Reviewing The Dissident from Deschutes Brewery out of Oregon.
Score: 92
Batch 2 (November 2010 release) bottle served in a Stella Atrois chalice and enjoyed on 08/15/12.
Appearance: The beer is a murky, blood-orange color that fades from a yellow to ruby when tilted and held up to light. Two fingers of fizzy yellowish tan head at pour settles to a thick ring around the glass with a thin foggy layer in the center. Excellent lacing and retention/cling. 4.5/5
Smell: Cinnamon, rose petals, and horchata. There is some sweet vinegar and a lactovallus-common aroma too, a light amount of cherry and a little platicky funkiness. I am really digging the slightly floral horchata nose. It is very unique and was entirely unexpected. 4.5/5
Taste: The taste is much different than the nose led on. There is some "Red Hots"-like cinnamon flavor upfront and in the finish with some sweet and sour vinegary lacto flavor mixed in. The sourness is extremely mild; no pucker and it is mostly confined to the "middle" of the beer and washed away by the finish. There is an ever growing cherry flavor on the midpalate that becomes somewhat medicinal as it warms up. A little layering funk on the back of the tongue as this beer warms as well. As the beer approaches temperature, I find myself enjoying it less. 4/5
Mouthfeel: Medium-light bodied with a low amount of carbonation. Dryly sweet (almost like a red wine) mouthfeel. 4/5
Overall: An excellent and unique nose with a more traditional, slightly funky flavor for the style. The nose is what really makes this beer in my opinion.
Recommendation: Not for casual beer drinkers, but this is a good beer for fans of the style who don't mind a little funkiness and medicinal cherry flavor.
Pairings: Chocolate Cake
Cost: $12.99
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