Lindemans Framboise - Brouwerij Lindemans

Dope

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Old bottle. Not sure how old, probably 2 years at least. Hopefully it's still good.

A: Pours a vibrant red with a decently large dense pink head. Fades at a moderate pace with pretty good head retention. Surprisingly decent lacing to boot.

S: Raspberries, raspberries, raspberries with a hint of raspberries. Super sweet and strong raspberries. Like raspberry syrup.

T: Sweet raspberry syrupy with just brief hint of tartness that kicks in in the middle. Not unlike drinking pure raspberry juice, but even sweeter.

M: Medium bodied, which is crazy for a 2.5% beer.

O: Well, it's a very simple and sweet lambic. Pure raspberries with lots of sugar. Just a tiny hint of tartness for a brief moment, otherwise it's just raspberry juice. Problem is, I love raspberries and this is oddly delicious. And it gets you drunk (well, after a long time I guess, at only 2.5%). How can you go wrong?

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 05:06:52 | More by Dope

JoshuaB

1.08/5  rDev -72.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Hated this beer and I'm utterly confused about the raves for it - it had exactly the appearance, taste, smell, and mouthfeel of cherry Sprite to me, and nearly the same alcohol content. It was overly carbonated, despite nearly no head, tasted like artificial fruit flavoring, and cost $9 for 12oz. Tasted nothing like I was expecting from previous experience with lambics, because I didn't realize "Framboise" meant "Raspberry," or I would have skipped it. Total waste of money, easily the worst beer I've had yet.

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2012 13:04:42 | More by JoshuaB

tectactoe

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This was my first lambic style beer, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Bottle was corked, capped, and wrapped in purple foil - quite the seal. Pours a deep ruby red, nearly purple in color. The head is a big, thick shade of fuchsia and lasts for a long while thanks to the volatile nature of the brew. Intense raspberry aroma with other berry notes tossed in. Very sour, tart, and perfume like for the aroma, almost tickles the nose. The taste is really something - enormous raspberry sweetness, very sweet and tart, almost a candy-like sweetness (think jolly ranchers, nerds, etc). The fruitiness tastes authentic, no medicinal or chalky flavors to be found. Despite the high level of tartness and "pucker" to the beer, it isn't cloying or syrupy or sticky. It's more juice-like - thin and crisp with high carbonation. Some alcohol is very lightly detectable on the back of the tongue (funny, because it's so low ABV, but it's definitely there). No bitterness, but I don't really think that's what this style is all about.

I normally don't like "fruit beers" but this really isn't a fruit beer.... It's a lambic. And now that I've had a lambic, I can definitely detect the difference. Though this lambic is more fruity heavy, sweet, and tart than fruit beers I've had, the fruit is much more authentic, inviting, and welcomed. The mouthfeel is better and the sweetness is refreshing, rather than sickening and overwhelming. This was my first lambic and I really enjoyed it - something nice to drink early in the day or when you need something dessert-like and quenching. I will definitely be seeking out more of this type in the future (lambics, gueuzes, sours).

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 02:59:01 | More by tectactoe

harrymel

Washington

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

bottled: whateve

Pours a dark, ruby and beautiful pink foam atop. Smells of raspberries, nice deep raspy smells. I really like the flavor of raspberries and slightly tart with plenty of juicy character and fruit finish. Light syrup with some viscosity that helps the fruit stick around. Nice beer. Exactly as it intends.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 05:49:31 | More by harrymel

ckollias

Maryland

4.48/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed this bottle out of a standard pint glass.

A: Pours a red-marron 2finger pink hue that slowly dissipates leaving a good trail and solid lace.

S: Extremely fruity – mostly raspberry and berry.

T: Overpowering fruity flavor – very sweet and tart raspberry flavor.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: Amazing Lambic – delicious.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 03:34:52 | More by ckollias

axeman9182

New Jersey

3.15/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

750 mL bottle taken home from Belgian Beer Fest. I split it with my cousin and poured my half into my Brooklyn Breery tulip.

