It is no great secret to my friends that I love sour beers. They are the oldest beer style in the world and have a fascinating history and brewing process. Sour beers really are a miracle of nature.
Ever since the first time I spoke with Jason Roeper at Rivertown about this beer I have been anxiously anticipating its arrival. The concept behind it was intriguing: a beer that is meant to remind the drinker of a gin and tonic. The old man part of me was thrilled to hear about this beverage. Triumvirate (don’t worry, I had to look up the definition and pronunciation, too) is a collaboration between Rivertown Brewing, The Rookwood and Smooth Ambler. The Rookwood is a bar and restaurant in Cincinnati which lends its house-made tonic water to Triumvirate. Smooth Ambler, a distillery out of West Virginia, gives Triumvirate its finishing touch with their gin barrels.
This brew pours a beautiful hazy gold with a crisp white head that quickly dissipates. As soon as the bottle is opened the aroma of sour, funky yeast pours out. After giving my glass a good swirl and shoving my nose right in, pronounced aromas of the oak from the gin barrels comes forward. Behind that is a little lime zest, orange peel and apples. On the first sip your mouth will be awakened. The carbonation is very soda like and the high acidity will leave your mouth tingling long after you swallow. It is medium bodied and bone dry. The flavors are much like the aromas with a little nuttiness thrown into the mix. It finishes with a slight hint of juniper, a staple for any good gin. A warming sensation sneaks up on you a little later completing the gin and tonic beer experience.
This beer is a must have for any appreciator of beers, and it’s a good starter for the sour novice. It may be a little be hard to find, so if you see it, get it. It’s available in Central Ohio at Weiland’s, Anderson’s and Crafted Drafts.
Read reviews of other Ohio-brewed beers
This is a guest post from David Moore. David is an assistant manager at The Crest Gastropub in Clintonville, an avid homebrewer, experienced drinker of fine brews, and is currently studying to become a Certified Cicerone and Beer Judge.
