Goudenband - Brouwerij Liefmans

drperm

Virginia

5/5  rDev +19%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bottle purchased 6/2010; Opened 5/2013.

My first thought is, this is the best beer I've had in a very long time.

My second thought is, this is quite possibly the perfect beer.

My third thought is, DAMN why did I only buy one bottle??

A deep ruby colour entices in the glass.
On the nose it is, in the words of another reviewer, "like Scottish food" - lots of spice, malt, esters, vinegar, tartness, and plum.
On the palate it is extremely complex and enjoyable - sweet & sour with a fair balance between the two: not too sweet, not too sour.
The finish snaps sour with a hint of bing cherry.

Pair with: carrot-miso soup with sesame oil (I'm not even kidding), herbed goat cheese, baked brie with fruit, dates and figs, roast duck, or venison with cherry sauce.

And when you find it in a shop, don't make the same mistake I did: purchase more than one bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 01:13:44 | More by drperm

mactrail

California

3.69/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Dark clear mahogany in the glass with a long-lasting foam. A pleasant spritzy mouthful. This one is more sweet and sour, but in an appealing and nice-balanced way. wlight woody bitterness to finish. A little toffee and sweet malt, but a long, sour finish. It doesn't taste at all of alcohol.

The Belgian candy flavor is right up front. On tap at Local Habit in San Diego. The usual dry yeasty taste is there as well, but it gets lost in the tart, roasted grainy flavors. This is a very interesting beer that is more drinkable than most of the sour varieties I've tried. It also tastes just like so many forgettable beers I drank in Belgium, but with the addition of the acidic sensation. On tap at Local Habit in San Diego.

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2013 05:23:44 | More by mactrail

janubio

Spain

3.21/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

37,5 c. bottle wrapped in paper and corked. Dark amber colour, no head and no lace. Lots of chunks in the bottom of the glass. Smell is sour, cider, oak, cherries, apple and vanilla essence. Medium body, sour palate. Taste is sour too, cider, cherries, and the artificial vanilla. I like the sourness but certainly i expected much more from this one. bottled in 1996 and best before end of 2014.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 16:26:15 | More by janubio

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.21/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Served on-tap at Cork City in Hoboken, NJ

A: Pours a crystal clear deep red in color with some light to moderate amounts of gentle visible carbonation and some garnet red + dark amber + copper highlights. There are also some light amounts of visible yeast sediment near the bottom of the glass. The beer has a half finger tall foamy dark beige head that reduces to a small patch of very thin film and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light to moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light to moderate aromas of sour cherries over a light hint of oak.

T: Upfront there is an initial candi sugar like sweetness that is followed by the sour/tart flavors of sour cherries and moderate amounts of oak. Hints of vanilla are also present.

M: On the lighter side of medium bodied with light amounts of carbonation. Smooth. Light amounts of acidic prickliness.

O: The alcohol in this beer is very well hidden making this beer easy to drink - the tartness is also not overpowering which makes it more appealing to a wider audience. I really enjoyed this beer and found it to a be a wonderful way to end the evening.

Serving type: on-tap

04-24-2013 01:17:17 | More by dbrauneis

clayrock81

Virginia

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a light brown body with good head/carbonation that dies slow and leaves some lace on top of a mostly sweet aroma. The smells I am picking up seem to be light chocolate, toffee, touches of fruit ranging from cherry to grape and a good chunk of woodiness and hops as well, although not as noticeable as the malts. Light tartness is my first reaction, and my second is that this is a light-to-medium bodied beer that has great balance to it as the tart cherryesque flavors give way to sweetness from chocolate to toffee and then this balanced beer finishes crisp with a slight dry edge. Very pleasant sipper that ranges from both the sour and sweet spectrums and should be had by anyone who likes Belgian ales.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 18:26:42 | More by clayrock81

merc7186

New York

3.9/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

On tap at Crabapples in Cheektowaga NY, poured into pilsner glass.

A: Reddish/Mild Brownish Hue, Passes Mild Light, White Head Ring, Some Lacing

S: Plums, Apples, Cherries

T: Mildly Tart Cherries, Sweet Bread, Red Plums

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Tart, Mildly Sweet

Overall, I dont like Liefmans at all but Goudenband is a great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2013 03:31:33 | More by merc7186

patre_tim

China

4.51/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Deep dark wood brown with ab ever slight orange tinge when held to the light, only slightly opaque. Slight cappuccino colour foam, cannot see any carbonation. Nice lacing.

