Cascade Figaro Sour (2015)

Style: Barrel aged blond with figs and citrus peel
Producer: Cascade Brewing
Origin: USA
Size: 75cl
Alcohol: 8.4%
Price: 250kr
Systembolaget: 8807301 (sold out)

Cascade Brewing was a well-known craft brewery in Portland, Oregon, founded in 1998. Figaro is one of their standout sour beers — a barrel-aged, fruit-infused sour ale made by aging a strong blond base in chardonnay barrels and adding dried white figs with citrus peels. Unfortunately, Cascade Brewing shuttered operations in 2024, due to the death of founder Art Larrance, making beers like Figaro increasingly rare and collectible.

This was hazy golden to apricot hued with a soft, quickly fading head. The aroma was a layered mix of tart citrus, funky acidity and oak, with underlying notes of white figs and a subtle white wine character. On the palate it was sharply sour yet balanced, combining mouth-puckering acidity with flavours of lemon peel, green grapes and dried fruit sweetness. The mouthfeel was medium-bodied with lively carbonation, finishing dry with lingering tartness and a touch of oak.

This beer truly showcased how complex a beer can be. The white wine notes blended delightfully with the oak, lemon and figs to give a vivid and rich flavour. This was maybe the best sour I’ve had this year, and it was well worth waiting over a decade since it was brewed to taste it.