Jul 21, 2014

Off Color Brewing Troublesome

Gose is an un-filtered wheat beer usually brewed with coriander and salt, as well as additional lactic acid bacteria (lactobacillus) added in for good measure. It’s also a style of beer that is seeing a bit of a micro-trend in the craft beer world. That said, this bottle of Troublesome is only the second example of gose that has appeared on this site and it comes from Off Color Brewing.

I don’t know if Troublesome is a gose in the traditional sense as the brewery describes it as a blend of two beers:

We blend together two different beers to make Troublesome. The first is a somewhat uninteresting wheat beer and the second is an overly acidic & funky beer fermented solely with lactobacillus.

Regardless of its classification or whether it adheres to strict style guidelines, Troublesome is one of the better wheat-based beers that I’ve had in some time. The beer is refreshing, lightly sour and carries a smooth bit of funk — the combination of which makes it a stand out brew.

Off Color Brewing Troublesome photo

Appearance

The brew pours a slightly hazy straw yellow with a short-lived cap of white foam.

Aroma

Wheat, grain, soft coriander, distant lemony citrus notes and a light bit of funk mingle together nicely.

Taste

My first impression of Troublesome was that it comes across like a wheaty saison to a degree. Wheat and grain are met by a moderate lemony tartness as a soft funkiness persists throughout. There is no salt in the flavor and the coriander resides in the background at just the right level, adding just a hint of “something else” to the overall character of the brew. A lightly crisp carbonation and refreshing nature make this beer a treat in the Summer.

Overall

Troublesome is an intriguing and interesting beer. I’m not a huge fan of wheat-y beers, but this is one that I could sit down with for a long time, and at just 4.3% ABV, I could certainly do just that. The light funk and sour notes make for a beer that tantalizes and teases the tastebuds without wrecking them for future use later that day.

Rating: 4/5

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