Our Score: 82/100
River North Brewery Quandary: An Unassuming Brew With a Punch
Indeed, don’t let the straightforward, unassuming label of River North Brewery’s Quandary fool you, for beneath the surface lies an intricate symphony of flavors, each one a wave in the ocean of this enticing brew. The craft brewers clearly took a lot of care to produce this masterpiece, promising “Sweet malt notes meld with dark fruit esters to hide this brew’s strength.” The result is something adaptive and unexpectedly complex.
The Flavor Profile
The fickle dance of flavors really shines through. Quandary offers a moderate sweet caramel malt, which soon surrenders to the onslaught of flavors that are much harder to pin down. The almost kaleidoscopic taste set includes green apple, raisin, date, and pear notes, all providing a warm welcoming into the flavor profile of the brew. Underneath this lies a slight astringency which gives a pleasant tartness to the dry finish. You are greeted with a bright and citrusy vibe upfront almost akin to grapefruit-like notes.
You can detect a slight phenolic, plastic-like character, with a mild alcohol note playing peek-a-boo towards the end of each tasting experience. For the most part, the entire drink is swooping smooth, making it a delight on any palate. The aftertaste is a slight callback to the alcohol and diminishes quite swiftly, making room for the next sip.
A Visual & Aromatic Dive
In terms of appearance, the Quandary makes for quite a spectacle with a score of 3 (on a scale of 5), giving it a visual appeal that is fairly attractive.
The aroma serves as a perfect audible to the main act, scoring a perfect 10. It’s a mix of fruity esters that totally preoccupy the nose. Hints of green apple, pear, prune, plum, and raisin make up this fine concoction. There is a subtle caramel malt sweetness but it is largely dominated by the hovering fruit notes. Some earthy floral character can also be picked up on a well-trained nose, with high phenolics as well but no trace of alcohol or hops notes, adding to the subtlety of its aromatic profile.
Wrapping it up
Completing the multisensory experience, the mouthfeel holds its ground, scoring a respectable 3. The combination of the high carbonation levels and medium body provide a beautifully smooth texture, effectively concealing the alcohol profile. This brew manages to give you a slight sweetness up front but finishes up dry.
In conclusion, River North Brewery’s Quandary clocks in at a solid 82 out of 100. It’s an interesting brew that starts sweet, finishes dry, and throughout, is dominated by hints of dark fruit and citrus. The alcohol is subdued and balanced, although the slightly dry finish and an underpinning of astringency may affect the overall score. However, regardless of the more discerning palates, this fills in nicely as your next potential favorite brew.
I couldn’t agree more with this review! I also found River North Brewery’s Quandary to be a surprise in terms of flavor and complexity. The mix of sweet and tart notes creates a truly unique taste experience. This brew definitely deserves its impressive score of 82/100.
“River North Brewery’s Quandary is a masterfully crafted brew, with a complex flavor profile that offers a surprising blend of sweet and tart notes. Don’t be fooled by its unassuming label, this brew packs a punch and is a must-try for any beer enthusiast.”