Cascade Apricot Ale

I’m here in San Francisco (at least when I wrote this) staying in Noe Valley.  With a quick walk down to my local craft beer store, Plumpjacks on 24th street, I quickly honed in on the several Cascade beers on the shelf.  Since I’d had the other two, I easily decided on the Apricot.  I’d never had a apricot beer, let alone a sour apricot and frankly I don’t know if I would even drink a regular apricot beer…

I’m drinking the 2009 vintage of this Belgian Flanders Style Ale.  I’m trying to decide if this is sour or funky.  The aroma is very funky with hints of oak and citrus, but the flavor I just can’t decide on.  It is very dry and tart.  It almost tastes like orange juice right after you brush your teeth.  I know that sounds kinda bad, but with the tartness, funkiness, sourness, and citrus it just reminded me of the flavor from when I was a kid.  Now that I’ve had more it is more of a funky mimosa.  Dry with tons of carbonation give it that champagne quality.  The Apricot, which i would have never been able to pick out with out it in the name of the beer, comes across as citrus/orange like.

I really enjoyed this beer, this would make a great breakfast beer on a hot summer day!