S: Sour, balsamic vinegar, fruity, red wine vinegar, creamy, floral and fragrant.

T: Sour but not tart to overwhelming, fruity, balsamic vinegar, floral, light sweetness to balance.

M: Medium heavy body, high foamy carbonation.

O: Full of flavour and there is a lightness in body compared to the Lips of Faith La Folie 2013 I had. This Goudenband had 2011 on the cork and was had on March 20, 2013.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 04:21:58 | More by patre_tim

notchucknorris

California

4.23/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours a deep brown color with a thin foamy cream colored head. He's disappears pretty quickly, but it's still a nice looking beer.

S: Dark fruit, oak, sour cherrie, a touch of chocolate and some rich malt.

T: Has a really pleasant tartness to it without really getting sour. A slightly heavy mouthfeel really complements the tartness nicely. Opens with a chocolate covered sour cherry note, some plum, unripe green grapes and red currants. Really nice.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 03:40:07 | More by notchucknorris

Samuel906

California

4.35/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I remember having this beer a long time ago, and not being particularly excited. My exact thoughts were "why did I just pay a significant sum of money for this beer"? BUT, this was before I knew anything about beer, or had any appreciation for the subtlety of flavor. I am sure glad I tried it again. First, this pour much, much darker than any other sour I've had. Brown and ruby with white, light head. Smell is fantastic, sour and fresh. Lime, some slight brown sugar sweetness, and cherries. The taste follows suit with the perfect amount of sour and bitter. The flavor is light and refreshing and absolutely none of the 8% ABV comes through. This beer has a lot of subtlety and picking out the many, many flavors is a pleasure (cherries, plums, oak, spice, lime, orange and many more). Great carbonation brings the flavors to life on your palate. Zesty, refreshing, and overall great. I am very glad I got a chance to revisit this beer, and it holds a place as one of my new favorite beers.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 10:17:22 | More by Samuel906

wedge

North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2011

Dark russet with a small, tight-bubbled, creamy head. Dark, sour cherry, malt, mild vinegar, acidity, and sweet vinous fruit aromas. More richness as it warms. Soft, sour, fruity flavor...cherry, oak, figs, and miscellaneous purply fruits. Earthy berries, grape, and apple. Very dry, tart, and super refreshing. I'm definitely going to get another one or two to hide away for a few years. Tasty, surprisingly refreshing stuff...

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 01:43:21 | More by wedge

ujsplace

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a tulip glass.

This brew is a deep, reddish brown colored ale that has a 1/2 inch thick head that quicly fades to a thin cover. When I look at it, it is very reminiscent of a burgundy.

Smells of sour apples, grapes and spice.

Tastes of tart fruityness. Predominantly sour apple up front, but can also taste grapes with a sweet, dark cherry finish. A very complex brew that manages a nice balancing act between sweet and sour. I borely notice the alcohol.

Smooth mouthfeel with active, pleasant carbonation.

This is the second Flanders Oud Bruin I've had and the first I've reviewed. This is very different from most brews and it is refreshingly so. This is one to be savored once in a while and to sit back and relax with - let it warm up a bit. The cork in this one was dated 2011 and I wonder how complex this would be had I not greedily popped it open after having it only two months. Oh well, maybe next time.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 01:52:38 | More by ujsplace

jtierney89

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

you can smell this thing, also the cork shot out real quick.

deep russet red with a bit of haze and a big sticky tan head. Smells a lot like Scottish food, lots of vinegar with a bit of savor. salted plums raisins and figs,

This tastes like sweat but its fabulous. grainy malt bill upfront with a tart sourness on the back end. extremely clean for whats supposed to be a sour beer. lingers in the mouth for a good amount of tie. Very vinous in character almost like a french red wine. good acidity on the back end.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 06:09:05 | More by jtierney89

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Served in a snifter at Firkin.

You take the goud, you take the band... ...Sorry... Anyway, this stuff pours a brackish brown-sienna topped by a finger of light tan foam. The nose comprises tart black cherry, mild cocoa, mild maple syrup, and red apple. The taste brings in more of the same, though the tartness is heavily exchanged in favor of sweetness, some mild red wine grapes are tossed in for good measure, and a general sense of caramel apple pervades at times, particularly near the finish. The body is a light-leaning medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a slightly drying finish. Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable beer, one that went well with the surroundings somehow (you had to be there...trust me...).

