Collaboration, not litigation. Not only is that the name of a beer, but it's also one of the many trends in the craft brewing community. One such collaboration ale is Zuur, a sour brown ale brought to us by the good people at Ommegang and Liefmans.
Disclaimer:
For those who want a break down of the blend, I suggest you go here. This blog's format hasn't come to fruition yet, but I'd rather not get bogged down in details that could easily be read on the back of a label just yet. Future posts will probably contain more details (especially when I still have the bottle in front of me). Walk before you run, sip before you gulp, stumble before you fall on your face.
My Reaction:
Initially, I was disappointed with this beer. The tartness that makes my lips pucker and mouth water was missing in the first few sips of Zuur. At cold temperatures, the sourness and cherry flavors take a back seat to the malty base of the beer. It makes for an adequate drinking experience, but ultimately is lacking. The beer doesn't truly begin to shine until it has warmed to a cool/cellar temperature. There, the beer strikes a great balance between the sour cherry and the malty flavors. The hops don't get in the way and are nearly non-existent. It is a complex beer, which will only become more complex with aging.
The Verdict:
Grab two bottles of Zuur while you can. Have one now at a cool (not cold) temperature and enjoy a sour ale that is well made if a little lacking in tartness. Put that last bottle in a cool dark place for a year and see what kind of beer the Zuur will grow in to.
Just commenting to say hi. I have advertised you on twitter so you now have the full force of my internet following, which is to say "no one."
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