Nightmare on Brett - Cherry - Dark Sour Ale aged in Leopold Bros Whiskey Barrels with Colorodo Sour Montmorency Cherries -Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project - 9.666 % ABV -
This is extremely important if you drink this beer - they told me when I bought it at Stella and they were right: Pour it but let it warm for 5 minutes first. That really lets all the flavors come through. (Of course I tried it refrigerator cold as soon as I poured, but they were right - much much better after just 5 minutes).
Pour - So dark brown it's black opaque with a slight purple tint. Very thin mocha colored head which dies to nothing quickly.
Aroma - Sour cherries, Sour Balsamic Vinegar, and Earthy Oak. Strong, outstanding nose.
Taste - Beautifully complex. Some sweet dark cherry and light chocolate first, light whisky mellows, SO much barrel-oak wood flavor, Vanilla, light caramel malt, and then the finish is crazy tart sour cherry. The sour will pucker your mouth bigtime, but you will just love it and want more. It's a pleasing sour sensation. And it gets even better as you drink more and appreciate more.
Feel - medium to light body, dry, light but adequate carbonation. Very drinkable given how sour it is.
Overall - It's so good drinking it is almost sexual. Yes I said that so you can make fun of this post.
It's bold, it's extreme tart sour like a sour man's sour. But the oaky complexity works REALLY well with these cherries. Beautiful balance. It's an amazing beer, but you have to like sours. I love them. Very very well done. Pretty good one to try if you want to try a serious Crooked Stave Sour. Damn that hit the spot. Oh yeah, fuse category 3. (and I might have another bottle or 2 for trading/sharing)