spicy, cleansing finish. Refreshing summer drink

Tasted Jan-Jun 2021


Halia Belgian Style Farmhouse Ale 2016 7.5%

Sour/Farmhouse

6 years old when consumed but fresh as you’d want. Initial barnyard pong and aldehyde mellows to a pleasant drinking sour. Lemon, honey dew melon, gosë style, not too carbonated (age-related probably)

Tasted Sep-Oct 2022


Hawkers Gratuitous Flare Citra Dry-Hopped Yuzu & Pear Sour 7.2%

Sour

Who said Sours can’t pack an alcoholic punch. Pear, orange (what’s Yuzu?), low malt, mid hopped, sweet fruit at the front, sour underneath/at back. Clever. Served cold, a great refresher (take care caution noted for the alc.)

Tasted Apr-May 2023


La Sirène Barrel No. 142 7.2%

Sour

A sour with generous barnyard characters, balanced yeast flavours of straw, earth, pine and eucalypt, finishing with lemon and orange zest. Crafted by experts

Tasted Jul-Dec 2020


La Sirène Bière de Cerise Wild Cherry Sour Solera 5.6% (tap)

Sour

Complex nose, Brett, VA, lemon, cherry, more weight than the typical sour, winey mouthfeel. Cleverly constructed and unexpected 

Tasted Apr-May 2023


La Sirène Citray Sour 4.5%

Sour

Great example of sours and something of a standard of the genre

Tasted Sep 18-Mar 19


La Sirène Farmhouse Red Sour Ale 5.5% (tap)

Sour

Funk on nose, red fruits and red currant, spice/pepper, something akin to a thin cordial, easy drinking thirst quencher 

Tasted Apr-May 2023


La Sirène Wild Saison 6.5% (tap)

Saison

Farmhouse nose, honey, marzipan, tart, warming, lip smacking saison 

Tasted Apr-May 2023


Molly Rose Little Rose Skin Contact Farmhouse Ale (Limited Release) 5.8%

Farmhouse Ale

On point for its name, sour, farmhouse (bacterial/yeasty/eggy), lemon orange spritz, acid (lactic mainly). If you like the style, this is a great example 

Tasted Mar-Jun 2022


Molly Rose Question Marc Skin Contact Farmhouse Ale 5.4% (tap)

Farmhouse Ale

Bordering on a Gose/Sour, real farmhouse style, floral (Jasmine), yeasty, lemon, lactic acid, savoury, with a crisp freshness. Excellent 

Tasted Mar-Jun 2022


Molly Rose When Life Gives You Lemons Farmhouse Ale 4.2%

Sour/Farmhouse

This is all about lemon and a refreshing drink for a warm day or evening. It’s different and it’s good for just that

Tasted Jul-Dec 2020


Moon Dog Pat Pash Passionfruit Sour Ale 4.5% 7 IBU

Sour

Passionfruit and pineapple nose, passionfruit at the front with a lemon tartness quickly following at the middle and back. Fresh and fruity and has a lot of appeal as a warm weather refresher 

Tasted Apr-May 2023


Nomad Brewing Freshie Watermelon Gose 4.5%

Gose

Watermelon and rockmelon, label includes sea salt as ingredient and this softens the fruit. Liked it a fair bit, and a surprise

Tasted Sep 18-Mar 19


One Drop Brewing Dark Cherry Imperial Sour 7.5% 440ml

Sour

Cherry and more but sweet and sour at once, neither dominating, nice crimson red colour too. One of the great sours but easy to throw down (watch the alcohol)

Tasted Nov 19-Jun 20


Wolf Of The Willows Tropical Pacific Sour 4.1%

Sour

Orange, tropical, mango, passionfruit, nice bitterness lift, finishes clean

Tasted Oct-Dec 2021


Woolshed Brewery The Big Orange Kettle Sour 4.1%

Sour

Think Fanta on the front palate but settles down with a rounded sour bitterness in the mouth. Not especially sour, but the citrus spritz reminds a bit much of a soft drink. OK for some for summer, however

Tasted Apr-Oct 2019