Petal to the Kettle

Upland Petal to the Kettle Ale is a slightly sour ale with hibiscus, rose, and strawberry additions; it is being evaluated against category 29B: Fruit and Spice Beer (the fruit is the strawberry; the spice is the flower components).

Critically, core criteria for this style include a melding of the base beer with the spice/fruit additions, and the discernible presences of all disclosed fruit/spice additions.

The aroma of this beer included a light lactic sourness, a low honey-like (wheat-based) grain character, a spicy floral aroma, and a complex fruity sweetness. Without knowing what was in this beer, one might believe that cranberry, orange, and cinnamon had made their way into a blend of berries and flowers. This highly complex aroma was extremely well balanced, with neither additions nor base beer dominating, and with a compelling blend of sweetness, grain, sourness, and spice.

The beer has a moderate haze, and poured a light maroon color – there was a medium head of moderately sized bubbles with relatively poor retention, as might be expected of a sour beer. Overall, a very appealing appearance.

The flavor of this beer included a moderate lactic sourness (very low relative to most "sour beers" you would get at a local bar, yet noticeable) and a rich honey-like grain character. Afterwards, cranberry, orange, and flowers dominated – this beer reminded me of Jamaica (a Mexican beverage made with hibiscus flowers – one of my favorite drinks). I was unable to detect the strawberry character, though a generic berry-ness was evident; similarly, while the hibiscus made itself known, the rose remained hidden for me. The finish of this beer was relatively dry – unlike many overly sweet fruit and spice beers, this beer leaves you with a crips and clean sensation in the mouth that begs another sip. There was no obvious hop character, which is to be expected of the style, and which allowed the subtleties of the base beer and the complexities of the fruit/spice additions to shine.

The beer has a medium body; it has a light acidity but was not puckering or unpleasantly drying. There was no astringency (as can happen when adding fruits and spices), and the mouthfeel was clean and crisp.

Overall, a complex, clean, and summery fruit and spice beer!