This beer crosses a lot of categories: oaked, aged, sour and from a state that looks like a mitten. I picked this 2006 edition of Perseguidor from Ron when I spent an hour with him a year ago, probably my beery highlight of 2007 now that I think of it.

BAer's lavish love - though they lament that the brew is no longer made. Happily wrong, the good people at Beer News explain that Perseguidor is a period release of a blending essentially at Ron's whim. Going by the date, the version I have apparently is Batch 2, a blend of Oro de Calabaza and Bam Biere. That being the case, I should love this beer with a love no other can comprehend. Or at least I will feel bad after it's gone.

Much darker than either Oro or Bam, it pours a lovely bright chestnut with a light beige cream rim and foam. On the first sip it is clear that this is actually Batch 1, a blend of La Roja and Bam Biere. I don't seem to have reviewed La Roja, though I still have a couple simplicitur and even as one small Grand Reserva in the stash. It is incredibly elegant - the lush richness of a Flemish brown given the planky structure of Bam, northwood cousin to sauvignon blanc - each characteristic softened by time. Perhaps the best smelling beer in the history of the nose. Bright with the sweet and spicy apple rice vinegar of the Flemish brown. There is a soft richness in the core despite the modest souring plus something like biting your cheek while eating a green apple.

Wonderful. I thought I would save the bottle after I rinsed but the "2006" on the gold label and half the ink on the main label washed away. Be warned.