Ask any veteran surfer what it takes it to catch that perfect wave — they’ll tell you, it takes patience.

The same kind of patience, actually, that it takes to craft a balanced, tart and funky Oak Aged Ale like today’s Reef Rash Sour from the surfer dudes at Libertine Brewing.

These beach bums first opened their doors back in 2012 and have gone on to release a string of 4+ UT rated Sours that are blowing the minds (and palates) of craft fans up and down California’s Central Coast.

If you haven’t heard of these guys, it’s only because their mouth-puckering brews are made in extremely small batches and are rarely found outside their hometown of San Luis Obsipo.

Which is why I made sure to snatch up the last cases of Reef Rash in existence and bring them back to share with you all.

Whip out this jammy, raspberry-and-peach tart at your next barrel-aged bottle share and watch the look of astonishment splash across your friends’ faces as they say “How have I never heard of these guys?!”

Blended from a Sour Peach Ale and their house Framboise, Reef Rash brims with aromas of juicy raspberries and ripe stonefruit. Surf on waves of tart peach juice and liquified raspberries that crash into notes of red plums and tangy apricot.

18 months of aging in French Oak barrels imparts hints of oaky tannins and woody funk that bring a complex balance to the big fruit flavors. Finished by an effervescent body and an easy-going 5.5% ABV, this bottle of Cali sunshine begs for another sip.

So grab a bottle of Reef Rash and call up your Sour-loving buds.

Don your best island-print shirt, turn on some Beach Boys and get ready to hang ten with the Oak-Aging masters putting California's Central Coast on the craft map.

Rated 4.00 on Untappd

Packaged On January 18th, 2019

Cellarable