Lindemans Faro Lambic - Brouwerij Lindemans

dgilks

Australia

4.13/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear copper colour with a persistent off-white head. Pretty streams of carbonation flow through the glass.

Nicely sweet and sour aroma with some nice funky overtones working their way through the nose.

Good balance between sweet and sour. While I am a fan of really sour traditional lambics and gueuzes, this works for me. I get a strong vinous character with tart grapes, peaches and stonefruit playing a role. The significant sweetness doesn't overpower cutting the sweetness enough to mean that this doesn't have to be a sipper.

Medium bodied with a soft carbonation, this is easy enough to drink. I would probably like it to be a bit thinner but that is hard to do when it has been loaded up with unfermented sugars. A tasy, drinkable beer even if it goes against my penchant for mouth puckering, stupidly sour wild beers.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2009 09:54:44 | More by dgilks

juju7

Australia

4.13/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Looks quite different to a geueze, darker, more caramel in colour. Good solid retentive head.
Nose is not as pungent as I was expecting. A bit of farmhouse sourness and some of the cork too. This is quite reminiscent of fortified wine on the palate. The sweetness feels definitely port like but like a slightly oxidised port perhaps. I'm quite enjoying this. Smooth and pleasant. Low carbonation, long finish. My first faro and I dig it!

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2010 09:30:43 | More by juju7

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

These comments may show me to not have a beerophiles insight into the finer qualities of beer. Oh well. I like this Faro version of Lindeman's Lambics much better than the Geuze, even the Rene. This poured with a nice off white fine foamy head and a little lace. Color is a hazy medium to dark amber. Aroma is yeasty, tart, caramel, toffee, wine. Flavor's very similar. Nice sweet/tart interplay. Great body and carbonation. Finish is like flavor. I really like this beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2010 16:34:47 | More by drpimento

ZeroSignal

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle, no freshness date

A - Pours a mostly clear chestnut brown with a thin head and minimal retention; loose lacing

S - Nose is sweet fruits followed by a big hit of tart sourness. Subtle hint of lemon and fermenting grapes.

T&M - Medium to fuller bodied with light carbonation. Lot's of sweet fruit, cherries, and sugary sweetness. Right behind it is a big hit of sour tart with a lemony edge, and a bit of carbonated grape juice. The sweet/sour combo is interesting. Finish interplays the two with a smack of sugary sweet, but it's the sour that resonates.

D - A tasty and interesting brew. Lot's of flavor at a low ABV; probably to lowest alcohol beer with the most flavor I've had.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2010 02:36:33 | More by ZeroSignal

Donnie2112

Alaska

4.13/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Lindemans flute

Looks like

Smells like: Leather, dark fruit such as cherries and currants, vinegar and some vague sweetness.

tastes like: Sweet and sour, the sweetness is rather generic and vague and the sourness combines with it to remind me of something like very sugary but balanced lemonade, just a hint of blunt bitterness

feels like: Medium carbonation, medium body a very dry finish

It's an easy drinker, lots of fun little nuances, nothing offensive about it. It's my first Faro and I'm interested to taste more of the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2011 10:19:23 | More by Donnie2112

bminor7

New York

4.13/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz from eBI for 5.50.

looks amber fizzy perfectly clear, some lacing

smell soapy funky sugary.

taste sweet, tart, oh this is great. whether good compared to other members of the style, this is addicting. i love sugar more than most people and the sour notes in these lambics are so appealing already...

mouthfeel is very good, thick enough, coating

there's only 7 beers of this type brewed right now according to this site. try whatever one you can get your hands on.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 02:50:22 | More by bminor7

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a stella artois chalice.

A- Pours a very dark brown that looks almost black with a very small head that dissipates immediately. Some small bubbles can be seen around the edges of the glass. Very murky.

S- Has a light smell that is very surgery. Smells very much like candy with some notes of fruit and taffy.

T- Very sweet with a slight taste of fruit and berries. It taste's very strongly of candy and sugar. Some sweet grape like jelly flavor is noticeable as well.

M- Very light feeling with light carbonation. This beer feels very smooth.

O- This is the beer equivalent to candy. Super sweet I could definitely drink this beer for dessert after a hearty meal. Very good. I can't wait to try more beers of this style.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 18:54:05 | More by Zachtheporter

goblet

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

poured this particular one out of a 250 ml bottle into a goblet .

A, a nice copper, amber color to it with little froth almost no carbonation i try to agitate it and got some foam on the walls of the glass . no lacing . it`s well filtered ,clear.

S, i let it warm and then took a good whiff , it`s sweet malt is obvious and sour fruits ,grapes,green apple and flowery hops .

T this is very sweet indeed ,tasty fruit favor yet sour grapes and fresh hops , malt .

M,a sweet pleasant feel almost a lite wine like smoothness ,sweet malty after taste .

