Flanders Drive - Green Flash Brewing Co.

UCLABrewN84

California

4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to scribe594 for sharing this one at Tieman's tasting.

Pours a murky honey brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is sour and tart with some fruity, wood, and slight bourbon aromas. Taste is much the same with an acidic finish. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 09:14:55 | More by UCLABrewN84

MasterSki

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle shared by Chris (spycow). Served in a Russian River tulip.

A - Lightly tan foam settles to a thick collar, wisps, and minimal lacing. Lightly hazed dark ruby body.

S - The use of bourbon barrels for a Flanders-style beer is intriguing, and the whiskey certain cuts a wide swath through the flavor profile. A mixture of oak and lactic sourness follow, with light caramel malt and a hint of savory balsamic vinegar in the periphery.

T - The taste is a bit more acidic, with a mixture of lemon tartness and cherry vinaigrette. Bourbon shows up in the finish along with a dollop of wet oak barrel. There are hints of tobacco and dill as well.

M - Medium body with pleasant carbonation. Quite dry and oaky, although it finishes fairly clean. Minimal alcohol presence helps this go down smoothly and acidity is fairly restrained as well.

D - The bourbon is an interesting twist on the style and while it adds depth I'm not 100% it totally works for. That being said, it isn't overdone and lets the base beer shine through sufficiently. I'd drink this again, but I don't think I'd seek it out actively. Could definitely get through the entire 375ml with no troubles.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 22:25:15 | More by MasterSki

largadeer

Kentucky

4.05/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

First sour I've had from Green Flash. Surprisingly very nicely done.

Appearance: Pours a tawny color with slight haze. A dense two finger head forms, lasting for a few minutes before settling down to a film.

Smell: Plenty of acidity and oak. Whiffs of tart cherry and balsamic vinegar pop out, though this leans toward cleaner lactic sour notes. Bourbon undertones appear as the beer warms, which work nicely with the cherry and dark vinegar aromas. Thankfully there's little sweetness, just a touch of dark malt.

Palate: Big sour cherry notes up front, supported by substantial oak tannins. Bourbon lends a hint of sweetness to an otherwise pretty dry beer. The body is nice, big and silky with a strong finish. Great acidity that leans toward lacto, though there's enough aceto to give it that signature Flemish sour character. Sourness drops off fast in the finish, leading into gentle tannins and dark malt.

Overall: Not a style I generally care for, but this is very well done. The balance between barrel, sourness and malt is nearly perfect.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 06:28:25 | More by largadeer

FosterJM

California

4.08/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

1650th Review on BA
Bottle to Bruery Tulip
12.7oz

Split with GuruDel

App- A darker brown color. In the glass it looks like the bottle color. Ive said that a few times with a beer, but this nailed it. The head on this one was a light tan with a good cling and a nice topping to the beer. A good dense center with some ruby edges.

Smell- This was a very nice smelling beer. A bit fresh and could use some time to sit for a bit to become more integrated. The flanders aroma is there with a good bit of tart and acid and then tempered by the bourbon barrels. Smells like a smaller version of Boxers revenge from JK

Taste- I enjoyed this beer while standing around BS'ing with Vince. I was grilling some burgers and the beer hit the spot. This was a nice base flanders with some good acid and tart and a bit of a dryness behind it. The bourbon adds a layer of booze and complexity to it.

Mouth- A solid medium body with a good medium bubbly carbonation with a good bit of bourbon and oak behind it. The dryness comes in and adds a bit of a soft prickly flavor to it.

Drink- Thanks Vince. I wasnt able to make it to SD for this one. Very flavorful barrel aged sour. I would like to sit on a bottle for a while. Hopefully I can find one again.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 17:30:36 | More by FosterJM

JohnGalt1

Idaho

4.16/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Received this in trade with Jvillefan earlier this year... Thanks a bunch Michael, this was REALLY well done.

Looks like a light cola on the pour... tan head with spotty lacing.

Nose is pretty proper... balanced acetic/fruity notes... dark cherries and plum.. bourbon is there but shows as more of a vanilla presence.

If you subtract the barrel presence, this is a better Flanders Red than many of the Continental versions that limp to our local shelves. Again very fruity with the expected acetic/tannic wine notes... fermented out sweet cherries with underripe plums. The barrels add an all encompassing vanilla character..

A residual sweetness adds to the body... good bubbles lead to a bit of a burpy burn for me.

This is a winner... Damn happy I was able to try it... Thanks a bunch Michael... You are a fantastic trader.

4/4/4.25/4/4.25

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 05:35:33 | More by JohnGalt1

charlzm

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Consumed on December 31st, 2012. Thanks to Mr. Clark for sharing!

Poured at refrigerator temperature (too cold!) into La Trappe chalice. Fail on two fronts!!!

Anyway, beer pours from the bottle a ruddy reddish-brown with a tan head about two fingers tall. Head settles down fairly quickly to a thin skin of foam.

A Flanders red is supposed to be tart and fruity, and this one conforms to style. Sour cherries supported by a subtle base of caramel malt. Some mild vinegar and oak notes. Didn't smell or taste bourbon as others have noticed, but I will admit that the beer was served too cold and drunk so quickly due to its deliciousness that it probably just never had a chance to come out.

Mouthfeel was medium bodied, helped along by a goodly amount of carbonation.

I liked this as much as a Rodenbach Grand Cru, and that's saying something.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 19:13:16 | More by charlzm