Almanac Farmer's Reserve Citrus (2015-)

Citrus and beer have made a great pair ever since the first lemon wedge was added to a frosty wheat beer. Here we expand on that tradition, melding a sour blond ale with the intensely aromatic zest of Buddha’s Hand citrons and the bracing tartness of Yuzu and Blood Oranges from Hamada Farms. Pair harmoniously with sushi or flakey white fish or contrast with earthy roasted root vegetables.

3.8

194 reviews

Alameda, United States

Community reviews

3.7 Crystal clear golden and ever so slightly copper and orange coloured body with the faintest pure white head. Aroma of citrus, sake, alcohol, rice, oranges and a bit of a sour funky smell, but the alcohol and sake really come out here. Light-bodied; Ultra mild flavours of citrus, lemons, oranges, sour grapes, tart cherries and raspberries, funky yeast and a very dry quality, with some noticeable alcohol. Aftertastet is mild, but showing some nice sourness, a tart citrus quality, complexities from the yeast and aging process and some subdued fruit flavours. Overall, a nice and complex beer with a sour personality, but more of a depth in flavour complexity and layers of the flavours which seem to be very nice, for such a light-bodied beer. Definitely worth trying if you like sours, and probably even so if you don’t, given its variance and difference than most in the style. I sampled this 37,5 cL bottle purchased from Murray’s Cheese in New York (Greenwich Village), New York on 03-December-2016 for US$6,49 sampled at home in Washington on 28-April-2017, with the label on the bottle stating: Summer 2016.

4.0 375 ml bottle shared, thanks Tyler! Summer 2016 edition. Hazy golden yellow with off-white head. Aromas of lemon and orange citrus, herbs, light funk. Tastes of orange and lemon citrus, light funk, tart acidic notes, lemon drop candies. Light body with a dry finish. Good stuff.

3.8 0.375l bottle. This one pours a mild cloudy honey golden colored body with a medium sized quickly fizzing away off-white sidesticking and filmy head. It smells good with a tart sharp zesty sourness blended with wood, sour rhubarb, lots of lemon juice. Yeah, inviting for sure on the nose. Tastes good also. Superb refreshing and lemon sour. Almost lemonic. In the mouth it has a medium oily texture and it’s just above average on the carbonation. Fresh and citrussy oriented all the way. Sourish, lots of white currant and sorrel. Softly mouthdrying towards the finish. Woody, that and a little dandelion bitter. Lots and lots of refreshing flavors. It completely cleanses up your whole mouth. Like it a lot. 05.05.2016

3.6 19th December 2016 Level 42 bottleshare, Santa is flying past below! Thanks to Fergus. Hazy gold beer, patchy pale cream colour head. Palate is light, dry and has decent fine carbonation. Fairly tart, lemon sherbet. Touch of gueuze character. Lemony tart finish. Nice, never crosses the line this one.

3.8 Bottle at level 42 thanks to Fergus. It pours hazy golden with a small white head. The aroma is soft, sweet, bright, tangy, yuzu, white wine, funk and some musty notes. The taste is crisp, tart, tangy, yuzu, sherbet, orange peel, sour, bright acidity, good mouth pucker, sour candy and tangerine with a dry finish. Medium body and fine, foamy carbonation. Bright, tart and fruity. Nice one.

3.9 I enjoyed this one more than the previous version. More dynamic character and a less singular citrus quality. Bright and slightly cloudy lemon rind blonde pour with 1-2 fingers white head. Nose shows bright citric acidity and a mild citrusy musk. Funky and tart with citrus rind in the flavor. Bright and quite acidic. Light bodied, crisp.