Lindemans Framboise pours a deep maroon, with two fingers of brilliantly pink foam capping the beer. head retention is just average, and there's little lacing left behind. The nose is the definition of a raspberry bomb. Nothing but fruit aromas coming out of the glass. It's nice and all, but it's just a little too one note for my taste. The flavor doesn't offer any more complexity, it's nothing but wave after wave of sweet raspberries. It's really missing the funky aspect to most framboises that lend them most of their depth. The initial impression is nice, but after a few sips of all that sweetness I find myself craving there to be something more to it. The body isn't dry enough as far as I'm concerned, though the carbonation has a nice effervescence to it. I don't mind Lindemans Framboise as an after dinner pairing with dessert (it goes very nicely with cheesecake), but standing on its own as a beer it just doesn't hold a candle to the more traditional interpretations of the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 04:00:39 | More by axeman9182

Mavigo

Michigan

4.45/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this before, tis very good. Poured into a tall kitchen glass, guess you could call it a stange.

Had it again, a 4 year vintage from my basement.

A: A dark crimson red with a short pink, frothy head that dissipated quickly with not much lacing

S: smells like raspberries, cranberries, can basically expect it to be tart/sour

T: and it is tart/sour but its refreshing, very fruity, mostly gives me the taste of raspberries

M: very refreshing, good amounts of carbonation, not overdone.

O: Overall, I'm a fruity person, especially a berry person, which is why this beer is so appealing to me, but I feel it's a must try even though it can be a little bit on the expensive side.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 01:02:41 | More by Mavigo

darktower

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

More sweet than sour. Definitely an after dinner beer that goes very nicely with a fruit-based dessert (like strawberry shortcake!). I've had it both on tap and from the bottle, not much difference to me. I like the sweetness that doesn't taste fake but I can only drink 2 or 3 before the sweetness becomes overwhelming. Seems to have an above average amount of carbonation, which I enjoy, but doesn't feel like it's too much. Overall a very good interpretation of a sweet raspberry lambic, hence the reason it's one of the most popular and easy to find ones as well.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 19:34:36 | More by darktower

robertgurley

New York

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Served from a 750mL bottle into a tulip glass.

Extremely bright ruby red, light carbonation and overpoweringly wonderful aroma of raspberries and... apples?

Quite sweet, but sour enough that it doesn't seem cloying. I would have liked a higher ABV for a beer of this type.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 02:16:07 | More by robertgurley

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +28.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is getting out of control! Between fruit and bottles, people are beginning to talk. Well, let 'em, because The CANQuest (TM) is ramping back up.

From the bottle: "Lindemans Framboise is a lambic made from local barley, unmalted wheat, and wild yeast. After spontaneous fermentation[,] raspberries are added, creating a secondary fermentation and yielding a beer of exceptional flavor and complexity."

This is probably one of the most beautiful beers that I have ever encountered! It pours with a lovely finger of fuchsia head with great retention. Color is a pretty beet-red with NE-quality clarity. Nose smells of real raspberries, not esters developed in a laboratory. Raspberries have an inherent tartness that imparts itself well in both beer and wine. This smell reminded me of my late paternal grandmother's backyard red raspberry bush that yielded wonderful fruit when I was growing up. Mouthfeel was soft, bubbly and the fruit flavor was tremendous! I could close my eyes and imagine having pie or preserves. The tartness was a welcome treat on a hot, humid summer afternoon, quenching any existing thirst. Finish was tart, raspberry and simply delicious. I would not recommend an entire bottle by yourself, but shared or a glass on-tap is phenomenal. I have seen it used to tremendous success in foods, especially desserts. This is simply a wonderful fruit beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 17:59:00 | More by woodychandler

mdfb79

New York

4.18/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From 07/27/12 notes. I've actually never had this one and saw it on tap at Rattle n Hum so figured I should try it.

a - Pours a deep, dark pink purple color with one inch of raspberry colored head and moderate carbonation evident. Looks awesome.