D this is a easy beer to drink i`m not disapointed with it`s sweet,yet sour flavor .close to a rose wine although it`s beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2009 16:21:50 | More by goblet

kegger22

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

My first experience with a lambic was not a pleasant one and I didn't expect to ever try another. But, on the advice of a friend, I gave Lindemans Faro Lambic a try and was happily rewarded.

This lambic poured a dusty rose blush with a delicate light beige head that faded to a collar.

The aroma was sweet, but otherwise inoffensive.

The taste was a balance of sweet grapes and sour apples. Not fancy but it was flavorful. Faro lambic tasted similar to a sweet dessert wine.

The mouth feel was light bodied, a bit oily and low carbonation.

Drinkability was good with a great taste and low ABV, but despite that, not good enough to justify buying again at eight and a half bucks a 12 oz bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2010 03:55:52 | More by kegger22

jedwards

Rhode Island

4.1/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Brought back with me from a recent visit to Washington. Haven't seen this in New England yet.

Pour is light and coppery, with a thin foamy white head that rapidly dissipates. Smell is classic lambic, very similar to the Cuvee Rene -- slight citric tartness, grassy notes, a little peach/apricot in the finish. Taste starts off with lactic tartness, accented by the ample carbonation, and gives way to a sweet starchy fruit flavor and a slightly funky finish. High carbonation and thin body make this almost soda-like. Drinkability is almost off the charts for me -- I'm not typically a fan of sweet beers, but the sweet/sour balance in this is just right and the sugar is not at all cloying or saccharine. I know it'll never happen... but it would be pretty great to get this in cans for the summer.

My first and likely only (for awhile) faro. My assumption is that Lindeman's pasteurizes it like their fruit beers, which would be the only way of stopping the flora from consuming the sugar and blowing up the bottle. Not a true faro, but I'm glad to have tried it.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2010 01:44:26 | More by jedwards

SaCkErZ9

Florida

4.1/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Dispensed from a 12oz bottle into a cylindrical glass. Emerges clear and dark in color, kind of like unsweetened tea. The beer is topped with a stark white and frothy head of about three fingers in size. Not much to speak of in the way of lacing.

Aroma is tart and sour, lemony and slightly fruity. It really has a distinct sourness; I assume that is the yeast speaking.

Sweet up front. Really sweet. Due to the high carbonation, the sweetness isnt sickly sweet or cloying. I kind of like it. There is a sourness and lemon-rind quality underneath but the raw sugarl-like sweetness hits the tongue immediately.

I know it is oxymoronic, but this beer is sweet and sour at the same time, and niether characteristic overtakes the other, but balance and complement each other. Completely drinkable and very pleasant. Finishes dry but with a bit of sugary oiliness on the tongue. I really liked this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2010 20:25:41 | More by SaCkErZ9

WesWes

New York

4.1/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a dark amber/brown color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a nice crystal malt and candy sugar scent along with a mild lambic yeast sourness. The taste is good as well. It has a pleasant pale and crystal malt flavor and with a sweet candi sugar character. It goes down smooth with a mild sour finish. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a medium bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is an easier "lambic" beer to swallow for those who don't care for the more sour, traditional versions. The candy sugar adds just enough sweetener to make it more accesible.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2010 22:26:29 | More by WesWes

thekevlarkid

Maryland

4.1/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Out of a bottle this beer was a perfectly clear, light copper color with a light, beige head. The retention of the head as a skim was fine and it left decent lacing. The aroma was of wild yeast, must and earth, sweet fruit and berries. The flavors were of berries, sweet tart berries similar to lingonberries, then yeast. Tart and sweet, complex yet drinkable, sour yet balanced. I wasn't dazzled but I decided I liked the style as a result of trying this beer. The sweetness was noticeably high on the overall scale of beers but the strong tart element really came through in the right way none the less. The mouthfeel was average, the body medium and the carbonation pleasant. Any Faro beer is novel and I would definitely recommend this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2011 02:41:00 | More by thekevlarkid

nickfl

Florida

4.1/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - This beer pours with about half an inch of white foam that rests on top of a slightly hazy, orange-brown body. The head settles fairly quickly and leaves light rings of lace sticking to the glass.

S - A dry, musty aroma of wild microbes with notes of wet moss, tart cherries, and a hint of sulfur.

T - Tart fruit up front, quickly followed by a sweet tea level of sugar. Notes of black cherry, caramel malt, lemon, and sweetened balsamic vinegar in the middle. The beer finishes with an emphasis on sugar, lemon, and cherry; it almost tastes like a soda.

M - Medium-thick body, moderately high carbonation, and a fairly sweet finish.

