Ithaca Excelsior! Le Bleu

From Ithaca – After sampling a bit of the sour magic in each barrel – some filled in 2010 and some filled in 2011, brewers Ben Brotman and Richie Shallcross, gave the go ahead to blend all barrels into a single tank.  The blend will rest for the day until tomorrow when the brewers krausen the tank with fermenting wort.  From here, we bottle Le Bleu.  This process allows the beer to bottle condition (naturally carbonate on its own).

Ithaca Beer Co. – Ithaca Excelsior! Le Bleu – 750 ml. bottle poured into a goblet. 5% abv.

Appearance:  Pours a very cloudy amber gold. No head.

Aroma:  Funk, brett, berries and citrus.

Taste: Sour berry, vinegar, light toast, no hops. Lemon finish.

Mouthfeel:  Full bodied. Rough.

Overall: I enjoyed this, and would like to try more of various vintages. Between this and Brute, it’s safe to say Ithaca is doing a good job with their sour program.