Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
This was poured into a becher pint glass.
The appearance was a dark hazy brown color with a slim one finger white foamy head that dissipated within about thirty seconds. No lacing.
The smell had the pumpkin up front and then the ginger and allspice balancing in underneath. That light woody dry/sour edge normally associated with Hermit Thrush beers slides in even further underneath. Light sweet grassy hops show a light presence as well.
The taste was mainly pumpkin malty sweet with a nice dose of the spices hitting again. Same dry wody/sour edge underneath. Light pumpkin aftertaste leads into a quick dry finish.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fairly decent sessionability about it. Carbonation runs fairly smooth. Spices overcome the sour edges to be the harshness.
Overall, hey Hermit Thrush, what a nice pumpkin ale you guys did. Usually not a style I have this time of year but hey, I’m pleased with this one.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
Treated as a Flanders Oud Bruin, this was poured into a tulip. I believe that’s what it’s supposed to be.
The appearance was a black color but shows more of a dark brown in the pour. No head. No lacing.
The smell starts off with a rugged sour green apples with tart cherries. Light sweet malts underneath.
The taste combines the previously mentioned flavors nicely. Not as rugged in the aftertaste. Tart semi-sweet to sour finish.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fairly decent sipping to sessionable quality about it. Carbonation runs fairly light. Tartness hits on the edges of the tongue.
Overall, this was a decent Flanders Oud Bruin. I could probably have again.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5
This was poured into a tulip.
The appearance was a soft hazy burnt orange color with no head or lacing.
The smell took in a big funky and earthiness rolling in some lemon to citrus rind and pulls in subtle dry woody aromas.
The flavor shapeshifts the aroma into the flavor adding a light sour and tang in there. Light tang in the aftertaste but not overbearing. Quick wet finish.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fair sessionability about it. Sour/tang/funk shows effect but not burdensome. Gets slightly sticky as it warms.
Overall, Belgian styled pale ale, yes, I see it as one with Hermit Thrush adding their \"funky\" to \"sour\" take on it. I’d have again.
CoastGuardVet (6205) reviewed Deep Woods from Hermit Thrush Brewery 10 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5
This was poured into an English pub styled pint glass at The Blue Stone, Waterbury, VT.
The appearance was a dark brown almost black color with a one finger white to off white foamy head that dissipated within less than a minute. Lingering lacing runs here and there.
The smell was probably the most bitter sharp piney harshness I’ve ever smelled in a Black IPA, whoah, only after a good deal of warming, some light roasty dark coffee flavors come out and then a slight tingle of sour citrus.
The taste was basically the same with the finish being more pronounced on the sour portion.
On the palate, this one sat about a light on the body. Sessionable, definitely, even with that sour finish, still good.
Overall, Hermit Thrush doing the inevitable in the state of Vermont, taking a black IPA,, making it sessionable and then giving their \"sour\" brand. Interesting but for me, I think I’d rather have more balanced black IPA’s out on the market.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
This was poured into a tulip.
The appearance was a hazy and ruddy orange to brown color with no head and barely any lacing. What lacing was there speckled ever so slightly.
The smell had some sour green apples up front with some vinegar/cider notes sliding to balance. Light floral and then some sweet red apple come in after a little bit of warming. Lemon juice comes in as well.
The taste started off sour and balancing into a slight sweet apple and grassy flavor. Lemon juice comes in slightly bitter.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a decent sessionable feel about it. Carbonation rests fairly low allowing the sourness to hit a bit harder on my tongue.
Overall, I’d say this was a pretty good sour/wild ale that I would come back to. Thanks Andy.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
This was poured into a tulip.
The appearance was a hazy burnt dark orange color with a thin little white head that quickly dissipated. Carbonation could be seen only hitting the top in some light bubbles.
The smell starts off with fresh green apples. Gin botanicals show their face slightly as it warms. Dried floral leafiness slides in underneath.
The taste was moderately sweet with that gin dryness laying down on my tastebuds. Light fresh sprucy/juniper sort of flavor back it up. There’s no aftertaste nor finish.
On the palate, this one sat about a medium in body with a decent sipping to sessionable sort of dry sticky feel. Carbonation feels good, semi-light with a clingy bitterness on my tongue.
Overall, as a saison, I can see it, sort of. The gin definitely is there and I’d say it’s good as it’s a nice fresh break up to a Winter season of stouts.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5
On tap at The Reservoir, Waterbury, VT
This was poured into a tulip.
The appearance was a nice looking dark brown color with a bar pour’s kind of slim white head that dissipated immediately and left a speckled lacing clinging thinly to the glass.
The smell had some dark fruits blending sweetly. Caramel malts meld into some sweet apple.
The taste was mainly sweet and dry. Light roast underneath. Dry dark fruity aftertaste with the same finish.
On the palate, this one sat about a medium on the body with a fairly decent sessionable to sipping quality about it. Carbonation seemed good allowing that normal \"Hermit Thrush\" woodiness to hit on my tongue.
Overall, it’s good for the most part, Hermit Thrush style. Might have again. They’re calling it a Belgian Brown ale, yeah, I can see it.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
I see it says draft in the notes, hmmm...well no worries, when I’m done this review, I’ll upload the pic of the can as this is now canned.
Here’s the rest.
Poured into a tulip, the appearance was a soft hazy burnt orange color with a slim finger’s worth of white foamy head. Dissipation was immediate.
The smell started off with sour green apple running over top of light funk. Subtle sweet apple rides in underneath.
The taste was mainly sour with subtle graces of the sweet apple underneath. Definitely has a big sour apple aftertaste riding into the finish.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a slight sessionable feel about it. Carbonation rides underneath. Bitter sharp harshness really hits my tongue very dry.
Overall, saison, hmmm...probably more of an American Wild Ale, but then again, I tend to think that of a lot of Hermit Thrush’s beers as I can’t see them getting out of their \"normal\" groove of trying something other than the \"sour\" style. Still, it’s good for the most part.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5
This was poured into a snifter.
The appearance was a dark brown color with a one finger white foamy head that dissipated within a nice pace. There wasn’t any lacing.
The smell started off with sour cherries over top of some Granny Smith apples and then rolling over some sweet caramel malt. Raspberries show up as it warms.
The taste was moderately sour and tart through the combination of the previously mentioned fruits. Malts refrain a bit more in the flavor and it gets pretty dry and sour fruity in the aftertaste. Dry sour finish.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium in body with not much of a sessionability about it (too dry and sour). Still, makes for a decent sipper, its not bad that it’s not sessionable. Carbonation runs fairly light allowing the fruits to sour up and mesh along my tongue.
Overall, yeah about that old ale style, I kind of don’t see it so much. I’d say it leans closer to the American Wild Ale category if you asked me. But hey nice to try, unsure if I’d have again.
Garrold (11394) reviewed 4* Rakau from Hermit Thrush Brewery 10 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8.5
Tap. Three Penny Tap Room, Montpelier, VT. Hazy gold. Foamy, white head. Lovely, soft, fruity funk. Some woody, light sourness. Still juicy, though. Taste is funky tart. Gentle bitterness. Super fresh, crisp, clean palate. Finishes clean and crisp tart. After a ton of IPAs and DIPA’s (which I love) this was beautifully drinkable. Excellent. Even with the monster price tag...