Reviews by BlueFeetAndBeer:4/5 rDev +1.8%BlueFeetAndBeer, Jan 25, 2013More User Reviews:3.97/5 rDev +1%look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4Appearance  Burgundy brown in color with a very nice, retentive off-white head that went down cleanly.
Drinkability  This can be a harsh style to drink, but the Vichtenaar was mellow and easy going. Im partial to black cherries so really enjoyed this offering from Verhaeghe. (745 characters)RoyalT, Dec 31, 20044.3/5 rDev +9.4%look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5Enjoyed at Monks, in a side by side comparison to Monks Flemish Red Ale. Extremely tall head after the pour, which quickly dissipated leaving only the sweet/sour very slightly vinegary smell of a good Flemish Red. Taste is fairly similar to the Monks beer, but not quite as sweet and with less of a presence of fruit. In my opinion probably the best sweet/tart ratio of any of the sour beers. Doesn't have as strong of a vinegar taste as say a Rodenbach gives off, but does have some cider vinegar present. As previous reviewers have mentioned it could stand to be more sour, and is definitely lacking in intensity compared to a Rodenbach or some of the lambics. Still, a very tasty beer and definitely recommended to anyone who cares for Flemish Reds. (752 characters)punkindrublic50, Jun 18, 20083.75/5 rDev -4.6%baloubao, Dec 28, 20124.1/5 rDev +4.3%look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5amber/garnet/brown body, great color. rich aromas, smells of BBQ sauce, tart acidity. creamy and soft palate in the mouth. BBQ'ed meat comes through, lite acidity, nice balanced malt profile. tame wild yeast flavors/aromas. very approachable, very drinkable for a flanders red. great food beer. (294 characters)kaimcm, Apr 14, 20063.75/5 rDev -4.6%Satyr179, Mar 09, 20133.48/5 rDev -11.5%look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.511.2 oz bottle, best by 12/27/08. Pours a dark reddish brown with a creamy off white head that retains well and laces the glass.The aroma is sour tart fruits and wood with some bready/biscuity malt in the background and maybe a little oxidization.The flavor is tart and sour fruits that are offset by some chocolate malt, wood, sweet sugar and dates. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and a little watery.Overall, an OK sour, that's a bit pricey. There's some sourness but I don't think it blends really well with the other flavors. (535 characters)Beaver13, Jan 14, 20094.47/5 rDev +13.7%look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5Appearance - clear, reddish amber color with a decent off-white head that sticks around, leaving nice lacing along the glassware after each successive sip.Smell - Balsemic Vinegarrete, green apples, vinegar, tartness, yet sweet, grapes, ...very complex.Taste - More balsemic vinegarette, and a wide array of fruits from cherries to tart green apples, to raspberries. Sweet and tart but nothing overpowering. I love the Duchesse but this beer is definitely a tad bit better and a lot more easy drinking than it's cousin. Mouthfeel - Dry finish, tart, not overly carbonated, medium bodied.Drinkability - Such a delicious and complex beer and @ only 5.1% abv, I could enjoy a few of these very easily. This beer surprised me because I thought the Duchesse was the cream of the crop when it came to Sour Red Flemish Ales, but I actually enjoy this one more. SUPERB. (869 characters)Doomcifer, Oct 15, 20074.5/5 rDev +14.5%Guden, Jan 23, 20124.08/5 rDev +3.8%look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 411.2 oz brown bottle purchased for $2.85 at Wines of Distinction, Abingdon, Virginia. Pours into a tulip glass a clear, dark, ruby/brown body with a 3cm beige head that is long lasting. Exquisite, sheets of lace adorn the glass.