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2013 17:55:00 | More by TMoney2591

magine

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a Duvel glass. 2011 vintage listed on cork.

Pours a dark brown with a tan head. Tons of bubbles cascading upward to make up a pillowy head with tons of buubles rising. Really is an awesome brew to admire, brew and glassware working together in perfect harmony. Great lacing and head retentenion. Looks great.

Brew smells of dark fruits and mild booze. Dark cherrys, raisens and other flavors noticed. Complex and smells tasty. Good nose.

Brew is creamy upfront and then makes way for some dark complex fruits melded with some spice and sweetness in the end. Brew drinks easy and has a good solid feel and flavors. Lots of complex flavors going on as it warms. Sour apples, tart and a cider like flavor. A smokey maltiness is picked up here as well. Good warming and a nice smoked flavor in the after taste. Good feel and flavors.

I never tried this style of brew prior so it is all new to me. A good dessert brew or brew for a hot summer day. The style of brew isnt my favorite but it was a cool brew to try and review. Good stuff

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 02:52:03 | More by magine

dendroaspis

New Mexico

4.44/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at Taps and Handles in Fort Collins, CO

A: Very dark, a slight (one finger) tan head

S: Grapes, tart, a little maltiness

T: Sweet. Maybe too much so. Tastes like it was aged in wine barrels, but this may not be the case. Nice sour taste. Not quite on par with NB's La Folie, but close.

M: Slides around in there nicely.

O: A very good beer. I am somewhat inexperienced with Flanders, but am trying to widen my experience with them. Would definitely try again, especially on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2013 14:51:59 | More by dendroaspis

Etan

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

750ml into a tulip.

A: Pours a very dark brown with a nice light khaki head.

S: Sweetish cherry and raspberry notes, light roasted malt, moderate acetic character, a bit of caramel.

T: Less tart than the nose would suggest. Pie cherries and light spice, currants, malty toffee and sweet bread, slight acetic tartness, a bit vinous.

M: Full-bodied with moderate carbonation, creamy.

O: A little more acidity would really complement the delicious malt profile of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 21:42:46 | More by Etan

DavidST

Texas

4.28/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a tulip/pint glass. This pours a murky dark brown with a large tan head which has a good long retention and leaves a lacing. The smell is slightly sour and funky, a little bit of sour cherries, vinegar. The feel is medium, lower carbonination than I expected (it might have all went into the head). The taste is pretty great, you get the sour vinegar taste up front, a little bit of sour cherries, along with some vanilla and an earthy barnyard funk, very nice.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 05:21:38 | More by DavidST

devlishdamsel

Washington

4.78/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This beer is nothing short of amazing. I could drink it every night! I found it incredibly complex, yet surprisingly smooth . The intense flavors were a treat to my palate. The scent and mouth feel was nothing short of intoxicating. Definitely one of my favorites.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2012 03:55:57 | More by devlishdamsel

CrazyDavros

Australia

4.05/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours brown with a large, fading head.
Nose shwos cherries, raspberries, berry bubblegum, soft funky notes and faint brown sugar.
A fair bit of the fruit follows as a flavour but some malt and faint grainy notes take over a bit. A reasonable bit of acidity and a bit of booze follow.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 23:46:16 | More by CrazyDavros

cfrobrew

Texas

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

2010 bottle
A dark brown with a slight red tint. Thick head of small bubbles.
S fig smell with an almost whiskey barrel aged beer. Also strong tartness and funkiness.
T tart with a little bit of a lemon peel at the back end
M very bright, flattened out as it warmed up. Seemed pretty thin at that point but still nice.
O solid oud bruin, very nice, not as tart as I thought it would be but still really nice.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 18:58:44 | More by cfrobrew

spoony

Colorado

4.38/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From a paper-wrapped 750 ml bottle (cork suggests 2011 vintage) into a tulip.

A-The brew is murky and prune colored. It was sort of ugly, but on par for the style. The head was almost two fingers of light tan, pillowy foam. The head was slow to fade and left a little cap for quite a while.

S-The smell was mildly sour and funky. I picked up earthy notes of vinegar, raisins, figs, and tart cherries, as well as some oak type smells.