s - Smells of a ton of raspberries and dark fruits , lightly sour, sweet fruity malts, yeast, and some light spice. Very nice and very sweet.

t - Tastes of a sour-sweet raspberry overload. Tons of sweet raspberries and other dark fruits, some Belgian yeast, spice, and fruity malts. Kind of like hard raspberry juice.

m - Medium body and low carbonation. Body is super smooth and very easy to drink. Great mouthfeel.

o - Overall I liked this beer a lit. Unlike a lot of sours and Belgian lambics, this one is really not that sour, and is very sweet. Reminds me of sweet raspberry juice that is syrup based. That being said, I still really enjyoed it, and would definitely have it again. If you like sweet fruity beers it is great, but if you're looking for a sour beer this isn't it.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2012 21:15:11 | More by mdfb79

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

4.03/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a small bottle into a proper Lindemans glass. Color is clear and dark reddish-amber with a really fine, tight pinkish-white head that leaves some outstanding lacing on the sides of the glass. The nose has some strong raspberry notes. They hit me hard the moment the cork was out of the bottle. I don't get any funk or barnyard notes as the nose is incredibly sweet - almost like raspberry pancake syrup. I can almost taste it just from the nose.

The mouthfeel is firm and lively from high carbonation and the flavor is super intense. There's a slight wheaty graininess that supports sweet and tart fruity flavors. The sweetness and the tartness are wonderfully balanced, with the sweetness coming out just a bit ahead and lending a bubble-gum like flavor. In the back of the palate, the flavors get a little woody and the tartness starts to take over, leading to a fairly acidic, mouth-drying finish. As the beer warms, the sourness becomes a little more assertive.

I have had this beer a few times over the years and finally got around to reviewing it. It might not appeal to fans of super sour lambics (or people for whom availability equals mediocrity), but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a marvelous mid-afternoon treat on a hot Saturday afternoon.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 19:23:23 | More by deadonhisfeet

Scotchboy

Idaho

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

375ml capped, corked and foiled bottle split into wine glasses with the wife.

A: Nearly opaque red body with pink filmy lacing and a quickly dissipating head. Elegant.

S: Tons of raspberry character, with some sweets berries underneath...blackberry, cherry. Smells like fruit juice, practically no malt detectable with the faintest of yeast esters. Minimal tartness.

T: Follows the nose perfectly, this is raspberry fruit juice. Sweet but not overly...modest tartness, there is a deep fruitiness that reveals hints of other fruits like cherries and apples.

MF: Creamy light body, semi-active carbonation...tart feel with dryness on the finish.

O: Its fruit juice. If thats what you like, then you'll like this. Of course, @ 2.5% abv I'm wondering how the other Lindemans taste, as this is the lowest abv lambic I've seen. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 14:44:09 | More by Scotchboy

120minuteman

4.38/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A waiter delivered this beer by mistake to me at a restaurant, and boy was I pleasantly surpised!

A-a medium-dark red, similar in appearance to cranberry juice with just a dash of purple.

S-similar in odor to an oceanspray juice, but not as potent. Small wafts of cherry and rasberry were present as well.

T-I felt like I just popped a jolly rancher into my mouth because boy did this beer taste like candy. It's rasberry and cranberry flavors immersed my mouth in sweet and sour goodness that at no point felt overwhelming.

M-this beer took my tongue on a jumping and fizzy journey down a long road; i.e., its deliscious taste lasts for a while

O-I've been looking for a good sour for a while, and I think I've found my match. Definitely a beer I hope to repeat again...very, very soon.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 00:21:19 | More by 120minuteman

Alkey

Pennsylvania

4.73/5  rDev +21.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a dark ruby almost purple color with a bit over a finger of reddish pink head. Powerful aroma of fresh raspberries. Taste very smooth and creamy with lots of very tart raspberry flavor, maybe a hint of wheat beer up front but quickly turning tart and a little sourness. Overall this is one of the best fruit beers I've ever had and will continue to enjoy it and the many other flavors Lindemans serve.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 03:36:03 | More by Alkey

