Style: Berry Quick Sours

ABV: 4.6

88/100

Aroma:	11
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	17
Mouthfeel:	4

Madtree Shade

What the brewers say

“If a shortcut through the woods beats the heat, why not take it? Though nontraditional, Shade’s blackberries and sea salt quench thirst on any sunny day.”

What our panel thought

Aroma: “A very muted aroma, with a touch of raspberry and floral notes, including green apple, with not a lot of fermentation character. The light earthiness and leather notes lend some complexity. The nice, bright acidity is reminiscent of yogurt mixed with a healthy amount of raspberry jam and honey.”

Flavor: “Light raspberry up front with a hint of tart funk to support, but very subtle and muted. A nice honey-like sweetness and fruitiness are expertly balanced with the complex acidity. The body is very light and thin, with a soft malt note, and a slight buttery/nutty finish.”

Overall: “The fruit is subtle and restrained, allowing the fermentation character to come through. There is a complexity in the base beer and sourness that only serves to accentuate the fruit.”

What our editors thought

Review printed in: The Art of Tart (October-November 2016) (View All Issues)

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How We Review

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Woven Water Brewing Company Æther

“Rustic berry aromas meander across the nose. Elderberry offers an earthy grounding, while strong, jammy fruit flavors are overbalanced by a rush of lactic acid. Jammy, puckering, satisfying.”

Twin Barns Brewing Company Red Hill Raspberry Sour

“Smells like picking raspberries—not only the fruit, but the woodsy leaves as well, with yeasty, floral complements, and that carbonic prickle when you just open a club soda. A bit of beery breadiness—yeasty sourdough, black pepper—along with strong raspberry; a bit of salt in the finish. Full mouthfeel for this style, but not sweet.”

Avery El Gose

**Aroma:** “Sweet rosy floral notes and pepper, with a bit of tartness coming through as lemon zest, but pretty subtle overall. A hint of sulfur and minerality as well, but it’s not necessarily off-putting, just a bit distracting. Slightly dank and musty with moderate bready malt, and a hint of evergreen hops.” **Flavor:** “A sharper tartness up front, with just a hint of funk, that dissipates quickly and gives way to a bit of lemon and floral notes. Medium-light body with a touch of malt sweetness. Some of the hops bitterness includes grapefruit and evergreen—the grapefruit goes well with the spicy notes of pepper and nutmeg. The saltiness is there but fits comfortably into the mix. The finish is dry, with a slightly bitter finish.” **Overall:** “Fairly refreshing, but the bitterness could be toned down just a hair to reduce the lingering grapefruit aftertaste. There’s not much aroma but slight astringency. Dry and refreshing.”

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