Dipped in wax, elegant and dynamically sour with vinous-like citrus and stonefruit character, Crux’s In the Pocket is a blend of a 16-month Northwest Red Wine Barrel-Aged Saison with a younger, brighter, tart version. With such depths of flavor, it was lavished by the beer experts at Paste Magazine as “a perfect illustration of what a Wild/Sour Ale can really accomplish.”

This 9.9% ABV boogies with notes of tangy apricots and honey that really shows off the power oak-aging and blending brings to a beer. The mixture combines layers of tannins and oakiness with bright notes of wild pear, tangy apricot, and meyer lemon. It’s aged with Brett to give it a subtle, sweet doughy funk in the finish that plays well with the fruit: like honey and lemon preserves spread over a freshly baked biscuit.

The jazz term “in the pocket” refers to when a band’s really in a solid groove, and Crux was certainly was hitting all the right notes when they took this Saison into sour, oak-aged territory. They were among the first Northwest breweries to bring Sour Ales to artisanal levels over 5 years ago, and they continue to grab Sour and Wild Ale fans’ attention with beers like In the Pocket.  

With one sip, you’ll be transported into Wonderland down a rabbit-hole complex, fruity depths.  Can you dig it?

Rated 4.07 on Untappd, 4.08 on Tavour