Upland Brewing Co. Quality Manager & Blender Adam Covey Talks Sour Reserve

We spoke with Upland Brewing Co. Quality Manager & Blender Adam Covey about Sour Reserve.

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe?
The original concept for this beer was our take on the gueuze-style with a blend of our best barrels inspired by our original brewer Caleb. Over the years, the blend has been crafted by our team and I led the selection and blending process for this year’s release.

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
This beer has many layers of flavor and aroma that comes from the various ages of the barrels selected.  The base beer can be used as early as 4 months, but develops very interesting characteristics for up to 3 years. 

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
We wanted to give this beer a name that reflected the special nature of the beer that went into it. The beer in the barrels that we select has reached its highest potential and then we spend several weeks creating unique blends from the best until the team decides that it is just right. 

BC: Is this your “desert island beer?”
Certainly!  I love revisiting older vintages and comparing the differences to the newer batches. This latest bottling captures all of the best elements of our Wood-aged Sours program.

BC: Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
Complex, funky, fruity. Culmination of patience, love, and hard work.

BC: Do you know a story – or have a personal story – that revolves around this beer?
Not a story yet, but we’ve got a few cases from the last 8 years stored at the brewery and have talked about holding off for a 10 year vertical. I also keep a personal stash of my own at home and have been waiting for the perfect occasion to share it with others.  I'm sure that when the time comes, we'll get many great stories out of the experience.