Cascade Releases Blueberry Sour in Bottles

Cascade Brewing releases their much anticipated Blueberry Sour Ale on March 22, 2012. So does this mean it’s finally spring? Well, yes, technically, but it sure doesn’t feel like it in the Rose City with it just snowing the night prior. Cellarman Beck Jensen says “This is one of the few good things that has come from ‘Angry Johnny’ (brewer John Berry).” This first bottling release  since fall of 2011, the Blueberry Ale offers a sharp tart fruity presence behind the beautiful purplish hue of this 7.33% ABV treasure.

Lead brewer Chris Baggenstos tells us “It’s definitely a blueberry forward beer upfront; it starts fruity and mellows out with the characteristics from the barrel with some subtle woody notes.” Baggenstos says that the beer remained blended in the tank blended for about six months. Brewer John Berry sourced the Springfield, Oregon blueberries for this limited release and the anticipated release yielded about 15 barrels limited run of this delectable offering in 750ml bottles.

We were treated to a sneak peak of the new Blueberry Sour and without a doubt, this beer should be on the radar for serious beer geeks nationwide.

Brewmaster and chief imagineer Ron Gansberg says this beer is  “one that we came in a laid down some wheat beers for.We got the fruit from Springfield right on McKenzie River, near the flood plains. The flavor is late harvest, very ripe. It’s a wonderful blueberry blast from the Willamette Valley.” Gansberg describes the flavor profile as “Crisp, violet, very succinct, and speaks of ripe midsummer blueberry.” Spot on.

Coming up in the near future, Cascade will release the 2011 Vine next week.