Mafka
Arbor Brewing Company in Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States 🇺🇸
Sour / Wild Beer Special Out of Production|
Score
6.83
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Blend of 3 sours, then soaked on staves of Velvet Hammer casks.
The staves were then pitched into a vat of specially blended beer (58% Khatta Kala Sour Stout, 36% Hothaus Harvest Ale, 6% Velvet Hammer) and left to age for 18 months. The results proved to be wildly successful (pun intended!). The scent of rich, black cherries on the nose carries through to a delicate mouthfeel on the palette, and a mild, sweet-tart finish with newly unleashed oak tannins.
The staves were then pitched into a vat of specially blended beer (58% Khatta Kala Sour Stout, 36% Hothaus Harvest Ale, 6% Velvet Hammer) and left to age for 18 months. The results proved to be wildly successful (pun intended!). The scent of rich, black cherries on the nose carries through to a delicate mouthfeel on the palette, and a mild, sweet-tart finish with newly unleashed oak tannins.
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6.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 4
Overall 6.5
On tap at Hopcat A2. Pours a clear amber with a copper hue and light brown head that dissipates to the edges. Aroma has some sweet grains and acidic red fruits with an oaky backbone. Flavor is quite acidic with red fruits and a good amount of oakiness.
Tried
from Draft
on 08 Apr 2017
at 13:29
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
750 ml bottle into tulip glass; 2016 vintage bottling. Pours clear dark reddish brown color with a 1-2 finger dense and rocky light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass. Aromas of big tart cherry, cranberry, green apple, red grape, pepper, leather, vanilla, toasted oak, chocolate, cocoa, caramel, brown sugar, light vinegar/funk, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great complexity and balance of fruity/acidic yeast, dark/roast/bready malt, and oak barrel notes; with great strength. Taste of big tart cherry, cranberry, green apple, red grape, pepper, leather, vanilla, toasted oak, chocolate, cocoa, caramel, brown sugar, light vinegar/funk, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness. Moderate fruity/acidic tartness and yeast/tannic oak spiciness on the finish; with lingering notes of tart cherry, cranberry, green apple, red grape, pepper, leather, vanilla, toasted oak, chocolate, cocoa, caramel, brown sugar, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Damn nice complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/acidic yeast, dark/roast/bready malt, and oak barrel flavors; with a great malt/tart/spiciness balance, and zero astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate dryness from acidity/tannic spice; increasing through the glass. Medium carbonation and body; with a smooth, acidic/tannic, and fairly creamy/grainy balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5%. Overall this is a great blended sour ale. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/acidic yeast, dark/roast/bready malt, and oak barrel flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the balanced acidity. A very enjoyable offering.
Tried
from Bottle
on 07 Jul 2016
at 21:40