Elusive: Sunken Knave : Overboard (England: Old Ale: 6% ABV)
Visual: Very dark brown to black. Moderate sized browned head that doesn’t last long.
Nose: Raisins. Brown bread. Light chalk. Malt chocolate.
Body: Slightly sour. Sour grapes. Vinous. Sherry soaked raisins. Slight chalk. Brown bread. Slight yeastie funk. Malt chocolate. Light sulfur.
Finish: Raisins. Sour grapes. Vinous touches. Sour red wine. Slightly chalky. Slight yeastie funk. Slight smoked cheese. Light bitter hop character. Cocoa dust.
Conclusion: I oft bemoan that some beer styles are so under-represented these days. Oft while I buy my 2000th west coast IPA, So I admit I may not be helping there. I am a hypocrite some times, I know it. Anyway, the old ale style is definitely one that deserves more love, and here we have one.
This, made in conjunction with Sunken Knave who I can’t wait to try more from, utterly nails it.
It has that slight vinous sourness – a part I love and is oft ignored by the more mainstream takes on old ales, then it layers that over a maltly, slightly malt chocolate body. It also expresses dark fruit but does not rely on them as the main core. The sourness keeps it feeling fresh and yet solid.
There is this mix of sour grapes and sherry soaked dark fruit that feels so rewarding to explore, with light chalkiness and bitterness underlining the whole experience.
Do I like it? I’m on my third can I have bought and I’m only just letting it survive long enough for me to do notes on it. Yes I like it. There is a slight yeast funk that works really well with the sourness, and seems to give a light smoke like, sulphurous touch, very mild – but just enough that it adds to how this beer just nails everything I want from an Old Ale.
Another great Elusive beer, and I can’t wait to see what comes from Sunken Knave after this.
Background: Initially I grabbed this as it was an old ale and you don’t see enough of them these days. Later I found out Sunken Knave is a new brewery trying to bring focus back to traditional British beer styles, and classic recipes to try to gain them the kind of respect that the traditional Belgian beers currently have. Which you know what, I am behind. I love the craft beer movement and the new beer interpretations, but my problems with more traditional British beers in the old days were never the beer styles, but how so often the most dull versions were the ones available. A focus on the traditional British beer styles with an emphasis on quality sounds just the thing we need these days. I am looking forwards to seeing Sunken Knave’s solo work, hopefully soon. It also helps that Elysium, the main brewer for this is one I have gained massive respect for over the past year or so. Anyway, not much else to add. Grabbed from Independent Spirit and drunk while listening to Bikini Kill: Pussy Whipped. One of their albums I had not heard before.
