Judge's Review: 92 Rating - Synopsis Dark Sour Cherry by Area Two Experimental Brewing

Synopsis Dark Sour Cherry by Area Two Experimental Brewing is a Sour Fruit Beer and is being evaluated as a Wild Specialty Beer (category 28C in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Wild Specialty Beers are sour or funky beers with fruit or spices and are typically aged in wood. Dark Sour Cherry Synopsis was brewed with wild and cultured yeast strains, Morello cherries, and was aged in wood.

This version of Synopsis pours a purple color with a slight haze and a big, fluffy pink head. The aroma is moderate, rich cherry fruit with a moderate lactic sourness. The flavor is moderate cherry with just a hint of sweetness; prominent lactic sourness balances the slight sweetness and cherry fruit well. The beer finishes lightly bitter with moderate dark cherry fruit and a lingering clean, lactic sourness.

The fruit aspect of this wild beer is very well done. The fruit is flavorful, rich, and complex. The wild character is almost singularly lactic but it's well done; prominent clean lactic sourness balances the rich, dark cherry fruit well.