Ding Points: 82.50

Pour: 70.00, Nose: 80.00, Palate: 90.00, Mouth: 80.00, Global: 80.00

Tasting Notes:

750 mL capped bottle with the usual ‘The Bruery’ presentation.

The pour produces a fairly highly carbonated (at first) body, with a mahogany-red color. The head is scant and produces no lace. There is a nice clarity about the body, and it settles to give a diluted coca-cola color. The final pour gives a fairly significant film of sediment that floats on top of the beer – a bit sawdust like in its appearance. Ultimately the carbonation settles down as the beer warms.

The Bruery & Cigar City, Marron Acidifie

Vinegary note in the nose, but it comes with a fruity sweetness as well and the two combine to give a sweet and sour note in the aroma.

The tastes reflect the nose. We get a little more of the wood flavor that comes through in the back end, but the vinegar continues to be balanced by some sweet fruit. Like the nose it is a sweet and sour experience. The drying tannin that sometimes accompanies beers of this style are not really present rather the vinegar notes continue to push through. The vinegar is definitely obvious, but it is well balanced and a lot more restrained than it might of been given these two breweries’ reputations.

Happily (and somewhat surprisingly), this beer is a stays true to the style and does not trample all over the style – a GOOD thing. Perhaps American brewers are learning! It’s not often that I would direct a person toward an American brewed beer as a good example of the this style, but this is an exception that makes me feel good about that recommendation.

Expensive, and there is a LOT better value for the style out there, but nevertheless this is a nice beer, however, even given the opportunity I’m not buying this again based upon price.

Other: Greens on Ponce, Atlanta, GA, USA, $18.99, 8.5%.