Cascade Brewing Vlad the Imp Aler Sour Ale

Cascade Brewing Vlad the Imp Aler Sour Ale, one of the few sour ales made by Cascade Brewing available in a bottle, poured a mostly clear, dark orange hue with a slightly brown tinge to the edge of the glass and a small white head.  The nose was a mélange of green apples, wood, vanilla, and very light notes of vinegar.

Cascade Brewing Vlad the Imp Aler opened with strong, sweet caramel and vanilla malts competing with fruity tartness of cherries, lemon, and grapefruit.  Lactic sourness and the oak came through as the tartness settled down, followed by slight funk as the ale faded.

Cascade Brewing Vlad the Imp Aler is a bold, complex beer that is supremely drinkable and never hints at the 10% ABV.  Although I would have preferred it a bit more sour, that’s a tiny complaint next to such a well designed, brewed, and aged ale.  

Cascade Brewing Apricot Ale Belgian Style Flanders 2009 Ale

I finally feel fancy enough to open one of the sour ales I brought back from my amazing visit to Cascade Brewing’s Barrel House, so let’s pop the cork on with Cascade Brewing’s Belgian Style Flanders 2009 Apricot Ale.

Cascade Brewing Apricot Ale Belgian Style Flanders 2009 Ale poured a hazy dark apricot color, it’s fizzy white head fed by strong carbonation trails.  The nose was surprisingly subdued, being dominated by apricot supported by slightly sour citrus and yeast notes.

Cascade Brewing Apricot Ale Belgian Style Flanders 2009 Ale opened with a soft, fizzy start that carried a rounded sourness that settled into a dry, apricot center.   A subtle, funky yeast background, combined with an oaking more felt than tasted, gave the ale a well integrated, mature dry fade.  

Cascade Brewing Apricot Ale Belgian Style Flanders 2009 Ale is a fantastic example of what happens when a great sour ale is given time to mature.