The Rare Barrel

Microbrewery in Berkeley, California, United States 🇺🇸
Owned by Cellarmaker Brewing Company
Associated Venue: The Rare Barrel

Established in 2012

Contact
940 Parker St, Berkeley, CA, CA 94710, United States
Description
Picture yourself eating a handful of red raspberries, drinking a glass of fresh squeezed lemonade, or sipping on a glass of fine wine. Those sour, tart, and acidic flavors you are currently imagining are what makes sour beer taste quite different from traditional beers. These flavors, which are unique to sour beers, are the product of time and the right mix of microorganisms. While our sour beers age in oak barrels for an average of one year, a blend of microorganisms will shape the sour, tart, and acidic flavors that we’ve come to desire. Yes, sour beers take an exceptionally long time to develop, but we think that sour beers are well worth the wait.

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7.5/10
Tastes like I expected. Loads of mosaic and brett, followed by some oak notes. I prefer European grisettes but I'll support any grisette.
Tried from Bottle on 11 May 2026 at 13:07

8.8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 9 Flavor 9 Texture 9 Overall 8.5
Bottle to tulip.
Appearance: ruddy amber/burgundy color, sly transparency about it, with a two and a half fingers of white foamy head which took it's time to dissipate
Aroma: apricots, citrusy hop stature, tangerines, light lemon, subtle funky sweetness, light oak
Flavor: tart to funky to sweet to citrusy blend. Light aprioct to funky aftertaste
Texture: light to medium bodied, seems to be a sipper, finishes dry, funky and apricot/lemony
Overall: a very nicely done sour/wild ale more than worthy of having again.
Tried from Bottle on 29 Jan 2026 at 13:32

7.5/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
Oransje uklar med flyktig hvitt skum. Lukter plommer, bringebær og jordbær. Sur og fruktig. Smaker sure bær, rips, bringebær og noe kirsebær. Middels lang.
Tried on 14 Oct 2025 at 14:59

7.1/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7.5 Texture 7 Overall 7.5
Pours gold with a small white head.
Nose shows elderflower, horse blanket, heavy funk, lemon rind. Crazy heavy funk. Slight oaky notes too.
Flavours include oaky notes, funk, lemon, elderflower, and a soft astringency.
Tried from Bottle on 12 Sep 2025 at 11:02

7.8/10 Appearance 9 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 9 Overall 7
Bottle. Pours clear golden yellow, small white head, good lacing. Aroma is oak, peach, lemon, bugs. Flavor is light plus sweet, light plus funk. Medium body. Xolid
Tried from Bottle on 20 Jun 2025 at 02:29

7/10
Bottled. Poured an orange to yellow. Sour but not too acidic, some tropical fruits melange their way in
Tried from Bottle on 20 May 2025 at 01:59

7.1/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 6.5
Bottled. Pours yellowish. Hits with huge ginger notes with a Sour finish. Pretty good
Tried from Bottle on 20 May 2025 at 01:43

7.9/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 9 Flavor 8 Texture 6 Overall 8.5
Draft. Lightly hazy amber beer with a cream head. Orange and tropical fruit aroma. With light tartness. Orange and tropical fruit flavor with light sourness. Medium bodied. Orange and tropical fruit linger with light sourness.
Tried on 02 May 2025 at 17:33

7/10
Tried on 26 Mar 2025 at 12:35

7/10
Tried on 26 Mar 2025 at 12:35