Review: Societe Brewing The Swindler | Craft Beer & Brewing

Style: Sour Ale

ABV: 6.2 IBU: 18

Aroma: 12
Appearance: 3
Flavor: 20
Mouthfeel: 5

Societe Brewing The Swindler

What the brewers say

“The Swindler’s...natural assets were imprinted over time spent in California wine barrels and include restrained tartness, quaffable body, and light effervescence, but of all his enviable traits, this silver-tongued matchstick man boasts an impressive balance of simplicity and rarefaction.”

What our panel thought

Aroma: “Like a white wine. Some light fruitiness with a hint of Brettanomyces funk. Touch of hay. Very delicate overall with notes of tart apple, wood, tobacco, and a pleasant underlying sourness.”

Flavor: “Bright acidity that heightens the beautiful funk complexity. Funk is less horse stables and more fruit orchard. Really nice sour character—hints of lemon, apple, and ripe peach. A soft grainy malt character adds some body and lingers nicely on the swallow. Faint Brett-like woody/smoke character keeps things in balance.”

Overall: “Light fruit tartness throughout with a pleasant backing grainy malt sweetness. Enough fermentation complexity to keep interest while not overwhelming with wildness. A great beer that is in great balance.”


