Oliver's Cider & Perry Bitter Sweet Funk
What the brewers say
“A dry, still cider. The full, spicy nose with a hint of blue cheese gives way to the taste of bittering tannins, sour acids, and a long apple-skin finish.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Big Brett complexity with notes of horse blanket, damp leather, tobacco, light apple, and grape. A moderate amount of oak. Big red apple and wild barn.”
Flavor: “Big lacto sour notes and strong bitterness with a touch of acetic. Very, very oaky with strong Brett notes of horse blanket and leather, but watered down, VERY astringent—apples are lurking in the background, offering a bit of cider vinegar character and fruitiness, but no brightness at all. Obvious oak, could use a touch more sweet apple. Acidity is fun and varied with great aged character.”
Overall: “This is more of a sour with apple than a cider with sour character, as the sour character significantly overshadows any apple characteristics present. Flavor picks up the Brett with an apple background, but it’s polariz- ing—you’ll either find it fantastic or a disappointment.”
