Avery Raspberry Sour

Avery Raspberry Sour is an American Wild Ale aged with raspberries in oak barrels, 5.7%. This is a member of the Botanicals & Barrels Series, bottled in March of 2016.

This Sour Ale pours with a dark ruby red color like black cherries, the off white head on top was solid and faded to a ring after about three minutes. The aroma is dominated by a ton of fresh raspberries along with some much more subtle notes of vanilla and oak. I am pleased to report that this beer does not also have an overbearing amount of sweet raspberry flavor. It is certainly there, but it is complimented by some wonderful tart cherry as well. This sour is high on the tart scale, but does not cross over into what I would call extreme sour; it has just the right mix of Sweetart tart and sweet. I did notice a more lactic sourness come out as the beer warmed up. The mouth-feel was light and bubbly, a perfect compliment to the taste.

I almost put this back on the shelf a few times while shopping at the store, I was afraid it would just be too much raspberry for me. Glad I ultimately held on to it though, this was a highly enjoyable Sour Ale, perfect for sharing on a warm spring evening.