The beers of Iwakuni: D9 brewing, Viking Scottish sour Ale

This is another from Hilgar's porch bomb. It's the Viking Scottish sour Ale from D9 brewing out of Cornelious NC. They don't say much about their history other than having previously ran a one barrel system and now being on a ten barrel at their new facility. The brewery is focused on re-imagining classic beer styles which could really go either way on it being good or not. I usually hate sour beers, so this review may be a little skewed. I will try to be as open minded as possible but keep in mind my bias.

I recieved this beer in a nearly sholderless longneck bottle with black crimpcap. The label features a literary Viking with horned helmet, giant beard, and dragon headed longboat among flowers (geitrams, if I'm not mistaken). The bottle proclaims "Viking Scottish sour ale" "A raiding party to your senses, this viking beer is meant to be enjoyed unapologetically. Sweet, floral and exploding with sour flavor, this ancient ale was created by the Vikings, claimed by the Scots, lost to time and given rebirth by our brewers to share amongst the enlightened". ABV 5%, SRM 14 (so a sort of light orange amber color), and 0 IBU's. I don't think I've had anything with a 0, but I imagine this doesn't have hopps in it, being a beer styled after those of the early middle ages. At least it's not flavored with wormwood or bladderwort (as they often flavored beer with before hopps became common). I'm going to have to clean out my almost thistle tulip glass for this one.

Nose from the bottle if fruity and yeasty, kind of like a Belgian trippel, except with a spiciness to it as well. Color is an oak brown, I'd put it at a 28 on the SRM actually. The head is quickly dissipating, but it's so lively you can hear it crackle. Nose from the glass is extremely sweet and floral, probably the most floral beer that has ever emanated a scent into my senses, still just a litte bit of spice. It actually smells a great deal like the Japanese energy soft drink Real Gold. I realize most probably don't know that scent, but if you ever have the pleasure it is the same scent as this beer. Oh wow, on first sip I discover much to my delight that it's not wheat sour, it's a fruit sour! Fist on the blog and I'm exited! Sour black cherry, then intensely floral and sweet, with a tart granny smith apple finish. It is a medium body and despite the sour and tart characteristics, is not particularly acidic.

Listening to Hank Williams III's 2014 album "Ramblin Man", but on to the subject of my rant. I've had a fascination since I was young with the military technology of the middle ages, so just after the fall of the Western Roman Empire and into the very beginnings of the Renascence (just before European cannons started to supersede their Chinese ancestors and change the nature of warfare, along with the arquebus). There are allot of misconceptions about the time, people tend to blend 1000 years of history together like there were not significant differences between the centuries. I don't know where I was going with this. I want to both rant and rave about medieval technology and not get into it because I want to go to bed. Oh well, bed and the responsibilities of tomorrow win.

Final thoughts. Loved this beer! It is so refreshing to have something that not only tastes like they finished brewing it, but isn't hoppy. As much as I love hopps, they are getting kind of boring. I give this beer my blurry seal of approval.