T-The taste tracks the smell pretty closely. There is a current of musty, earthy, sour fruits and acidic, oaky vinegar up front with a little sweet kick in the mid-palate to balance things out. This brew was medium-sour and I detected no hop bitterness at all.

M-The carbonation consisted of fine bubbles and the brew had a slightly slick finish with a medium body.

O-This beer is a great example of the style. The flavors are complex and well-integrated, and the mouthfeel is nearly perfectly matched to the beer. I especially enjoyed how fruits aside from the typical sour cherry or raspberry stepped up here. That isn't to say that cherry was missing, it just wasn't the only player here, which upped the score in my book.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 17:31:14 | More by spoony

stephens101

Oklahoma

3.63/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark brown with one finger of airy tan head. A little crimson eluded at the light with a quick fade. Smells a bit musty with vinegar notes, plum, grape juice, sour grapes and brown bread all mixed to near equanimity. Dry with more grape juice and a smattering of wafer-like breadiness amongst some taffy and a limited ginger spiciness. There's a faint medicinal characteristic toward the end. Medium bodied with a slight alcohol heat. Puckering, but will not foment a grimace. The aftertaste lingers, and gets to me. I can appreciate the craftsmanship of this beer, and I can certainly respect where it is coming from, but the sour ones are an acquired taste, and it appears I'm still acquiring that taste.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 20:54:54 | More by stephens101

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

4.15/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

After the cork came out with a loud, satisfying pop, poured into an ATG tulip. It's a murky reddish brown with a nice level of carbonation and two fingers of off-white head that quickly dissipates due to the acidity. Lots of sharp, astringent acidity on the nose. I get sour cherries, red wine vinegar, and a faint underlying oakiness.

Medium body with a nice firm feel. High level of carbonation scours your tongue and opens up the palate. Nice, refreshing lactic sourness dominates. I get tart flavors of cherries and lime, all supported by a solid malt backbone. At mid-palate, there is a faint oaky, vanilla sweetness that goes well with the overall flavor. The finish has hints of raisins and red wine and does not betray the alcohol content at all. Very refreshing and easy to drink.

Overall, a very pleasant sour beer. Definitely recommended for fans of the style and for those looking to try their first sour. It has the complexity to please veterans, but the sourness is not so strong as to displease newbies. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 19:35:01 | More by deadonhisfeet

sommersb

Tennessee

4.43/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Tasted On: 11-05-2012
Freshness: 2011 Vintage
Packaging: 750ml green bottle in paper, corked and caged
Glassware: Cervoise glass
Purchased: Single from Argonaut Liquors, Denver

A: Dark, brown colored beer with burgundy highlights. The head is off-white and maybe 3 fingers tall, showing very good retention and an attractive lace.

S: Complex and delightful aromas of both sour and sweet cherries, plus vinegar, spices and raisins. Smells include a woody/oaky component. No hop aromas are noted.

T: The taste is tart and sour up front, and then features some malty/bready characteristics of dark rye breads and yeast. Malt sweetness is combined with some acidity. Not really any typical bitterness of hops are present. Also seems to taste like some barrel/wood aging was used.

M: Medium-bodied and smooth, the finish is similar to the taste - sour, but also has a more dry quality than noted earlier. Carbonation seems to be in the medium range.

O: Overall I really liked this beer, my first from the style and this brewer. Very interesting and complex, it was hard to peg as one specific thing or another. Recommended

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 02:43:11 | More by sommersb

CloudStrife

New York

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle split and poured into a goblet. 2010 on the cork.

A: Looks like a port wine, deep carmely ruby but with a 1 finger off white head. Very hazy, cant see any carbonation. Heads tapers out after a few minutes.

S: Very tart aroma but still very earthy and musty. Certainly some good yeast going on here. Fruity with cherry. Also almost an oak like quality. Gets a lot more of a malt profile at the end of the bottle, with sweet raisiny

T: Quite tart, sour and dry. Just what i wanted. Really gets your taste buds going. Mellows out as it warms up and you get more of the sediment at the bottom.

M: Light on the palate. Very crisp and refreshing. Quite drinkable, booze is very well hidden.

Overall a very very enjoyable beer. Would highly recommend it to any sour lovers or people who like to try something new. Easy drinking yet strong enough to still be something you want to try to sip.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 23:49:53 | More by CloudStrife