The Summer Crooked Stave Cellar Reserve 2014 beers are out. I bought a few and decided to crack them just a day after receiving the package. Premature but I like getting these reviews in and seeing if I should sit on the bottles for a while. I think the Petite Sour beers should be enjoyed within the year and the Nightmare on Brett could last a bit longer.
Crooked Stave Blueberry Petite Sour
4.3
AdamJackson (2534) – Enfield, New Hampshire, USA – AUG 23, 2014
A – Beautiful color as with all blueberry beers, pink reddish hues, 1 finger carb that fades fast.
S – The nose is gorgeous. Bright, juicy with floral notes, honey dew melon and a nice juiciness. As with most blueberry beers, there’s an earthiness to it. Very mild tart acidity.
T – This is a very mild beer. Weak start, nice lemon tartness w/ a balanced acidity at the middle and the finish is all blueberry. Great taste..no element is overpowering.
M – Crisp seltzer water carbonation sort of like one of those juice sodas from Pellegrino.
O – Nice beer, extremely drinkable and great on a hot day!
Crooked Stave Nightmare on Brett (Port)
AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
AdamJackson (2534) – Enfield, New Hampshire, USA – AUG 23, 2014
A – Pours nearly black out of the bottle, pitch black with a reddish hue on the glass. 2 finger sticky espresso head which fades slowly to some sticky ring.
S – Nose is very nice! Big grape, raspberry tart dry oaky aroma. Smells just wonderful. There’s a touch of roast…like a Port Barrel Tart of Darkness
T – This is a nice beer. Start tart and sweet with a lot of oak. Middle is merlot grape, oak and obvious sweet port. Roasted burnt wood and some olive brine at the finish. Port then sticks around for quite a while.
M – sweet,. oily and boozy.
O – This is fantastic. Not as good as the Nightmare Grand Cru but it’s up there!
Crooked Stave Passion Fruit Petite Sour
AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
AdamJackson (2534) – Enfield, New Hampshire, USA – AUG 23, 2014
A – Very hazy yellow, 1 finger white creamy head that fades slowly.
S – Nose is nice. Mango, lemon meringue, sugary sweet and an earthy mulch undertone.
T – Wow, that’s nice. Great level of acidity, no thinness at all with a delicate light fruit presence. Maybe a touch of peach and pineapple.
M – Sparkling water and very dry.
O – This is a nice beer. Could drink a lot of this but wish it was a touch more fruity.