Maxwell

Massachusetts

3.28/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a deep dark ruby pink with a thick pink head that lasts awhile. Carbonation seems nice, and lacing is thin and frothy with a quick slide down the glass. It smells almost like fruit punch, with nice sour raspberry waftings. It tastes almost like a raspberry soda, very sour and tart, with the crisp bite that you get from eating a raspberry. The “framboise” is ever present in this beer. I taste no hops, and few malts. This is mostly just raspberry. Its mouthfeel is harsh and tart, giving the mouth a cringing feeling and leaving a very sweetly tart after taste, almost as if I had eaten a Sweettart… Overall it is sweet and fruity and sour, and actually easily drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 00:57:21 | More by Maxwell

SmashPants

Australia

4.4/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle: great, funky dark green 375mL bottle, reasonable (but a bit tacky) label, corked and capped.

Appearance: awesome lambic colours - deep purple-red with a thick, frothy pink head with good retention and lacing

Aroma: very interesting. Ripened red raspberries with a sour twist and a touch of light, pleasant yeast. A touch too sweet for me, but in keeping with the style.

Taste: nice sweet raspberries again, but met by a wonderful tartness and bitterness that whets the palate. Delicious, and so different!

Aftertaste: the whetting of the palate makes the mouth salivate, redoovering the taste. Very nice indeedy :)

Mouth feel: very up-front carbonation, brings the raspberry across with a whack. Medium body suits it perfectly.

Overall: very interesting. Fantastic for something a little different every now and then. I'm not a sweet tooth kind of person, but I like this - enough tartness mixed in to compliment the sweet flavours.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 10:33:31 | More by SmashPants

BigPlay1824

New York

4.65/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed in a wine glass

A: pours a beautiful velvet red color that is pretty hazy and has a small amount of carbonation bubbles present, pours with two fingers of nice dark pink colored head that looks like whipped topping of some sort with large fluffy bubbles which dissipates decently quickly before leaving a nice amount of lacing on the glass
S: a really nice yet intense scent with great raspberry character and a slight sting to it, tart, reminds me of raspberry sorbet from an Italian ice cart in a park on a warm summer day
T: really wonderfully complex, begins with a great tart character on the tip of the tongue, great raspberry notes, really nice sweetness gets left on the lips and sticks in the front of the mouth long after the liquid falls off he back of the palate. leaves a great fresh picked raspberry taste on the mouth
M: stings the tongue up front with carbonation as soon as it hits the palate but it goes away quickly enough, drinks kind of fluffy like an aerated drink (carbonated but without the overall fizz), leaves the mouth pretty clean and just slightly dry
O: just as i had anticipated, this is a phenomenal representation of the style, the raspberry notes really hit clear and fresh, really wonderfully drinkable, another instant hit from lindemans

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 00:46:55 | More by BigPlay1824

N3rdM3t4l

Oregon

3.28/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

750ml green glass bottle foiled, capped, and corked poured into 8oz glass.

A: a finger of pink head that sticks around forever and leaves excellent lacing. Dark pink and pretty clear. I won't lie this head is wonderful.

S: Tart berries and that is about it. Smells good. Not really beer scented though. Couldn't for the life of me pick out any grain, yeast, or hops aroma.

T: Again not very beer like in flavor but the raspberry is good. Can't find the hops but the balance they bring to the syrup sweetness is much appreciated. Otherwise it would be cloying. A bit of tart and a bit of sweet, just like a raspberry.

M: Light but not watery. With a good amount of fizz almost like a champagne. Feels good.

O: Would be really good with a brunch or as dessert (which is when I am drinking it). The low ABV makes it a safe one to drink too much of which is easy to do. All around good brew, this is the second bottle I have gotten and will keep going back to it. Like a grow-up soda.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 05:50:18 | More by N3rdM3t4l

tdm168

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a Lindemans flute

A - pours a deep ruby amber with a huge cap of strawberry head that's dense and thick. Great retention.

