On tap at Ambulance, second edition (2016 vintage) oak-aged sour blonde ale spreads white wine tannins and desiccated apricot-skinned tartness way beyond expectant orange-spiced witbier styling. In the midst, sun-ripened Muscat Blanc grape vinegaring sharpens lemony Granny Smith apple pucker to its hay-dried grain spine.
On tap at Stone & Rail, Jameson Irish whiskey-barreled sour blonde ale adds only a pinch of whiskey to mildly acidic Persian lime and lemon adjuncts. Candied citrus tartness gains subtle peach, cider and green grape reminders. A Mojito substitute?
On tap at Ambulance, lactic kettle-soured cranberry pucker brings moderate tartness to pinkish amber-hazed light body. Mild tannic acidity seeps into subtle lemony cranberry piquancy.
On tap at Ambulance, low-key dark sour ale aged two years in Leopold Bros. Whiskey barrels retains brettanomyces-bound balsamic vinegaring, tart oaken cherry pucker and mild lemon musk, but whiskey influence is negligible. Slight charcoal graze inundates sharp vinous sourness and horse-blanketed barnyard acridity by indirectly providing charred mocha remnant. Subtly complex.
On tap at Ambulance, vinous green grape tartness overwhelms toasted coconut and kiwi adjuncts for highly acidic oak-aged golden ale. Sour white wining gains modest peach, guava and mango illusions, but its coconut-kiwi tropicalia fails to take hold.
Sessionable kettle-soured peach moderation with plain Greek yogurt adjunct maintains lightly vinous green grape acidity and oaken vanilla resonance, staying sharp on the tongue. Delicate sweet-tart peach spritz nearly overwhelmed by lemon-limed souring at the citric-wined finish.
On tap at Ambulance, feisty clear amber-yellowed sour pale ale (an awkwardly defined mixed culture ‘biere de garde’) retains moderate lactic acidity for salty lemon-limed perfume musk and tannic grape-skinned tartness. Sour yogurt finish completes well-calibrated wild ale.
On tap at Tapastre, eye-squinting white peach acidity inundates lactobacillus-soured pale ale (fermented in stainless steel). Lactic house yeast deepens peach sourness as well as vinous white wining and green apple tartness.
On tap at Poor Henry’s, pungent dry-hopped sour ale utilizes lightly vinous Muscat grapes and acidic brettanomyces yeast to enhance lemony grapefruit tartness over straw-dried barnyard acridity. Tertiary guava, passionfruit and gooseberry illusions filter thru.
On tap at Taphouse 15, salt-licked sour lambic with eye-grabbing pinkish rose hue brings lemon-limed acidity and oaken vanilla tannins to tart Montmorency cherry resolve. Aggressive Belgian kriek!
On tap at Ambulance, mild gin influence barely registers alongside crispy cucumber watering and salty lemon-limed Berliner Weiss respite. Musky botanical snips increase gin-soaked peppercorn herbage, but tepid pale malt spine falters. A true acquired taste that’s wholly original despite limited appeal.
Rosy amber-cleared moderation retains sharp-edged red raspberry souring alongside vinous green grape esters. Tart raspberry continuance receives recessive lemon spritz and wispy floral aspect. Worth pursuing.
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