Hi guys.  It’s time for another craft beer review and today I’m going to be trying the Old Sour Cherry Porter produced by the Rivertown Brewing Company situated in the Queen City of Cincinnati, Ohio.

I’m really looking forward to trying this beer, so let’s jump over to the website, rivertownbrewery.com, and see what the commercial description tells us about it.

Malt beverage Aged in Bourbon Barrels with Cherries

Available in 22 ounce bottles only and released in early spring 2013. Imperial porter aged in bourbon barrels with dark Michigan cherries and lactobacillus delbrueckii (a Belgian souring bacteria).

Nice.  Let’s drink.

This beer came in a 22 oz. bottle and it had an ABV of 9.0%.

It poured black in color with only the most faint deep ruby hue around the curves of the snifter.  It had a small tan head that was smooth, semi-fizzy and soft.  The retention time was ok and a decent amount of lacing lasted for a few moments too.  After the foam completely subsided, I did notice some clear alcohol legs when I titled the liquid from side to side.

Wow!!!  The aroma was spectacular.  Beautiful notes of soured cherries and dark grapes.  It was tart with a slight vinegar redolence.  It also presented an underlying combination of woody vanilla and booze.  A definite red wine characteristic couldn’t be denied.  I loved the smell of this thing.  So balanced and complex at the same time.

The booze became a little more forceful within the taste.  More of a Bourbon characteristic actually.  More of the pleasant wood and vanilla as well, which was fine by me.  The soured cherries and grapes were a nice compliment to the strong alcohol.  To tell the truth, the booze really started to settle and become more harmonious as it warmed and was allowed to breathe.  At the very back end I detected the faintest bit of “earth”. That was somewhat surprising, however it did nothing to distract or harm the overall flavor.

The mouthfeel was medium/full bodied.  Very smooth, dry, chewy and slick.  The carbonation leaned toward the lower side.  An awesome dose of warmth was felt deep into the chest and after each swallow a ton of flavor was left on the palate for me to enjoy between sips.

Well, I thought this was a great beer.  Don’t hesitate to pick it up if you see it somewhere.  It’s chocked full of personality and flavor.  It’s bold and forceful, yet delicate enough for a session.  I sure hope I can find another bottle myself.  I’d love to age one of these for a year or two to see how it would develop.  I’d bet that it would become even more complex with time.  So, if you guys happen to try the Rivertown Old Sour Cherry Porter let me know what you think.  I hope that you like it as much as I did.

Thanks for reading and commenting everyone.  I really appreciate it.

Until next time.  Cheers.

Score:  4.4 out of 5

Grade:  A