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John C. Tull's picture

Sneakin' Lindsey Through The Alley

December, 2016
Judges Rating: 
90
Aroma: 
21 / 24
Appearance: 
6 / 6
Flavor: 
36 / 40
Mouthfeel: 
9 / 10
Overall Impression: 
18 / 20

This Belgian Specialty Ale presents an aroma of mild acidity and a raspberry-like fruit and pith character. The fruit esters contribute more to the definition of the aroma than does the wild ferment. A dark copper color with light ruby highlights can be seen when placed in the light. A thin, off-white head of very fine bubbles edges the glass and laces about a quarter of the surface. The flavor begins somewhat sour, transitions into some grapefruit and lemon zest-like flavors, begins to give way to an underripe raspberry character, and finishes strongly sour and tart. The finish is almost like sucking on a lemon slice, but with the juices going straight to the back of the mouth. The malt and fruit sweetness fill out the mid-palate, and touches of wood or fruit pith are detectable. The mouthfeel is medium-low and heavily characterized by an astringency from the sourness in this beer. The finish is slightly hot, a function of the high acidity and not alcohol. If you like very tart and sour beers, this will match your desires as it is heavily dominated by those characteristics. The fermentation qualities are very good, but the overall complexity is lacking as a consequence of the sour dominance. Regardless, this is still a very good beer that is worth sampling for yourself if you are a fan of sour ales.