3.9 December 2016 - Bottle share at 1 Canada Square. Many thanks to Fergus! As Almanac Farmer’s Reserve Citrus , 7%. Yellow orange, still and translucent, bubbly off-white head. Aroma is grapefruit and lemon, some seaweed vibes, melon. Body is light but smooth with tingly carbonation. Taste has the expected citrus vibes, buttery, Tangfastics sweets, something a touch artificially sweet. It tastes a lot nicer and richer than it smells, body is thin. It’s OK. (3.6) August 2017 - Bottle share at Chriso's Pre-GBBF Shindig. Thanks! Pale golden yellow, translucent, lightly sparkling, small foamy white head. Aroma is lemon, toffee and white wine. Body is light and frothy. Taste is lemon, sherbet, caramel and dry white wine. Very nice. (8-4-8-3-16=3.9)

3.2 36cl bottle shared in CW. Many thanks to Fergus for this one. It pours a hazed pale golden color with a small white head. Aroma is tart and lemony with notes of lemon juice and light straw. Taste is also acidic lemony with some lemon juice straw and yoghurt. Light to medium bodied with good carbonation. Overall, ok

3.6 Bottle split at L42 Xmas Toss Off Tasting, thanks to Fergoose, 19/12/16. Hazed golden orange with a decent off white head. Nose is burnt orange rinds, hop coating, straw, lemon drizzle, funk, wood must. Taste comprises pissy citrics, singed straw, light spice, funk, light pine scorch, on the turn melon, funk. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with a tangy citric wash and hop tang. Decent enough hoppy sour.

3.7 Bottle shared in London - many thanks to Fergus. Pours mostly clear gold with a fluffy, white head. Big tart citrus aroma, lemon, grapefruit, lime. Light sweet flavour with bracing acidity, more lemon, woody dryness, pine needles hay. Light to medium bodied with spritzy carbonation. Clean and quenching in the finish, with sharp lemon, lime zest, some wheat flakes, grapefruit. Enjoyable.

3.8 Bottle shared on Level 42 19/12/2016. From BottleDog. A translucent bright golden yellow coloured pour with a a loose white head. Aroma is big lemon rind, tangy lemon, sour, caramac bar. Flavour is composed sweet and sour, prickly lemon, pear, dried citrus, orange. Musty. Palate is semi sweet and sour, moderate carbonation, . Lingering woody citrus.

3.7 2016-11-19. Hazy orange body nice beige head fades. 3+ Aroma has unexpected vanilla like quality, possibly some oak? Musty fruit and some citrus if I look for it. 7+ Flavour is fairly sour up front but the palate acclimatizes,mild citrus is secondary o the base sourness, lightly bitter at times. Average plus bodied palate, good carbonation. 3+ Decent and enjoyable overall. than planned. I am curious to know if the citrus character is more prominent when fresh - I aged this longer than planned since I didn’t realize the age of the bottle when I bought it. 7/3/7-8/3/16+ Bottled June 2015, purchased from Premier Gourmet, Buffalo.

4.1 375 ml bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 6/15/2016. Pours slightly hazy pale golden yellow color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin spotty lace cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the lace. Aromas of big sour lemon, lime, blood orange, grapefruit, green apple, citrus peel, white wine, oak, pepper, hay, straw, funk, wheat, cracker, light leather/white vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, citrus fruits, wine barrel, and moderate pale malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big sour lemon, lime, blood orange, grapefruit, green apple, citrus peel, white wine, oak, pepper, hay, straw, funk, wheat, cracker, light leather/white vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Good amount of fruity/lactic tart/sourness and yeast/tannic oak spiciness on the finish; with lingering notes of sour lemon, lime, blood orange, grapefruit, green apple, citrus peel, white wine, oak, pepper, hay, straw, funk, leather, white vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a while. Great complexity, robustness, and balance fruity/funky/acidic yeast, citrus fruits, wine barrel, and moderate pale malt flavors; with a great malt/tannic/sourness balance, and zero astringent flavors after the finish; but lightly puckering. Moderate dryness from acidity/tannins, increasing through the glass. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately crisp, and acidic/tannic/grainy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol for 6.8%. Overall this is an excellent fruited sour ale! All around great complexity, robustness, and balance fruity/funky/acidic yeast, citrus fruits, wine barrel, and moderate pale malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, and easy to drink; despite the elevated acidic/tannic flavors. A very enjoyable offering.

4.0 Draft. Golden beer with a whitish head. Sour aroma. Sour and citrus flavor with light acetic notes. Medium bodied. Sour and citrus linger with light acetic notes.

3.8 Hazy, light gold pour with a thin white head. Big citrusy, lemony aroma with a bit of funk, orange peel. Taste was tart, dry, orange peel, a bit of funkiness, oak - bloody nice

3.7 Aroma is citrus and sour tropical fruit/funk. The flavor is citrus, stone fruit/tropical fruit and a sweet/tart finish.

