Zoetzuur Flemish Ale - De Proefbrouwerij (bvba Andelot)

emerge077

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Map Room...

A hazy, ruddy red tone, with off-white foam that has a lively sizzle. Lacing spiderwebs cling to the glass for the duration. Active carbonation gives the sense that this ale is completely alive, and the wild whiff of Brett confirms this.

Horsey Brett aroma slightly magnifies toward the end of the glass. It's not heavy or unpleasant, but musky and woody. Berry and iron notes figure in to a lesser extent.

Tartness is there but it's at a low level. Not as one-dimensional sweet/sour as some other Flanders Reds can be. Sour twang is felt briefly at the back of the mouth, and gets the salivary glands working. It's not quite lactic, but certainly wild, like a yogurt culture. Metallic iron/copper note appears in the first few sips, but thankfully subsides. Overall it's fairly bright, with the prerequisite tartness, and vague sweet upturn. What's unique about it is the showcase of wild yeast/bacteria, which feeds the drinker's curiosity.

Easily drinkable & refreshing by the sip or gulp.

I've tried a 750 of this before, and wasn't too impressed. The tap version has redeemed it enough for me to give it another shot. The bottle had an off-putting plastic band-aid quality in the taste, that was really off and out of place.

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2007 18:33:50 | More by emerge077

Halcyondays

California

4.18/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 mL bottle,

A: Pours burgundy red with a light off-white head, good retention, light lacing.

S: Smell is great and complex. Ripe strawberry, with cherry juice, light balsamic vinegar and funk.

T: Strong fruit character, as in the smell strawberry jam is dominant with a light cherry kick. Mild oak astringency and solid lactic acid character balance the sweetness.

M: Moderate acidity, though not as much as I like in this style, but solid. Light bodied, quite easy to drink, with the H+ character, still quite smooth.

D; A real nice Flemish Red here. Its got the solid acidity this style needs with a lot of complexity. Very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2009 03:53:34 | More by Halcyondays

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Split a large bottle at The Farmhouse. Wow, I think this is the best Flemish Red I've had. It lacks the sickly-sweet hit, like in Duchess, and instead has an almost dry fruit punch taste with apples and berries. Of course, the beer is dominated by by sour brett character with an Orval-like catty flavor over sweaty funk and lemon peel.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2011 16:12:52 | More by tempest

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a murky light brown and rosy hue beer, with a light fizzy head with a bit of lacing.

Nose of sour fruits, plum, some cherries, a bit of funk, a little bit of malt vinegar.

Taste is pretty good too, sour cherries, a bit of malt vinegar, fairly tart with oak and lacto acidic flavors. Finishes with a long tart acidic vinegar and sour cherry.

Mouth is medium to lighter bodied, plenty of carbonation.

Drink is pretty good, sour/tart flavors hit hard but not overwhelming, some vinegar and acidic flavors, but overall pretty drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2010 02:08:23 | More by jlindros

Billolick

New York

4.22/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Large bottle, typical Belgian broad shouldered bottle. Pours tequilla sunrise red, the head is soft, fluffy head a dull shade of medium khaki, that leaves thick sheeting and reveals an earthy nose, with some funky components. This a spiced up and warming brew. Spices seem to be in the neighborhood of mild holiday. Tasty and complex, with notes of ripe cherries and other fruits as it warms and opens up. Delicious brew. Interesting and different. Eclectic Belgian lovers will surely enjoy this one

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2009 04:29:12 | More by Billolick

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to hopdog for bringing this to phatz's sour tasting...
Appears a light caramel brown with heavy CO2 streams rising to the top. Lots of chunky beige lacing is left around the glass.
Smell is of caramel, raspberries, apples, cherries, honey, and flowers.
Taste is of the mentioned aromas with a grainy malt characteristic and some mild vinuous notes pulling through in the flavors.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, tart, semi-sweet, with a light amount of booziness in the finish.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2007 20:46:10 | More by weeare138

corby112

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a dark cloudy amber color with dark golden ruby edges when held to a light source. Lots of visible carbonation bubbling up along with a one finger frothy pinkish head that quickly fades into a thin lasting ring.

Nice funky aroma with sweet fruit notes. Slightly earthy with a prominent oak character that has a touch of vanilla. There is also a strong tart, dark cherry presence in the nose.

Medium bodied with soft carbonation up front which quickly gives way to a sweet yet tart fruit flavor that lingers into a dry finish. Prominent earthy oak with hints of vanilla adds nice complexity and balances out the lactic sourness and sweet tart dark berry flavor. Well balanced and extremely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2010 06:29:37 | More by corby112

DoubleJ

California

2.9/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Let's go sweet and sour tonight. On to the beer:

Poured into an oversized wine glass, this beer features a clouded light brown/tanned color. Average head retention, with polka-dot lacing sticking to the glass initially. The beer has both that sweet and sour aroma. Strawberries and caramel is the best way to put it. The grain is a little bit musty.