A very nice Flemish ale. Not overly sweet, and a most enjoyable sipper. Reminiscent of a fine sherry in texture, at times, but more like a Lambic fruit ale in taste. (835 characters)merlin48, Aug 09, 20044.12/5 rDev +4.8%look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4Another "volunteer's booty" bottle from ASN's big Belgian fest, 11.2 ouncer, with best before dating. Pours w/ next to no head and minimal lacing. Noisy pour, pretty clear, slightly reddish amber liquid, nose of light cola, cherries and other tart fruits. Tasty, tart Flemish ale. Crisp and tasty, fine example of the style. Woody sour cherry notes. Fruity and quite drinkable. Sophisticated, civilized and complex achievement in brewing. Well worth seeking out and enjoying with some stinky cheese, nuts and fruits. (516 characters)Billolick, Mar 26, 20063.97/5 rDev +1%look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4Appearance: reddish/brown, small head, small carbonation, clearSmell: little oak, big sour fruits, granny smith appleTaste: I think it matches the smellMouthfeel: this one plays nice on the palatte--going between a little sour and a little sweet--can feel the carbonation on the tongueDrinkability:coming off of Duchesse and Echte Kriek this one does not touch the same sour tones--although I do like it..A fine example of the style, I will look for it again (466 characters)tigg924, Mar 30, 20094/5 rDev +1.8%Janeinma, Sep 17, 20134.25/5 rDev +8.1%look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25L: Pours deep reddish brown burgundy color under a ½”pale tan head with heterogeneous bubbles S: sour, fruit, cherry, malt, red fruit, vanilla, no hops aromas T: Crosses the palate with brown sugar, fruit, sour, lingering sweet finish, but not cloying, cherry, slight vanilla. sour acidic character balances the malt and sweet fruitiness, hops are not apparent. F: medium body, highly carbonated O: Complex and sour – just a touch too sweet but pleasant and drinkable. (474 characters)pat61, Aug 17, 20154.1/5 rDev +4.3%look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25stephenlee, Jun 27, 20152.5/5 rDev -36.4%juicebox, Dec 07, 20143.48/5 rDev -11.5%look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5Balsamic, red meat. blood, butter menthol. Intersting, sour cherries, chocolate malt, vineagr. the only thing i don't like about it, is the unpleasant butter menthol undertones, which is found in their Noel, some minerally notes aswell. All round, a pretty nice beer. (267 characters)rastaman, Sep 25, 20034/5 rDev +1.8%look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4At first I'm thinking more along the lines of an Oud Bruin, but it turns out to be exactly what the back of the bottle claims: a [West-Flemish] red-brown ale. It's first evidenced in the color, being a dark brown but with a red tint. It forms a creamy, not rocky but plenty dense tan head that just sits there after rising to one finger in height. Lacing is patchy and gets sparse, though not very.One has to know what to expect going into this one; it distinguishes itself with a sharper, more prominent vinegar presence than many I've had. The impression is very much apple cider vinegar with a red wine element and a bit of "oaky" dryness. A sturdy malt backbone keeps it together as well as adding balance to the sourness and the bite. While there are others more complex, this one does have complexity and really holds together well.Carbonation is lively and nippy while not biting, but does make it both crisp and smooth. (929 characters)Brenden, Aug 27, 20123.5/5 rDev -10.9%JasonSiedman, Sep 11, 20124.52/5 rDev +15%look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5ahh its sour day at the old homestead:Poured into a tulip/triple glass at 45f Nice dark ruddy brown, and about 1/4 head that did not last very long , its oak aged and that is what its supposed to do.Tart and wine like sour blackberry's. Sharp malt and yeast bite. as it warms i get a sour apple notetaste like a oaked aged red wine but more sour. Love the apple/cheery/currents like blend very nice and complex, with the yeast and malt it balances out perfectly in the STYLE. its like a duchesse but more sour.Buttery blend.low carb, as its Oak aged, medium to thin bodyeasy to drink paired, with some cheese, we choose a triple cheese brie, its just heaven in a bottle.One has to have the taste buds for the style of beer. NOT a beer for the non belgain yeast and oak aged, red wine lover. (802 characters)azorie, Aug 11, 20104.2/5 rDev +6.9%look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4This beer was part of the Michael Jackson Flemish Sour beer dinner at Monk's Cafe this past Sunday. I believe this one was served on tap. This beer came in a wine glass with nice deep ruby body and good lacing down the glass. The nose of this beer is a very vital cherry smell with some other fruit notes. The taste is sour cheeries and good carbonation, crisp. I really enjoy this beer and with a medium body is a very drinkable red ale. I went back for seconds. (463 characters)ggaughan, Mar 24, 20064.25/5 rDev +8.1%seavercm, Sep 11, 20144.08/5 rDev +3.8%look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4Poured into a Duvel tulip. My last bottle of the 4-pack and I realized a bit ago that I hadn't reviewed it, so here goes.
Appearance: An off white and foamy head that quickly dissipates but stays at about 1/2" due to the crazy amount of bubbles floating up toward the top. The body is an extremely dark and attractive amber, and there are certain concentrated spots of huge and clunky lacing residing on the glass. Smell: Sour apples, apple skin, cherries, and of course yes there's a lot of sourness. And I love the fact that the aroma's almost over overripe or rotting fruit, something powerful and sweet without being to the point of sickly sweet. There's a healthy dose of sweet malt in their too, also some woodiness. Taste: What this is lacking is the puckering sweet and sour long finish. There is indeed a finish, but it comes and goes unfortunately. All the flavor, and it's up there, comes in the middle, and then it kind of fades. But it's powerful enough that with sipping and holding out a while until you finish the brew, it's lip smacking for sure. The malt and sweetness isn't too much, and it's pretty balanced with the sourness and ripe fruit factors. A long finish would boost this rating up for sure. Mouthfeel: Lots of carbonation and effervescence to make it, by the finish, feel fairly full without it being too crazy or harsh on the palate with the carbonation. One of the things I love about a good version of the style indeed. Drinkability: I love this style for probably too many reasons I can't explain. This is a more than solid version of it I'd say, even though I certainly need to have more in the future without a doubt. (1,672 characters)asabreed, Jun 02, 20063.75/5 rDev -4.6%magnificent70s, May 29, 20143.3/5 rDev -16%mattfancett, Sep 03, 2014