Wild Sour Series: Here Gose Nothin'

While Gose may be a bit of a trend, there’s no doubting the staying power of sour beers as an “advanced” beer drinker’s choice – and any sour beer fan would be happy with this one. However, many would also rightly note that this is much more sour than classic versions of the style, which creates something of a misfit.

The appearance is fine, a light gold color with brilliant clarity, but it's missing that tall, pretty head we’d expect from a Gose. The initial aromas are of light grain and bright lemon with a slight funk, which are all par for the course.

The initial sip, though, is rippingly sour. There’s some smoky phenolics under the sourness and above the light grain, with low bittering and a slightly briny taste. The aftertaste is all lemony acidity. The high level of acid makes for a very tight and puckering mouthfeel, and the carbonation and body are both in the medium range.

This is an excellent sour beer, but it bears a much closer resemblance to a straight Berliner Weisse than a Gose. A bit less acid would make it easier to appreciate. Having said that, this is still a great sour, and once you get over that initial hit of acid, you’ll have no problem finishing your beer. I certainly didn’t!