Firestone Walker Sour Opal
Vital Statistics
From the brewer
We’ve patiently waited for two years to offer you this exquisite ale! Sour Opal retraces its roots to the lambic cellars of the town of Brussels and the Senne River valley, in Belgium. This American “Gueuze” represents a spectrum of flavors from a traditional barrel aged sour ale, complete with aromas of aged cheese and a distinct earthy mustiness that can only be found in a well cellared barrel aged sour. The complexity and balanced flavors of Sour Opal can be attributed first to the crisp assertive tannic acidity of the Viognier barrels. Oak-derived flavors and aromas mingle with guava, passion fruit, pineapple and tart cherry notes. This beer rounds out with a crisp clean and quenching acidity as well as a mild grape fruitiness that is intensified by a higher carbonation level.
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2015 release
Assertively tart to open, with a funky, crisp, undefined-fruit (cherry x apricot?) sourness. The funk starts with a white wine fruitiness and finishes with a curl, but not quite into the goaty cheese territory of a Cantillon, etc.. In fact, it borders on refreshing, somehow. Some tannic / metallic dryness to finish.