Weyerbacher Tarte Nouveau
I don’t know what the hell a “session sour” is, but it looks as though I’ve got one on my hands with Weyerbacher’s Tarte Nouveau. Soured with lactobacillus during the brewing process, the beer just happens to have a lower-than-most level of alcohol at 3.9% ABV. And really, how can anything sour be a sessionable beer? Not many folks I know, including myself, can sit through more than one example of the style in a sitting without suffering some sort of taste/sensory fatigue.
Regardless of what you want to call it, Tarte Nouveau is still a tasty little brew. The level of tartness is on par with the level of alcohol — it’s there, but doesn’t create as strong a pucker factor as most. The beer is certainly refreshing and lively.
Appearance
Tarte Nouveau pours with a fleeting cap of frothy white foam that disappeared quickly atop the golden straw brew.
Aroma
Overall, the nose is fairly subdued with a soft tingling tartness, as well as hints of honey and grain.
Taste
A light to moderate sour punch arrives smoothly with hints of grapefruit, lemon, honey and grain. It’s a fairly straightforward beer, not offering too much deviation from the expected. It’s refreshing with a lightly effervescent mouthfeel. A soft sweetness lingers after the tartness has faded.
Overall
As far as sour/wild ales go, this one is pretty easy drinking. That said, it’s still not something that I would considering sitting down with idea of having more than one. Still, if you’re new to sour ales and are looking for an introduction to the style, Tarte Nouveau will probably be the beer for you.
Rating: 3.25/5
