In this neck of the woods, O’so Brewing Company is, well, oh-so-famous. I first stumbled into this Plover, Wisconsin brewery in Hudson, Wisconsin, a one-off bottle in a mixed up sixer. It was their porter, it was good and I was impressed. However, the lack of Chicagoland distribution left me wanting more ever since.
Today’s O’so is the Rusty Red. Self described as ‘smooth, malty, rich, bready, balanced, pleasant and harmonious,” this beast has a lot to live up to. Since none of the brewer’s adjectives relate to the appearance of the beer, I’m left to my own devices. It has a tan wisp of a head after a minute or two. The majority of the brew looks like a dirty apple cider, it’s dark orangy-brown and altogether hazy. It smells mostly yeasty, bready, with a tinge of sour nuttiness. Plain, not overly appealing to be honest. That sour nuttiness is forward on the taste. The finish is more cloying than most, dry and that slight sour on the back of my tongue. Unfortunately, I have a checklist of features that this brew should be checking off. Of the aforementioned characteristics, however, bready and perhaps malty, are the only ones that jump out of the glass. The mouthfeel, while not un-smooth, is nothing to brag about and I have had too many good beers to think this one is rich.
I would have loved to love this beer. My first encounter was so positive, but this one I just felt … O’so let down.