I’m not entirely sure how I missed posting this review, but here we are. I found this bottle of Weyerbacher Riserva (2010 vintage) at Total Wine a week or two before the turn of the New Year and, immediately upon seeing it, knew that there would be no champagne for me as I welcomed in 2012.
This American wild Ale is brewed with a healthy dose of Raspberries before being aged in oak barrels. The sour tartness that this beer carries is enormous — it took me several moments to become accustomed to it and even then, wow. Not only does this thing pack a wild, sour punch, but it’s also a hefty brew, weighing in at 11.4% ABV. It was exactly what I was looking to celebrate a darn good year with.
Appearance
Riserva poured an opaque reddish amber with no head.
Aroma
Wow. Sour patch kids (the candy), light wood, raspberries and a solid wild funk fill the air around the glass immediately upon pouring.
Taste
Holy tartness, Batman! This brew packs a hell of a punch that initially masks just about everything else in the beer. Once you become accustomed, however, the raspberries start to come out, hints of wood show up and a Bretty, wild funk arrives to dominate the palate. The mouthfeel is vinous with a soft, delicate carbonation. The higher alcohol is non-existent in the flavors — its hard to get anything pass the sour tartness. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Overall
This is not a beer for the faint of heart. Even if you’re a fan of sours or wild ales, this one takes some time to get used to. In the end, however, this year old bottle of Riserva was outstanding and I can only see it improving with a couple more years under its belt. I will most definitely be adding this one to the list of those beers that I absolutely must find again. I’d venture to say that it was probably the best Wyerbacher beer I’ve had — and I’m a huge fan of their Blithering Idiot and Old Heathen.
Rating:4.5/5
