What Our Panel Thought
Aroma: “Moderate sour and dark fruit aroma with rich, jammy fruity notes of cherry and light malt sweetness. A bit of wet hay and barnyard funk. A little chocolate.”
Flavor: “Cherry comes through stronger in the flavor along with raspberry, cranberry, and a bit of currant. Notes of lactic tartness hit on the tongue, with some sweetness of cherries and tartness that carry through the taste. Some acidic notes carry through on the back. Some funk. There is a nice body to this sour. Some light sweet chocolate notes add some body. Finishes slightly sweet with some tartness that leads to a fairly dry finish. Light spiciness (all-spice or clove) in the middle of the sip with a touch of sweetness. Moderate carbonation helps bring out the sourness in the cherries.”
Overall: “Sour cherries with light sweetness during the sip that transitions into a dry, sour cherry finish. This beer is sweet but not overly sweet. There is a nice cherry flavor with some good acidity and tartness that add complexity.Bold, sweet, and sour—there must be a large dose of fresh Schaerbeek cherries.”
What the Brewers Say
“Balaton is our wild Missouri Brown Ale that was fermented in and aged in local Chambourcin Barrels with Missouri microflora for more than a year with Michigan Balaton Cherries. We wanted Balaton to be soft, yet complex, so it is only 5 percent ABV with a higher level of Brett influence and more impactful oak presence to balance out the signature Side Project acidity and the tart, cinnamon notes of the cherries.”
