Does Jerome Cerveza Rubia have an identity crisis? It’s labeled as a “fine aged ale,” “white ale” and as “Belgian style.”  I’m not so sure.

Cerveza Rubia, brewed by Jerome Brewing Co. in Potrerillos, Mendoza, Argentina, has a tart – almost sour – sort of aroma and flavor that was very similar to a farmhouse ale or perhaps a lambic. It’s not what I’m use to from a “white ale”.

Or, maybe I just got hold of a bad bottle. Some reviewers posting on a national beer website mention the sourness, some do not. For the purpose of this review, let’s assume the funk is intentional. But, be advised of this particular bottle’s, ahem,  lambic-ness.

Jerome Cerveza Rubia pours a light golden yellow with an off-white frothy, but quick to fall head. Its aroma is tart, with notes of lemon citrus and light honey.

The beer’s initial flavor is of very light caramel malt. The flavor rapidly segues into a tart lemongrass sourness that reminds of a lambic.

The main flavor at mid-tongue is of bready sourdough with some honey notes. Some light citrus hop flavors show at the side of the tongue.

Those citrus hop flavors continue to the back of the throat and into the beer’s medium-length finish.

Sourdough, however, dominated the finish with companion notes of light honey and lemon. An off-putting metallic flavor also appeared in Cerveza Rubia’s finish.

The funk in this 6% alcohol by volume beer was not offensive – at least not if it had been labeled as a saison or some other farmhouse style . If you think of it as such, this is an unremarkable, but not unacceptable beer. If you’re expecting a blond ale, you will be sourly disappointed.

Jerome Cerveza Rubia was purchased at Charlie’s Wine and Spirits in Sioux City, Iowa.

-Tim Hynds

Tags: ale, beer, beer review, jerome brewing co, jerome cerveza rubia

This entry was posted on Monday, October 5th, 2009 at 9:23 am and is filed under Beer reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.