S - huge raspberries, a bit tart, a bit sour

T - tart, sugary, huge raspberries, syrupy, a bit sour

M - mouth puckering, syrupy, medium bodied, tart, well carbonated

This is my first true lambic so I'm not sure what I've gotten myself into. It's a bit syrupy and sugary for my liking. I love the tart, fruity, sour characteristics. Ultimately, I enjoyed this, but I'm unsure of how sticky and sugary they're meant to be. I wouldn't turn this down in the future.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 22:59:29 | More by tdm168

Kadonny

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 750 bottle into small tasting glasses.

A: A ruby red color with a one finger slightly reddish head. Bubbles are large and tingly.

S: Raspberries for sure and lots of them. A bit of yeast and some sweetness. It's like smelling a bowl of raspberry syrup.

T: Of course the huge raspberry flavor is the main flavor that comes out, but it mixes with some cherry and some yeasty flavors that let you know it's a beer. It feels and looks very champagne like (except the color) and drinks very much like champagne with the bubbly head and light body. Sweetness is in the background and the flavor actually turns tart and finishes tart. Not bad.

M: Light, clean, bubbly but a little thin.

O: I'm not the hugest fruit/lambic fan, but this one is not bad to have a small glass after dinner, I enjoyed it.

I can't believe it took me thing long to try this beer but I'm glad I finally did. Nice.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 14:00:27 | More by Kadonny

SirPils

4.75/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a Bordeaux wine glass

Appearance: Pours a deep red wine color, with minimal head an lacing. Wonderful color.

Smell: Obvious raspberry with a slight hint of yeasty note, smells more like champagne than beer

Taste: Like a raspberry soda with a hint of yeast and black cherry. More sparkling wine-like than beer. For a fruit beer it is more fruit than anything else, but not cloyingly sweet in any way. Wonderful balance between carbonation and flavor.

Mouthfeel: Not overly syrupy, but not watery either. A nice balance with a bit of a bite in the finish.

Overall: This is the fruit lambic that introduced me to the Lambic style. A very drinkable beverage that could easily stand in for a mimosa on Sunday brunch.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 17:49:18 | More by SirPils

gaugebozo

New York

4.45/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

So I'm going to be honest here. I don't think this is amazing as a beer, maybe a 3.5. However, as an easy drinking alcoholic beverage, it is amazing. It is a beautiful dark garnet red, it smells like you crushed a bunch of raspberries in front your nose right before you put them in your mouth, and it's not watery (like most similar beverages). Very much like raspberry champagne. On top of this, there's a pleasant tartness to balance the sweetness (but it's still pretty sweet). If you appreciate fruity beers, I would strongly suggest this.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 02:07:52 | More by gaugebozo

BostonHops

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

355ml corked/capped bottle served in a snifter glass.

pours an opaque, reddish-purple tone with a solid two fingers of a thin pink head that somewhat quickly lapses into a collar around the glass, though a lasting cap is noted. pretty walls of pink lacing.

nose is replete with rasberries, not going out on a limb there. maybe a subdued note of funk.

as expected, taste follows through with straight rasberry domination; a touch of yeast in the background, maybe a muted floral suggestion. sweet (comes close to being too sweet) and rasberry tart. it works, however; pretty tasty. much better than i was expecting, although i should mention that this is a style i'm just getting more into (1st lambic review). that said, i'm pleasantly surprised.

light to medium-bodied with average carbonation; smooth and crisp. almost more of a dessert type of beer that you might revisit from time to time but IMO wouldn't want more than one at a sitting, despite the low ABV.

original review on: 10-14-2010

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2012 01:17:52 | More by BostonHops

CrazyDavros

Australia

3.65/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours dark red with a light mauve head.
Nose shows raspberries and little else. Pretty one-dimensional but nice. Pretty much like sticking your nose in a jar of raspberry jam.
Flavours are better, showing some funky notes and a refreshing acidic bite in the finish. Still dominated by raspberry. A bit too sweet for me.
Nice high carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 02:14:50 | More by CrazyDavros