4.1 Bottle at home. Clear pale golden with a thin off-white head with poor retention. Notes of lemons, lemon zest, peaches, brett funk, fruit tartness, vanilla. Medium body, soft carbonation and texture and a tart, citrusy, refreshing finish.

4.1 A hazed blonde ale with a very thin white head. In aroma, sweet fruity malt with light Epsom salts, light lemony notes, lactic acid, loads of citrus pulp, very nice. In mouth, an intense tart lemon with lactic acid, Epsom salts, light alcohol warmth, very nice and complex. On tap at Taste of Tops.

3.6 Light golden hazy colour. Dusky sour herbal tea nose. Good sharp sour flavour with citrus and bloid orange intensity. Clean puckering end. Good.

3.8 On tap at Bigby’s Pour House in Addison, IL. and dispensed to a small snifter showing a hazed, light gold color, with white foam that quickly reduced to a persistent ring, and light spots & streaks of lacing. The nose was immediately tart, floral, citrusy notes as lemon, mandarin orange, grapefruit, with a touch of berry. Light to medium bodied, with lively carbonation, the taste began with a hint of sweetness, then proceeded to dryness, tartness, some rind-like astringency, and a comingling of the previously mentioned esters. Nicely balanced and approachable Sour. Wasn’t initially on my list to sample due to my annoyance with the consistently high price tag of the majority of Almanac pours in Midwest brewpubs, so the gracious compliments of the house was much appreciated.

4.3 Hazy golden with not much head. Big vibrant funky and citrusy aroma that’s orange pithy and zesty with pedipcoccus funk and barreled tartness. Crisp and delightfully funky flavor that’s got loads of orange pith and zest, barreled funk and a bright citrusy tart sourness, and a wild buggy finish with more citrusy tartness. Really lovely.

3.4 Pours a hazy orange amber color with a traces of foam that settles out quickly. Nose is vinous with hints of berry, orange juice, lime and some wet wood funk. Palate follows, body is flat and acid level is high. Lots of orange notes, lemon, lime lingering wet wood. Pretty in your face sour hides any if not all complexity. Lemon juice with booze. OK

4.2 Bottle in Brewdog Shoreditch. Hazy golden with no head. A lovely musty lambic like lemon citrus aroma. The taste has tart lemon curd. Sour and delicious. Refreshing and light. Awesome.

3.8 Bottle from Brewdog. Pours hazy golden with a small creamy white head. Aroma of citrus, sour and acidic, oak,vinegar and fruits. Taste is moderate sour, crisp citrus and unripe berries, dry oak, nice dry mouthfeel, moreish beer.

3.9 Bottle. Hazy orange color. Thin white head. Taste is medium high sour, medium light bitterness. Body is mediumly carbonated, pretty tasty. Aroma is citric, barnyard, cheese, wood, caramel. Great!

3.9 375ml bottle. Golden amber colour, white foam head that dissipates away and aroma of citrus rind, funk. Taste is sour lemon rind, grains, more citrus, orange, lime, grapefruit, yuzu, tart and funky. Smooth mouthfeel, medium bodied, soft carbonation, dry tangy sour finish. Very drinkable.

3.6 Bottle from vinmonopolet - Sour and slightly funky aroma with some citrusnotes. Flavor is very dry, but also quite fruity. Tons of citrus, orangepeel, tangerines and pomelo. Citrus-dominated, as the name implies. Very nice.

4.0 Bottle, may 6th 2016. Hazy yellow body with a tiny white head. Aroma is funky and tart, citrus fruits, spicy. Taste is dry and crisp, bretty and sour, layers of citrus fruits fighting to get the attention. Sour fruity and refreshing finish. Excellent.

3.7 Bottle Aroma-barnyard, citrus Appearance-golden, hazy, white foam, Taste-heavily sour, light sweetness, Palate-medium body, thick feel, average carbonation, astringent, Overall-very good

3.1 Bottle from bursprak. Many thanks! Hazy yellow colour, white foam. Citrussy sourness, lots of grapefruit, lime and orange juice. Sour and tart. Ok for an American sour, but not my style.