The Rare Barrel Map of the Sun
What the brewers say
“Our golden sour beer aged in oak barrels with apricots, fermented with Brettanomyces and Lactobacillus. Overflowing with notes of juicy apricots and apricot jam. This beer has a bright acidity that enhances its fruity aromatics.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Strong ripe and dried apricot notes, light pineapple with a hint of white peaches. Nice lactic lemon tartness. The Brett character is mild and sits under the fruity notes in the nose.”
Flavor: “Apricot juicy fruit character is present in the front and carries through. Lactic-acidic tartness hits in the middle with a nice kick, but the sweetness of the malt and fruit helps to clean it out in the finish. This is a little more citrus than apricot. The Brett character is delicate and a bit hard to pin down, but adds depth and supports the acidity and fruit very nicely.”
Overall: “This is an extremely well-executed fruited sour, with a decent tartness to pair with the high apricot flavor and sweetness to balance and support. The harmony with which all the characteristics work is refreshing and adds to the complexity.”