Sap Haus - Barrel-Aged

Bottle purchased from Ellwood Thompson’s in Richmond, VA - dark ruby pour - moderate, soapy lace - nose is deep red wine, rich oak, light acetic character, mild funk, light smoke and maple - complex and inviting - flavor is super dry and deeply tannic, with moderate acetic character and light lacto tartness - lots of red wine oak in the finish - smoke is basically absent in the flavor, though, which is disappointing - still, a solid, gentle, and nuanced sour, which is indeed a rare commodity these days - I did not read the bottling date when purchases, but I am looking at it now and it appears to be from 10/28/20, and if so, it is aging quite gracefully, especially if it had been sitting under the fluorescent lights of Ellwood Thompsons for the last 6 years.

500mL bottled 10/28/2020, drunk 9/24/22. Dark mahogany-chestnut. Beige head is medium-sized, moderately-well-retained. Ultra soft, mega peppery, rich but understated iodine-like smokiness. Cherry-like yeast/bacteria with moderate acidity. Cherry, pepper, light vanilla, molasses and raisin. Medium-light body with mild acetic, moderate lactic. Mild everything, yet the sum is always highly flavorful; classic Oxbow. Fruit and tannin lingering.

Pours deep mahogany into a tulip. Mocha head with good retention recedes to coat surface. Smoky oak aromas. Soft with smoked sour cherry and earthy oak front to back.