Our inaugural attempt at crafting a sour beer has yielded delightful results that exceed our expectations. Utilizing Philly Sour yeast proved to be a winning choice, aligning closely with the experiences of others who have explored its capabilities.
To begin, we characterize this brew more as a "tart" fruit beer than a "sour," offering a nuanced tang that remains approachable, even for those typically averse to sour styles.
Visually striking, our creation boasts a brilliant ruby-red hue, complemented by a fluffy, pinkish-white head - a stunning result of incorporating 2.5kg of defrosted raspberries directly into the fermenter. Its remarkable clarity further enhances its appeal.
The aroma is dominated by ripe raspberry notes, subtly underscored by a hint of funky complexity, offering a preview of its intriguing profile.
Upon the first sip, raspberry takes the lead, its natural sweetness tempered by fermentation yet still discernible, delivering a refreshing burst of flavor. The tartness gradually emerges, accompanied by a pleasantly dry finish that invites repeated enjoyment.
The mouthfeel is medium-bodied, with minimal hop presence, aligning with our deliberate low IBU strategy. We are intrigued by the idea of slightly increasing IBUs, possibly to 15-20, to explore how it might interplay with the raspberry character.
The raspberry essence is pronounced throughout, so much so that one might mistake it for a raspberry cider, albeit with a fuller mouthfeel that distinguishes it from typical ciders.
Ideal for summer despite its winter inception, this brew proves exceptionally refreshing.
We are immensely satisfied with our inaugural batch and look forward to further experimentation. Future iterations may feature different fruits - passionfruit or mango perhaps, while maintaining our current fruit dosage, which we find perfectly balanced.
Considering adding lactose to enhance residual sweetness is another avenue we contemplate, albeit cautiously, to avoid straying into the "milkshake sour" territory.
Moreover, we are eager to fine-tune bitterness levels to achieve better harmony with sweetness.
Special commendation goes to Philly Sour yeast, which truly shines in this brew. Its simplicity in use, sparing us from more aggressive bacteria or culture introductions, makes brewing such beers far less daunting.
With this success under our belt, we eagerly anticipate refining our skills with future sour beer endeavors.
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