Säuerliche

Säuerliche is the inflected form of the German adjective säuerlich, meaning sourish, tart, or acidic in flavor, aroma, or smell. It is used to describe sensory impressions that evoke sourness, often arising from acids or fermentation. In gastronomy, winemaking, brewing, and perfumery, säuerliche notes contribute contrast and balance alongside sweet, bitter, or salty components.

Grammatically, säuerliche is an attributive adjective that agrees with the noun it modifies. For example: eine säuerliche Note (feminine singular), säuerliche Noten (plural); ein säuerlicher Geschmack; ein säuerliches Aroma. The form changes with gender and number according to standard German adjective declension.

Common contexts include wine with a crisp, citrusy character, fruit, yogurt, certain cheeses, pickled vegetables, and sour beer. The term does not describe a technical acidity level by itself; rather it conveys a perceived sourness that may derive from organic acids such as citric or lactic acid, or fermentation byproducts.

Derivation and related terms: säuerlich derives from sauer (sour) with the suffix -lich. Related nouns include Säuerlichkeit (sourness or acidity), Säure (acid), and Säuregehalt (acid content).