To sit and meditate in tranquil stasis fosters depth of character – so it is with the soul and so it is with this sour. Quiescence is a unique project within a unique project. A wood-aged sour beer from Breakside Brewing in Oregon, students of singular creations. Breakside has time and time again demonstrated a unique vision for craft beer, producing award winning selections since 2014, including a silver medal victory for their IPA in the 2018 North American Beer Awards.
The sour is always a wild-card beer. It has a short history compared to many others and depending on the brewer can either make your day or spoil your palette. Quiescence is a gentle contender compared to many others, with a sweet flavour hiding in the back of the taste, snappy character and a more enjoyable sip each time. Serves well at 8°C and can handle a long stay in your cellar up to a year.
Pours with excited carbonation and a frothy white foam that quickly recedes to cover a body the colour of golden straw.
The stone fruit pedigree of this sour comes out first and has rich depth from the Pinot Noir barrels it’s aged in. An undercurrent of the cut lumber trickles in from the oak and sandalwood pumped up by the mixed culture. Sweet and clear, nothing damp or hoppy.
Orchard fresh peaches and plums deliver a tart initial taste – this sour sharpens up in the aftertaste almost to a needle point. The body is smooth but turns astringent on the swallow like sucking on the pit of the fruit. A sense of warm vanilla combines from the woody flavours – the brewers mention oak and sandalwood, but some subtle taste creeps in from the long time spent in wine casks, accentuating the stone fruit flavour with a touch of grape skin.
Break out some breakfast for dinner – a three egg omelette with sharp cheddar, diced back bacon, wild mushrooms and zesty peppers. Simple seasoning of salt and pepper on top and your mouth will water.