Polymorphism
Speciation Artisan Ales in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States 🇺🇸
Sour / Wild Beer - Smoothie / Pastry Rotating Out of Production|
Score
7.25
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Barrel Aged Dark Sour w/ Cinnamon, Vanilla, and Honey - This dark sour is a blend of 3 different dark sour batches that all aged for over a year in oak. We then added vanilla, cinnamon, and an insane amount of honey. The honey added a decent amount of alcohol and a rare amount of sweetness... for a Speciation beer. Clocking in at 10% abv, this is a delicious winter sipper, and should age magnificently in your cellar.
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7.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Keg at the brewdog AGM 2019. A mid mahogany brown coloured pour a a halo of tan head. Aroma is sour coconut pineapple, pina colada,. Palate is tangy, sour, moderate carbonation. Flavour is composed of brown sugars z pineapple, sour, coconut chunks,
Tried
on 13 Apr 2019
at 12:40
7.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Keg at BD AGM. It pours jet black with a small off-white head. The aroma is sweet - sour, tangy, tart, cherry, vanilla, marshamallow, tangy, rocky road, oak and custard. The taste is crisp, dry, tart, tangy, zingy, cherry, cranberry, zingy, oak.wood, acidity and balsamic vinegar with a tangy finish. Medium body and fine carbonation. Not bad.
Tried
on 06 Apr 2019
at 15:08
8.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
750 ml bottle into tulip glass, 2018 vintage. Pours clear very dark ruby red/brown color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of huge sour/tart/tangy lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, citrus peel/zest, cherry, peach, plum, pear, apricot, melon, red/green apple, red grape/wine, toasted oak, cinnamon, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, honey, vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, nuts, and toasted biscuit; with lighter notes of cocoa, roast, peppercorn, leathery/musty/lacto funk, red wine vinegar, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness. Incredible aromas with amazing complexity and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, cinnamon, honey, vanilla, oak barrels, and dark/bready/light roasted malt notes; with big strength. Taste of huge sour/tart/tangy lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, citrus peel/zest, cherry, peach, plum, pear, apricot, melon, red/green apple, red grape/wine, toasted oak, cinnamon, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, honey, vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, nuts, and toasted biscuit; with lighter notes of cocoa, roast, peppercorn, leathery/musty/lacto funk, red wine vinegar, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness. Light-moderate lactic tart, tang, sourness; and yeast, oak tannin, cinnamon spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart/sour lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, citrus peel/zest, cherry, peach, plum, pear, apricot, melon, red/green apple, red grape/wine, toasted oak, cinnamon, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, honey, vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, nuts, toasted biscuit, cocoa, roast, peppercorn, light leather/funk/vinegar, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Insane complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, cinnamon, honey, vanilla, oak barrels, and dark/bready/light roasted malt flavors; with an amazing malt/tart/tangy, yeast/oak/cinnamon spiciness balance; with no puckering/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering tart/sourness, yeast/oak/cinnamon spiciness, and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy, fairly acidic/sticky/tangy/tannic, and lightly chalky mouthfeel that is fantastic. Minimal warming alcohol for 10%. Overall this is an insane barrel aged spiced dark sour/wild ale! All around amazing complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, cinnamon, honey, vanilla, oak barrels, and dark/bready/light roasted malt flavors; very smooth and dangerously easy to drink for the big ABV, with the modestly acidic/tangy/spicy/tannic/drying finish, not overly lactic. Not overwhelming on any aspect. Perfectly balanced Brett/Bacteria complexity, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, barrel presence/integration, and malts against acidity. An insanely amazing offering, and world class style example. One of the best dark sours I've ever had, and their best beer yet.
Tried
from Bottle
on 09 Feb 2019
at 18:16