Rating: 6/6

2017 Tart of Darkness with Raspberry and Cacao by The Bruery Terreux is a 7.1% ABV American Sour Stout aged in oak with Raspberries, Cacao Nibs and Vanilla Beans.

Label:
VELVETY – Chocolatey – Ripe

Released to Reserve and Preservation societies, the Bruery brings a new variant of the Tart of Darkness brew. Since the release of the original, this Sour Stout has been very good on its own but the variants seem elevated to new flavor heights. Like when they released the Cherry and vanilla one, it was way better than the original. While I personally loved the Jolly Pumpkin’s Sour Stout Madrugada Obscura more than the original Tart of Darkness, the variants from the Bruery I like those as much or a little more. Now with cacao and raspberries, this new variant seems very promising, especially since I’m a nut for raspberries. Let’s have a look at this one, cheers!

Aromas:
Earthy notes, musty sour funk, Chambord Raspberry Liqueur, dark chocolate, wine grapes, vanilla, dark fruits, milk chocolate, oak, pecan pie, coffee, flan, rye bread, piloncillo sugar cone, fruit cake, stone fruit apricots, plums and sweetened condensed milk.

Flavors:
Chocolate Raspberry Cordials, Tart wine grapes, Chocolate wine, dark fruit raisins, plums, prunes, currants, raspberries, dark cherries, pomegranates, stone fruit apricots, mango, vanilla, oak, fruit cake, raspberry pie, pecan pie, coffee, flan, earthy notes, musty sour funk, pepper notes, raspberry cheesecake, milk chocolate, rich dark chocolate, bakers chocolate, Belgian Chocolate, German chocolate, Sweetened condensed milk, raspberry yogurt, toasted coconut mild mocha notes, rocky road ice cream notes, Chambord Raspberry Liqueur, mint, rye bread and sour green grapes.

Aftertaste:
Finishing dry but with some very nice lingering flavors of tart wine grapes, oak, raspberry yogurt, vanilla, rich dark chocolate lingering, and earthy notes. No alcohol in the taste, murky dark crimson full body, soft, smooth and creamy mouthfeel and a sipping drinkability.

Overall:
A supreme sour of sorts. Chocolatey raspberry cordials if they were dipped in wine with some very nice tart fruit notes. Very complex and seems to cover the palates of those that love sweets and sour beers. It is not too sour and not too sweet and the twilight road presented is one full of amazement. I highly recommend this one!

Anime Corner:
Dementia/Demencia from the Villanous series created in Mexico, was chosen for this pairing as the aspect of Tart of Darkness can also be seen in the association of evil organization such as that in the series. The fact that she is a lovable and sweet character with her ruby red raspberry hair, she seemed liked the right fit for this beer.

Sources:
http://img03.deviantart.net/efa9/i/2017/138/9/d/villainous_by_binariox-db9nzha.jpg
http://68.media.tumblr.com/0ee4a73a3f32e2346968203fe1d5b1fe/tumblr_oqmru99YY01ufuhr9o1_500.jpg
http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/001/258/109/19f.png
http://orig14.deviantart.net/88b2/f/2017/140/e/5/render_demencia_by_asrielju-db9uw71.png
http://img11.deviantart.net/976b/i/2017/145/c/b/dementia___villainous_fanart_by_oppaihobby-dbafegm.jpg
http://orig01.deviantart.net/cda9/f/2017/141/3/4/dementia_by_ta_na-db9yobu.png
https://www.forosperu.net/galeria/demencia.87291/full?d=1495753736
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DAnNdqPWAAAv08I.jpg