D - This contrast between the earthy, funky aroma and the sweetened, soda like flavor is really different from most other beers. It shows the funky complexity of its base beer much better than Lindeman's less traditional sweetened lambics and despite the strange descriptors that I am forced to use in relating the flavors it is actually pretty enjoyable. Unlike the sweetened fruit lambics, the sourness is able to show through a bit along with the wild character and thanks to the tradition behind this style, you aren't left with the feeling that they ruined something wonderful to appeal to the masses. If you know what you are getting into with this beer you can enjoy it for what it is and I can see it being a really refreshing beer on a hot day.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2011 00:36:28 | More by nickfl

SLeffler27

New York

4.1/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours almost clear, burnished copper, with ample carbonation. Pushes up a half-inch, beige, rocky head that lasts a couple of minutes, leaving minimal lacing in the Lindemans flute glass.

A pleasant, funky yeast fills the nose with sweet-tart cherries and other berries. Some apple vinegar is detectable later.

Sweet, hugely sweet! Fresh berries and southern sweet tea with honey, maybe some lemon. A brief, mild finish. Warmth subdues the sweetness and helps bring out earthy berry flavors.

No alcohol in this medium bodied beer with vigorous, fine, carbonation leaves a sticky residue on the lips.

Definitely a dessert beer. Perhaps suitable to a brunch the day after a summer celebration.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 21:17:46 | More by SLeffler27

baos

Indiana

4.1/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured out of a nice corked and capped bottle.

A: Finger of head that dwindles down to just a faint ring. Body look like apple cider.

S: Green apples, sour cherries, sour yeastiness, hints of lemon.

T: Very tart with all the above attributes balanced pretty nicely with the candi sugars. Many sweet grains and nectar notes. Faro is a great style!

M: Medium to light crisp mouth-feel. A refreshing brew.

O: A nice sweet style. Push it up to "Belgian tripel" levels of alcohol and you'd have a great dessert beer on your hands.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2012 04:10:26 | More by baos

JohnGalt1

Idaho

4.08/5  rDev +13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Inflatablechair picked this up in his recent travels and corked it at a recent tasting at Ditmier's house... Thanks Sam.... this is a style that I haven't had the opportunity to try before.

Hazy orange.... short lasting white head.. no real lacing.

Nose is completely unique to me.. lemon zest... funky .... I wrote down "bile and nasty woolen socks".. lite sweetness sorta pulls the lambic qualities out of the glass.

Flavor is not really as funky as the aroma.. brown sugar.. funky wet hay ... apple cider... foot funk.. I was expecting some acetic qualities, but they are no where to be found, instead just a real overlying "gueze lite" funkiness that is awash in the sugary sweetness.... very balanced really... I could sip on a couple bottles of this for hours.. not much carbonation... and it surprisingly finishes a bit dry.

I have no frame of reference for this, so... don't hate the reviewer.... hate the review.

3.5/4/4/4/4.5

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2010 08:01:35 | More by JohnGalt1

craytonic

District of Columbia

4.08/5  rDev +13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Many thanks to Mike Brawley of Brawley's Beverage in Charlotte, NC for the opportunity to try this. This must have just hit the US, I'm not entirely sure that it has been bottled before.

would recommend this to any any new sour drinker.

Appearance: clear ruby caramel with a small head

Smell: brown sugar and lemon juice (sourness) with a very faint funk mixed with tart cherries and raspberries. Simple but pleasurable

Taste: Candy-like, there is an initial sweetness followed by a sour twang with some faint balsamic vinegar mixed with honey. There is a sweet tart / strawberry lemonade element to it.

Mouthfeel: Not syrupy, but definitely sugar sticky, jammy.

Drinkability: Too sweet to drink a lot, but I can see using this to ease someone into a gueuze or lambic. Very much like fruit juice - put it in a squeeze box! It actually has a great deal of flavor for a 4.2% ABV beer. Makes you want this beer without the sugar training wheels.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2010 00:35:31 | More by craytonic

tigg924

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev +13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Chimay chalice

Appearance: no head, clear, red/brown in color, low-minimal carbonation

Smell: big honey, vinegar, small apple and oak.

Taste: an apple/oaky taste starts things off the sour and honey come in mid tastes and the finish is more apple and honey

Mouthfeel: super light bodied, moderate carbonation, very sweet with a moderately small sour taste

Drinkability: A very good sipper. Nice mix of sweet and sour . The sourness is not puckering or harsh. I could have several throughout the course of a day.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2011 16:35:17 | More by tigg924

fragilehearted

Texas

4.08/5  rDev +13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I've had this beer plenty of times, but figured I'd give it a review. I've probably only tried one other faro, but plenty of lambics. I do have a little of a soft spot for it, since it was one of the first beers I tried in Brussels, at the recommendation of a friend I was staying with. Here goes!

A - Bottle, capped & corked, poured into a snifter. Minimal head that goes down quickly to a slight cover + ring. Clear orange-ish brown color. You can see the bubbles coming up from this one, like a glass of sparkling wine.

S - Sour right off the bat, but not overpoweringly so. Apples, cherries, & oranges, plus you get that earthy/funky smell. A little vinegar. Then you can smell the candy sweetness.

T - A little tartness, but the sugar is very obvious. Similar to the smell...first you get the fruity sourness, then the sugar hits you. But well, that's the style, lambic + sweetness.

M - so smooth & crisp - like biting into an apple or something. This is a well-carbonated beer, but it works for this style.

D/O - This beer, if you like the style (keep in mind that sweetness is part of the package of a faro), is so insanely drinkable (helped by a low ABV). Price keeps me from drinking a ton, though. But really, this is the perfect beer to give to your ladyfriend when she says she "doesn't like beer." Or your dudefriend, when he thinks all the beers you drink are too big. Not that I'd know about that. ;)

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2011 07:49:30 | More by fragilehearted

redleaves

Maine

4.08/5  rDev +13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This bottle is well over a year old. Poured dark amber, not much head and disappears quick. Carbonation dissipates quick as well, probably the age. Very sweet on the nose, tart and caramel apple. The flavor is very along the lines if a caramel apple, slightly sour and tart. Barnyard as well. The caramel apple is amazingly strong considering there is no fruit. Not dry enough, I wish it would dry up faster on the tongue, but it is supposed to be sweet. Very nice and refreshing. My wife is a huge fan and I'm becoming one as well. I'm going to hunt down some more Faros to try after this introduction.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 04:24:56 | More by redleaves

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

355mL corked and capped green bottle. a code on label, but no clear date.

appears clear, brilliant looking. dark amber with red hues. 1/4" off-white colored head. decent retention. smells of malt and a bit of wheat. fairly neutral aroma.

taste is slightly tart, a touch of sour, but the aftertaste is actually sweet, and leaves a sugary taste. nice and thirst quenching. light body. thin, fizzy refreshing carbonation.

overall - my first experience with the style. It seems more balanced than other lambic styles.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 04:28:26 | More by jmdrpi

Converge

Alberta (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

355ml bottle poured into a 16oz tulip.

A - A nice creamy medium-sized head off the pour. The body is a reddish-amber brown hue, with some tiny chunks of yeast floating about. The head settles to a soapy cap that retains well for a while, and leaves tons of sticky lacing. Looks great.

S - Smells surprisingly like a lambic, with lots of floral funk and generous tartness and vinegar. Lots of sweet candi sugar help balance it out along with plenty of light fruitiness. Smells pretty encouraging.

T - Definitely lots going on with this flavor profile. Immediately it strikes as exactly what was advertised, a traditional lambic sourness and funk, along with candi sugar sweetness that instantly makes this a much more accessible brew. Lots of fruity flavors, with white grapes, green apple, mixed berries, and cherry all in there. Finishes sweet, sour and spicy, with a touch of oak. Slight tart funk lingers, along with some caramel malt, cola syrup, cinnamon, and rye bread.

M - Surprisingly creamy body, with nice fine carbonation. Slightly drying finish gives it a nice feel. Works well with the flavors.

D - Overall an excellent combination of flavors. While I certainly wouldn't consider this a sour, it has enough tart and funky flavors to feed that craving, as well as a host of sweetened fruity and rather interesting flavors to give it a more unique feel. Another great beer from Lindemans.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2012 03:06:30 | More by Converge

megahurts4

Louisiana

4.05/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Lindemans Faro

Appearance: hazy light brown, very small head, and some good lacing.

Smell: yeast, sourness, and spices.

Taste: candi sugar sweetness, faint sourness, and a fruit tartness.

Mouthfeel: medium.

Overall:
This is a unique brew. The candi sugar sweetness mixed with the sourness is very interesting.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2011 05:05:13 | More by megahurts4

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a crystal clear ruby reddish brown in color with some visible yeast sediment. The head on this beer started out a finger tall and off white but reduced to a thin layer of bubbles over the top of the beer with a little bit thinker ring at the edges of the glass.

S: Lots of sweetness in the aroma but very pleasant - strong hints of green apple and candi sugar with more subtle hints of funk, wet horse blanket, wood and caramel. Sweet but complex.

T: The flavor of this beer is overall very sweet with lots of hints of green apple, raspberry, cherry, candi sugar, and caramel. The finish was a little more tart and slightly woody.

M: Light bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Almost syrupy with a slight prickling on the tongue from the carbonation.

O: I could see this as a beer/style that might not appeal to everyone but it certainly is delicious in my opinion. I think this beer is easy to drink though a little sweet to really be sessionable. I also found this appealed to a few friends that are more wine than beer drinkers.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 23:29:22 | More by dbrauneis