hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Something Unfamiliar

Tap to rate

A bright, zesty sour aged in soju barrels picks up the smooth, delicate spirit character, with a gentle, rounded minerality: complex, refreshing and entirely new. The 8.7% wild ale was made with a South Korean brewery as one of Cloudwater's annual Barrel Project releases, and explores barrel character.

ABV
8.7%
Bitterness
Mild
SRM
golden5
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
sourmineraloak
sour
mineral
oak
tart
Aroma
The nose leads with bright citric acidity and mineral notes, underlaid by subtle oak character from the soju barrel aging.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Something Unfamiliar

◎ Appearance

Pale straw yellow with excellent clarity and a delicate white head that settles to a thin ring of lace. Fine carbonation rises steadily, lending the beer a lively, effervescent character that catches the light.

pale strawbright clarityfine carbonationdelicate lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with bright citric acidity and mineral notes, underlaid by subtle oak character from the soju barrel aging. A gentle floral and herbal backdrop emerges, with soft stone fruit and a whisper of the spirit's smooth, slightly creamy edge.

citric aciditybarrel oakmineral mineralityherbal and floral

◐ Taste

The palate opens with sharp, zesty sourness that quickly rounds into a smooth, mineral-driven mouthfeel. Mid-palate reveals delicate oak tannins and a warming alcohol backbone, while the finish remains crisp and refreshing without harsh edges. The wild fermentation adds complexity without overwhelming the refined barrel integration.

zesty soursmooth mineralrefined oakclean dry finish

◑ Finish

Dry and lingering, with persistent tartness giving way to minerality and the ghost of barrel character. The alcohol warmth fades gracefully, leaving an inviting, food-friendly dryness.

dry persistentmineral aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
85
Appearance
80
Finish
82
Serve at 6–9°C

Serve at 6–9°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with Something Unfamiliar

More from Cloudwater Brew Co

4" Door Hinge
4" Door Hinge
IPA
7%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →
A Sound Unseen
A Sound Unseen
Fruited Sour
4.5%·Mild
Find matches →
Aleph 1
Aleph 1
Pale Ale
5%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
An Embrace
An Embrace
Sour Ale
5.5%·Mild
Find matches →
As Shadows Lengthen
As Shadows Lengthen
Red IPA
5.8%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →
Bird Of A Thousand Voices
Bird On A Swing
Bird On A Swing
Baltic Porter
8%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Bits From The Hong!
Bits From The Hong!
IPA
6.5%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →

About Sour Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Sour Ale?

Sour Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Sour Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same sour, smooth, mineral character as Something Unfamiliar will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Sour Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse United Kingdom beers →