Judge’s Review: 90 Rating – Honey Mango Sour by The Damascus Brewery

Wild Specialty Beer | Year-Round | USA

By Dan Martich

Judges Rating: 90.00
Aroma: 20.00
Appearance: 6.00
Flavor: 36.00
Mouthfeel: 10.00
Overall Impression: 18.00

Honey Mango Sour by The Damascus Brewery is being evaluated as a Wild Specialty Beer (Category 28C) from the 2021 BJCP Style guidelines.
This beer opens with moderately low fruity aromas and some sharp tannins that are green apple-like with a stone fruit finish. It poured crystal clear with a slight haze and had a firm golden color; the white head dissipated very quickly, which is typical for this style.
The first sip delivered a green apple-like sharp acidity as in the aroma, paired with a stone fruit character. The mango and honey flavors are not present and may have fully fermented, but you’ll notice their contribution in giving this beer the fruitiness in the flavor that it now has. The bitterness is low while the acidic finish is long with a fruity aftertaste.
This beer is medium-light bodied, with medium light carbonation that is dependent on the acidity to factor into a carbonation-like mouthfeel.
Here’s an easy-drinking beer that focuses equally on flavor and mouthfeel for drinkability. I can see this beer being paired with summer foods like chilled oysters, fish ceviche, and hard cheeses. Drinks similarly to a Rosé wine with its lightness, acidity, and fruitiness, without the alcoholic punch.