Vault City – Pear & Vanilla Sour
We are into the Top 5 and I have surprised myself even with the inclusion of a sour. I certainly wouldn’t have put money on one being in my BOTY 9, never mind top 5, this time last year!
As you may have seen me mention in our videos and articles alike, I’m not the biggest fan of sours – they aren’t my default setting and yet, over the past 12 months I have found Vault, Track, North producing juicy sours that have blown me away. Through the year, I have also been lucky enough to try a few Berliner Weisse from the States (Trillium, OH and Green Cheek) and they have similarly, left me tongue-tied and startlingly impressed. Perhaps my tastes are changing or maturing as I delve further down the craft rabbit-hole?
To be fair, I don’t actually think that’s the case – there’s a running theme with the sours I like in that they tend to be thicc AF, I’m talking ‘Riesen’ chews thick, and not overpoweringly sour but rather balanced with sweet sticky fruits and often other adjuncts (vanilla, maple etc). Whilst I can appreciate the craftmanship of long-established Gueuzeries like Cantillon and 3 Fonteinen and the pomp and ritual of the 750ml bottles and their accompanying wicker basket transporters, the transparent sour is still not my bag!
I’m not even going to start on Sour IPAs ….
What certainly is my bag, however, is this 6.8% pear and vanilla sour from Vault which absolutely knocked me for 6! Sweet and ever-so-slightly earthy pear was showcased perfectly whilst the vanilla provided a sweet and creamy afternote that rounded things off balancing against the tart, acidity of their mixed-culture sour base. I don’t really think of pear as the most flavoursome of fruits - let’s be honest it’s no mango, it can’t hold a candle to nectarine and cherries leave it for dust and yet this beer was so harmoniously balanced that, for me, it took top spot amongst the many excellent Vault City beers I have sampled this year. The body and texture that Vault get on their beers is where two thirds of the magic happens – they nail down a delightfully soft and smooth mouthfeel that really carries the flavours remarkably!
Whilst it’s rare that I give specific time and thought to pairing beers with food, my wife and I established a bit of a weekend routine in the twilight weeks of 2021 sharing a bottle of Vault with a decadent savoury lunch platter (as per the photo) – I’m talking gooey fromage, pâté, cornichons, salami etc. For me, Vault’s sours exhibit many of the qualities of a good Saison (refreshingly crisp and fruity) enabling them to cut through the fatty richness of cheeses and meats. I would recommend giving it a go over the festive period before the inevitable new year health kick starts!
Number 4 incoming.
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