This beer has a tremendously beautiful aroma – strong pineapple, tangerine, stone fruit (especially apricot), and lemon. As would be expected for a sour, there is a noticeable but pleasant lactic sourness, and a low brett aroma. Unlike most sours, there is also a noticeable but light floral fresh hop aroma. However, in many ways the flavor of this beer diverged from its aroma – while the floral hops are still evident in the flavor, along with plenty of lemon zest, nectarine, and pine, the sourness is at much lower levels than I would expect given the aroma and the style. Showing a strong oak presence, oak tannins give a somewhat astringent and puckering mouthfeel. In my glass, this astringency distracted from the overall experience of the beer, making it challenging to savor the interesting fruity and floral elements of the beer. To summarize, while the aroma was intriguing and complex, the low levels of sourness and the moderate levels of oak tannins made it difficult to enjoy the delicate aromatics that make sour beers so delightful.
Start 14-Day Trial Subscription
*No credit card required
The Skeg
Description
With a namesake inspired by directional stability, The Skeg guides the Barrel Aged Series to a different corner of the world of sour beers. Stowed away for several months in French Oak red wine barrels, this dry-hopped golden sour features a soft touch of acidity and is far less tart than other sour beers. The Skeg leans more heavily on a softer Brett influence, complementing a mildly funky profile with a boatload of Amarillo hops. Bottled at the peak of its components, The Skeg-- an ever-evolving, bottle-conditioned beer -- is readily positioned to steer you to new flavorful locales.
Judges Review
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
32 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20