Beer Review: Humidor Series American Sour Ale

Reviewing the Humidor Series American Sour Ale, a wild ale aged on Spanish cedar from Cigar City Brewing out of Tampa, Florida.

Score: 94

2014 vintage bottle served in a mini wine goblet and enjoyed on 06/04/14. Thank you Jon for sharing this treat.

Appearance: Pours a honey-amber color with a thin fizz of head that quickly settles to a ring around the glass. Poor lacing, okay retention. 3/5

Smell: Bright, lemony cedar and grapefruit! A faint waft of funk. A bit of grassiness too. 4.5/5

Taste: Cedar hits first, and lasts throughout as a nice backbone underlying tart lemon, grapefruit juice, and black pepper. Lasting cedar-y finish. Everything here integrates well. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, appropriate carbonation. Nice sour zing on the mid-palate, but it is not bracingly sour. Juicy mouthfeel and finish. 4.5/5

Overall: Different, strange, and delicious! You would not think cedar would marry so nicely with a sour/wild ale, but it really does when done right like it is here. This was unexpectedly excellent brew and a great addition to Cigar City's 2014 release lineup. I will definitely be revisiting this one in the future.

Cost: $10 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle.