Lindemans Faro Lambic - Brouwerij Lindemans

WVbeergeek

Ohio

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

Appears a deep apple juice like amber hue with a bright white head that dwindles rather quickly, not as effervescent as the other fruit lambics that Lindeman's makes. Aroma tart fruit notes hints of green apple acidity and barrel aging undertones. Nice pleasant flow in the nose, I like it so far let's taste...super sweet compared to most traditional lambics, it's actually cider sweet hints of barrel aging touch of woody tones. More apple like sweetness even though I know there's no fruit added to this one just Belgian candi sugar. Nice underlying acidic notes but again it's overall really sweet dessert beer. Mouthfeel is medium body a bit of residual sugars, nice tart middle with a sweet coating finish mellow carbonation going on. Drinkability is decent if you are in the mood for something on the sweeter side.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2010 03:31:16 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours an almost clear and a darker amber. Nose is like a syrup kind of thing. Flavor is basically like a sweetened beer (which it is.) Fruity tones are mixed in. Mild earthy tones barely show up before being taken over by the sugars again. Feel is slick on liquid and the carbonation is a bit full. It's sweet, but this is very easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2009 12:50:30 | More by RblWthACoz

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Amber color; clear. No head at all.

Candy sugar aroma with a slight sourness.

The flavor is sugary; no sign of the sourness. This is also a full bodied beer with nearly no carbonation. Very much like double bock and less like a lambic. A pretty good beer although it is contrary to the usual taste I like.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2009 00:39:09 | More by smcolw

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in a flute)
A- This beer pours a warm brown slightly dense but clean body with a hint of red. There is a bubbly creamy antique white heat that last a bit. The gentle carbonation of microbubbles pop to the surface.
S- The tart and sweet aroma has some barnyard qualities and some cola note to it. There is a bright tartness and a cheese rind note to the finish.
T- The tart and sweet aroma blend much like the aroma with some dark barnyard qualities and some lighter cola notes. There is a bite note in the finish from the tartness and the sweetness starts to take on a minty quality as the beer opens up. The brett cheese rind note in the finish also grows as the beer warms.
M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a soft tartness and a big fizz that hits the back of the mouth.
D- The candy sweetness is a big part of the beer with brett and lambic characters just peaking through the background. The minty character is interesting and works with the tartness. This is easy to drink and I kept sipping hoping more of the funk would arise.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2011 03:36:42 | More by rhoadsrage

Billolick

New York

3.98/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

25 cl bottle (tiny!), purchased somewhere in Paris. "consumer avant de 18 mars, 2008" dating on the rear label. The nose here was of orange, nuts, earthiness, and Grand Marnier liquor. A moderate pour revealed a minor head, next to no lacing, but plenty of bubbles continuing to rise to the top. More earth, orange, honey, sweet and sour with more and more sour building up. I also pick up some mustiness and minor continued funk in the finish. Wish I could get a regular supply of this in the U.S.A. Nice dessert/aperitif beer

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2008 03:45:56 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

2.78/5  rDev -23%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 375ml bottle into My Gulden Draak tulip. Picked this one up at Stateline about 2 months ago.

a - Pours a hazy orange-brown color with one finger of fluffy white head and moderate carbonation evident. Lots of lacing left on the glass and 2 minutes or so of head retention.

s - Smells of sugar, fruit, apples, some Belgian yeast, light spices. A ton of sugar up front.

t - Tastes of sugar, sweet fruits, apples, Belgian spices and yeast. Again, way to sweet...reminded me a tiny bit of a really sweet cider.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Little tough to drink due to the sweetness.

o - Overall not a great faro. Just way to sweet and not balanced at all; the sugar dominates and makes it tough to drink. My girlfriend liked it quite a bit though and helped me finish the bottle. Wouldn't seek it out again; go for the 3f faro if you're interested in trying the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2011 00:38:47 | More by mdfb79

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.3/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Wow, the cork was almost impossible to get out. When it did it poured a big fizzy bubbly head of almost 2 fingers that fades so fast it would make flash jealous, until it gets to a fluffy head covering and stops. It leaves little remnants of lacing on teh sides. The beer is a super clear bright cherry orangered like color.

Aroma wafts light sour fruit, a light musty breaddy funk and wild yeast, touch of horse blanket, some tart cherry, some sweet candi sugar, and a nice juicy tart raspberry juice.

Taste comes very sweet! Damn, that's too sweet. Lots of fruit too, more than I expected. It is fairly juicy, with some light tart cherry and raspberry, sour and tangy with a little acidity too. Some light funk and wild yeast but not much. The breaddy malts are there with the light funk but way overpowered by the sweet fruit. The nose had a nice thing going, but the taste just dropped off a cliff.

The mouth is thicker than I expected, a medium to heavier body, with good carbonation.

It finishes slightly drier thanks to light remnants of wild yeast, dry and a little funky, but still pretty sweet, and sticky, very flemmy as well. Lots of fruit juice left behind as well, mostly tart raspberry and a little candy cherry juice.

It started nicely, with a nice appearance and nice nose, but the taste was way to sweet and fruity. I guess I should have known being Lindemans and all.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2010 01:52:27 | More by jlindros

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a dark, hazy plum color with amber edges and a fizzy half finger head and that quickly settles into a thin ring. Not much in the way of lacing.

Syrupy sweet aroma with some slight earthy funky. Lots of sweet artificial medicine and candy syrup with some pale malts and dark fruits.

On the lighter end of medium bodied and very sweet with lots of artificial sweetness. Lots of candy sugar and syrup with subtle tart funk and sweet dark fruit. Hints of cherry, grape and other dark berries produce an overwhelming sweetness that lingers into a sling dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 08:38:02 | More by corby112

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.63/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Brown 25cl bottle, best before 25th Jan 2009, drank 15th Feb 2009, so slightly older than recommended.

Poured into a 'Mort Subite' flute (twice, it only holds 0.2 Litre.

No cork in my bottle, just a silver foil covering and a normal bottle cap.

Old marmalade orange in colour, with a huge cream coloured head (hence the two pours).

Vinegarous aroma, then farmyards, then marmalade with yeast and sour fruit.

Sweet and sour flavours, tart yet very drinkable. Drys in the mouth, strange and yet interesting qualities. Complexed and confusing. Sticky when spilt, I needed some water after the tasteing, just to cleanse my palate.

Is it too sweet? Most likely yes.

Is it too sour? Most likely yes.

The 25cl bottle was just about the right amount for me. Any more and I'd have started to find fault, any less and I might have missed something.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2009 14:20:18 | More by BlackHaddock

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Teresa's, Wayne, PA

This was my first sampling of this style, I believe. Poured into a Lindemans flute glass, a thick burnt caramel color with a few stray bubbles gracing the surface. Very sweet nose, candi, candy, and raisins. Taste was obviously very sweet as well, candy-like and fruity, even though there isn't actually any fruit in it. RAISINS permeated my palate, with strawberries and white wine coming in mid-palate, and sweet dark sugars finishing off, with a hint of oak. Mouthfeel was about medium, with a syrupy sweetness I just didn't care too much for. Good for a glass, but that's probably it for me. I'd be interested in sampling other brewers' cracks at the style.

Serving type: on-tap

10-25-2011 01:28:26 | More by Rifugium

lacqueredmouse

Australia

2.33/5  rDev -35.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1.5

Pours a deep golden copper colour with an frothy head of white foam that leaves some egg-white lacing down the rim of the glass. Carbonation is exceptionally fine and extensive, but static, even though the body isn't particularly heavy. It's just really composed of tiny bubbles which is really nice. Yep. A very nice looking brew.

Lots of acidity and slight funk on the nose, with huge notes of oak-barrel dominant. Really quite acidic and vinous. The characters are very refined but intense - it's as though you can smell the fermentation going on as it is served. Nice.

Taste is initially confronting and it gets worse, but, to be honest, it's exactly what I expected from the style. The acidity is present, but there's a huge sugary sweetness trying to overwhelm it. Rather than providing balance, it produces conflict between the acidity and the syrup, leaving both seemingly unpleasant and out of kilter. The oak character lingers above all of this, providing the only pleasant note. Otherwise, I find this sickly but brash, a cacophony of characters committing genocide in my mouth. Mouthfeel is crisp at least.

I just don't get this beer. It's like lolly-water, or like a beer brewed for kids. I found it incredibly difficult to drink, given the sweetness and the odd acidity striking harshly off it. I'm not a fan at all, especially given the really quite pleasant nose, the rest is offensive. I believe it's just the style that causes me so much grief - this may be a stellar example, but I'm not inclined to try another in order to find out.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2009 10:00:53 | More by lacqueredmouse

DoubleJ

California

3.88/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

At last, Lindemans provides. The long search for a faro-styled beer comes to end for me. Now the fun part, the drinking of Lindemans Faro. On to the beer:

Orange amber colored with spectrum of different brigter colors. Depending on where the light shines, it ranges from yellow to lighter orange to a darker amber orange. That head doesn't stay around for very long. Unsure wat to expect in the nose, I get a sweet and sour aroma. Musty cork hits, then comes the wave of red wine vinegar. It's more sweet that sour.

Here's an odd couple that works: take three parts Flanders Red and one part gueuze. That may be heresy to some, but that's what this is like. Really sweet caramel makes up the base, a touch of sourness attempts to balance out the rest, but it remains sweet. In this case, I don't mind. Red wine vinegar flavor comes through, hold the acid. Fun to drink, although 12 ounces will be plenty.

A different way of doing lambic. Lindemans knows how to get their fruit lambics sweet, but perhaps it's appropraite that they make this unusual style.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2010 02:38:35 | More by DoubleJ

glid02

Georgia

3.68/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared by Lee - thanks!

Pours a hazy brown color with a half-finger tan head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of light caramel malts with good amounts of brown sugar and lighter amounts of molasses. Also present are moderate amounts of funkiness and tart green apple aromas.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Sweet caramel malt flavors with good amounts of brown sugar flavors kick things off. Midway through the sip hints of funk and mildly tart green apple flavors come into play, carrying through to a somewhat muddled ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with active carbonation.

Drinkability is OK. I finished my glass without any problems however I'm not sure about another.

Overall I have to admit this was my first of the style so I'm not sure to what I should compare it, but it was on the sweet side and just didn't seem very crisp. Worth a shot if just to try the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2010 20:35:03 | More by glid02

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.03/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

-Corked and capped. My first per style.

A: Orange-cherry in the glass shows a misty rise of effervesce though a good clarity. The head doesn't care to stick around, falling from a one finger statue in a matter of seconds leaving but a faint whispy lashing for lace.

S: Musky fruit of apples and pear juice comes first, along with a sweetness of candi-sugar. A touch of maraschino cherry juice comes on the trail.

T: Sweet and fruity, there's no denying it, almost unbearably so on the open. Think apple juice laced with a generous helping of candi-sugar. Musky fruit meets sickening sweetness. Hard to measure this in terms of style, my first so, but going by guidelines meets, even exceeds criteria, don't know if that's a good or bad thing. Sparkling cider with a tartness of green apples and perhaps some vinegar on the close.

M: Mouthful is heavy and syrupy, with a slick feel and tartness of green apples lining the tongue. Some crispness on the lips but doesn't translate to the tongue.

D: Not a fan in terms of multiples. Hard to imagine going back to back here. A pure diabetic shock. A long sipper with a reluctance to finish.

Final musings: being my first per style my thoughts probably lean towards more personal preference rather comparison per style vs. others. Draw your own conclusions but it is overly sweet which is never good for any style.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2010 00:21:49 | More by beerthulhu

DrJay

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Light brown with an orange tint and a little bit hazy. Some fine, off-white foam appeared during the pour and lingered for quite some time, producing a lot of spotty lacing. Earthy nose, tart notes of apples and grapes, brown sugar, with a hint of nuttiness and sourness. Quite sweet in flavour -- this really tames the tartness that seems to be somewhat hidden by the sugar. Apples and brown sugar, sort of cidery and grapey, dry on the palate. Carbonation was light, but enough to lift the body and keep it from feeling dead. Overall, an interesting beer and one that I'd certainly have again, but a little sweet for my tastes. I'm thinking this would go better with food rather than on its own on a warm summer day.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2011 21:30:36 | More by DrJay

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Poechenellekelder in Brussels.

A huge, rocky white head shakes side to side in the glass as our waiter hurriedly runs it over to the table. The body has two tones: a deep amber colour on top and a lighter, tawny yellow underneath. Some - but in no way complete - clarity. The complexion has a creamy look to it. Plenty of lacing, top to bottom, circle the glass like topography lines on a map.

A soft spoken, deliciously sweet aroma. It smells just like the boiling rock candy used in production. The aroma does fair warning of the sweetness that will ensue. No spice in the nose.

The sugar is felt in the mouth, especially in a "tooth-decaying" sense. The texture is very smooth and it is refreshing, but only in small quantity. With such sweetness the drinkability wears out after only one.

The candi sugar seems to numb notes of apple and pear. There is plenty of sugar where in standard lambics there would be 'funk'. The flavour is very light, which I suppose by design is to keep the Faro enjoyable. The finish has an almost sucking dry finish.

The Lindemans Faro seems to capture the style quite well, unfortunately I don't feel the style is all that great. While Faros are suppose to be more "palatable" then other lambics, I would tend to disagree. I will grant them being more "agreeable" to the average drinker, but they certainly are nowhere near as exciting.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2007 13:45:05 | More by biegaman

kojevergas

California

3.38/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap over top a cork served into a Champagne flute in high altitude Denver, Colorado. Reviewed live. Expectations are moderate.

A: Pours a 1.5 finger head of slight cream, pretty good thickness, and good retention - though the ABV is low. colour is a senitransparent copper.

Sm: Moderately strong bacteria, souring hops, and light funkiness - could be brett; I don't know. A strong aroma overall.

T: A light sourness is present throughout, with light bacteria (mostly in the second act), pleasant funkiness, and a sweet candied sugar finish. It's balanced well; I like the subtle crystal malts.

Mf: Smooth and wet, with some tingly coarseness in the third act. Suits the flavour well.

Dr: Very drinkable for the style, of good quality and priced perchance a bit high - at least stateside. I'd have it again, preferably on cask. Its simplicity holds it back.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 01:23:56 | More by kojevergas

Brad007

Vermont

4.28/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a decent amber color with a thin one-finger head into my tulip.

Aroma is slightly musty with apple, grape and a slight hint of horse leather.

Taste is tart, full of apple, grape and slight cherry upfront. Certainly not too sour. Just right actually.

Mouthfeel is full of lingering apple, grape and cherry. Of course, these are not actual flavors but rather what is imparted in the beer itself.

I've never had this style but I can confirm that it is somewhat sweeter than an regular lambic. Easier to drink to. The style seems obscure but well worth checking out!

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2010 04:44:52 | More by Brad007

Georgiabeer

Georgia

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

Okay, this is the one and only Faro that I've had, and although I'm somewhat familiar with the idea behind the style, I'm not sure I can completely review to style. Pours copper colored with no head, but it is perfectly well carbonated. Smells sugary, very slightly sour, and with a slight sherry finish. The taste is sweet and sour, with more candi sugar sweetness than there are acetic notes. Clean and light with the sugar coming through loud and clear, and although the acid makes an attempt to balance, it's not quite up to the task. I could see why some might like this sitting at a cafe in the sun, but make mine a little less sweet please. Still the flavors are clean and distinct and the mouthfeel is smooth and clean if sweet. Interesting- the sweet tea of beers. I'll continue to try other versions if they become available and see if others are more balanced. Still worth a go if you like light sweet beers, or want to try something new.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2010 18:29:02 | More by Georgiabeer

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into chalice.

Color is a clear caramel brown. Pours no head.

Aroma: Sweet and funky. Vinegar with light acidic flavors. It has an odd musk flavor to it. I kind of like it, but it is just weird.

Taste: It has a caramelized brown sugar sweetness flavor up front. Not as funky as I was expecting. Very sweet. I like it. It has the Lindeman's house flavor. Light vinegar flavors.

Mouthfeel: Sweet and then some. Lighter bodied with a lower amount of carbonation. Ends clean.

Overall, it is a beer that I have to be in the mode to drink. I think it could be drinkable in the right time and place. I have to give it a good score here as I do like it.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2010 06:18:01 | More by mothman

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

thagr81us

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from tap into a sampler tumbler. Poured yellow-orange with a half finger white head that subsided to a minimal amount quickly. Maintained decent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, sour, tart, funk, fruit, and subtle cherry. The flavor was of sweet malt, cherry, earth, tart, and sugar. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a good brew. This was my first Faro that I have had. So I really went into this one blind, but was hoping I would like what I would find. In typical Lindeman fashion this one was quite sweet, but not to the point of being sickening. There was a really nice balance of flavors without being overwhelming which made it quite easy to drink. I was hoping that my first from the style would be a little more of a harder to get brewery that is known for a little more tradition of their styles, but this one wasn’t too bad.

Serving type: on-tap

09-04-2012 11:43:48 | More by thagr81us

ccrida

Oregon

3/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

750ml bottle poured into my Supra tumbler, Lindemans Faro is spritzy honey brown with no head or lace.

Smell is sweet, apple cider like quinine.

Taste is like the appearance, iced tea. Lambic with nutrasweet is what this is, and what it taste like, with the dominant emphisis on the saccharin. Starts out nice and tart, but is nothing but fake sugar through the long finish.

Mouthfeel is sugary and thick, a total teeth rotter.

Drinkability is fine I guess for the style, which I've never had before. But I hate saccharin, and feel this 'style' of lambic is a travisty, kiddie beer. My wife hates all beers, but this is the only one of the many I've made here try that she actually liked. It was that un-beer-like! Again, I'm not familiar with the style, but I assume this is pretty much average.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2009 02:52:06 | More by ccrida

RoyalT

Ohio

4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance - This is a beautiful dark brownish copper with an easy white head.

Smell - The nose is light fruit, maybe some mild orange and a spritz of lemon. There's also a nice, light funk and a bit of raw sugary goodness.

Taste - The sugars are mild, just enough to soften the taste without calling too much attention to themselves. The orange and lemon are a nice mix and any acidity is offset by the sugars.

Mouthfeel - This is medium-bodied with good carbonation and light and tingly in the cheeks.

Drinkability - I like the strong taste of a stiff Lambic but it's nice to have a Faro every now and then. This does exactly as advertised. It's a nice, refreshing midday drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2011 23:51:10 | More by RoyalT

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a Lindeman's bottle into a tasting glass. A rich amber in color with a bit of head.

Smell: Aroma of Belgian candi sugar sweetness, tinge of sour vinegar as well.

Taste: Follows the nose, a tart sourness with some vinegar and sugar interacting. Ends up much like a good dry cider. Very sweet and very odd. An unblended lambic with a good deal of sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, crisp enough with a lingering acidity.

Drinkability: Interesting beer here from Lindemans. A rare style with only a few examples, all from Belgium. If you are a fan of sours, I would recommend this.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2010 13:09:42 | More by Stinkypuss