Year of New Beer: Sixfold VI: Wild Sour with Blackberries, West 6th Brewing (Lexington)

Written By: Dion on 11/09/2017

A little late to the party on this one, but as they say, good things come to those who wait. The nose opens sharply, with lemon, green apple, and red wine vinegar bursting from the glass. A bit of aeration and warmth brings the payoff...blackberries galore against oak and earthy funk. For me, the sign of a great beer is when an outstanding aroma translates to equally enticing flavors, and this one passes that test with flying colors. The red wine influence is evident immediately, as tart grape and a mild vinegar begin to draw the mouth, developing atop a light oak and traces of caramel. By mid-palate, the blackberries assert themselves, balancing the sour with a generous sweetness. Finishes slightly dry and perfectly tart. Simply outstanding. As our local breweries continue to produce such stellar brews, I risk sounding like a broken record. The beer nerds in the Lexington area are suffering from an embarrassment of riches.