Marg Monday (Tequila Barrel Aged Sour Ale) Review

Marg Monday: one part tantalizingly tart sour ale with lime and sea salt, one part well-seasoned tequila barrels. The result is a refreshingly layered concoction brimming with notes of fruity tequila, mellow oak, bright citrus, and palate-cleansing salinity. So good, even Garfield will start loving Mondays.

Vintage: 2019
Months Aged: 6
Cultures: Mixed culture with Saccharomyces, house Brettanomyces and house Lactobacillus blend.

Marg Monday has its own cult following. Talk us through the journey from limited draft-only offering to its bottle debut.

This beer has a storied past. Luke [Cole, Barrel Master] and I were discussing the possibility of doing this years ago while sipping on margaritas. The whole concept hinged on our ability to procure Tequila barrels, and Luke executed that plan to perfection. The beer started just by infusing some Peach Dodo with lime and salt then aging in Tequila barrels. Now this is a full-blown Outer Reaches release, where the beer is infused with a mixture of cultures in the barrel/sour world, they work their magic, the beer is aged in Tequila barrels, then it is bottle carbonated and released for everyone’s enjoyment.

What’s unique about aging beer in Tequila barrels?

You pick up light to moderate Tequila notes as well as vanilla and other secondary barrel characteristics.

What are some other Tequila barrel-aged or cocktail-inspired beers that you really dig?

Fortuna by Avery Brewing is a good one.

What makes you want to drink this beer?

It is a beer that tastes like a margarita!

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Straw in color with moderate haze. High carbonation, head is frothy with low retention.
Aroma: Very lime forward with hints of underlying funk, light notes of vanilla, coconut and Tequila. No malt or hop aroma.
Taste: Medium high acidity, medium salinity, very lime forward with a touch of funk at the end. Notes of vanilla, coconut, spice and Tequila mid-palate. Dry finish. No malt or hop flavor.
Mouthfeel: Light body with some carbonic bite. Little alcohol warmth.
Overall: An easy drinking, complex sour beer that mellows out and really benefits from bottle carbonation and a long souring/aging process.

What foods would pair well with Marg Monday?

Ceviche, tacos or anything that pairs with a margarita.

Ideal glassware for Marg Monday?

Tulip glass is perfect.