Very mild flavor. The flavor intensity on this one is very low to my surprise. There is a touch of that vinegary sour flavor, but it's not going to make you think it's salad dressing. Very lighty tart. A little sweet. Faint strawberry, hint of those caramel chews. Watermelon is hinted as well. I wish the flavor were more intense. Well, at loeast it feels like a Flanders Red...it has a good body, firm bubbles....no overcarbonation or thin feel. The aftertaste seems musty, and doesn't amount to anything exciting. It's drinkable, but not interesting...but I got 750 ml to drink, so away I go...

Why are you still reading this? Give this a pass.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2010 06:18:51 | More by DoubleJ

kojevergas

California

3.5/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750ml brown glass bottle with hood and wire cap over a cork served into a Guinness goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are high given the style and to an extent the brewery. I know Mikkeller brews at De Proef a lot, and I'm quite fond of his work, but I do think that this brewery might be a bit too scientific and clinical to pull off a proper sour.

Served refrigerator cold and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a 1.5 finger head of some limited cream, pretty good thickness, and great retention for the above average ABV. Colour is nontransparent non-opaque caramel-red. Generally appealing, but far from ideal for the style. No floating yeast particles are visible - perhaps due to the nontransparency.

Sm: Brett yeast - lending it some complex funkiness, other yeast, some cream, hints of bacteria, and tart fruit. A moderate strength aroma. Both complex and subtle. I'm excited to try it; it's certainly alive. I'm hoping the taste lives up to the promise of the aroma.

T: Pleasant cream opens it up to the nicely brett-laden flavour profile, complete with bacteria, tart cherry, and yeasty notes that manage to add complexity and a light spicy character without feeling overly biscuity. Cream resurges on the climax. The cherry juice might mute the profile a bit; it feels a bit timid. No alcohol comes through - not a bad feat given the 7.00% ABV. Balanced nicely. I'd like it to trust its flavours more and really bring the boldness, but it's pretty mellow - to its detriment. Complex, layered, and subtle. The malts don't come through hardly at all even as an aspect of the foundation, which I think is to its benefit but also lends it a certain emptiness that detracts from the body; consequently it comes off a bit weak and not nearly as full-bodied as I'd like.

Mf: Light on the palate, delicate, and silky smooth, with some cream throughout as an undertone. Perfectly carbonated. It's thin, but this strangely works for the beer. That said, it just doesn't have a strong impact on the palate, a characteristic amplified by its weak body.

Dr: Very drinkable, especially for the relatively high ABV. I could easily drink this all night - and would want to, if not for the somewhat limited quality and high price. I had high hopes for this beer and while it didn't meet them, I wouldn't call it a disappointment. I wouldn't purchase it again without some age on it, but I might recommend it to fans of this specific style. As sours go, it's far from exemplary.

Drank fine out of me goblet.

Would pair well with a vinaigrette black olive salad.

High B-

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 07:15:52 | More by kojevergas

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Brick Store Pub. Pours a beautiful slightly hazy burnt orange leaning toward a chestnut color. Very nice head that is cream colored with tight beading. The smell is slightly sweet up front followed by a gentle lactic quality. Funk at the end with horseblanket and ripe cheese aromas. The taste is very nicely balanced with sweet/tart flavors as well as some nice spice/pepper, and some restrained fruit- pear mostly. Some slight funk grows as the beer warms as well. The mouthfeel is very smooth and quite creamy. Great beer. Not quite as tart as some in the style, but this is more than made up for by a nice restrained herbal funkiness on the finish. Best beer of theirs that I've tried in awhile.

Serving type: on-tap

06-18-2008 22:23:42 | More by Georgiabeer

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.28/5  rDev -17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Buckeyeboy brought this to a recent tasting.... Thanks Jeremy!!

Hazy red/brown brew with a descent white head and lacing.

Nose immediately reminds me of cherry sucrets.. bretty funk and some wet leather... but the seemingly artificial cherries and slight medicinal qualities are the main player.

flavor mirrors the nose with some tannic qualities.. cherry cough drops.... some plummy essence gets lost in the fray... too sweet... could use alot more wild character and more sour to balance the sweetness.

Body is on the light side of medium and a descent carbonation.

I've had this one a couple of times since the COOP got it in, and I've always thought it was okay, but no where near great.

3.5/3.5/3/3.5/3.5

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2010 08:43:21 | More by JohnGalt1

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.58/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Split a 750ml with my wife.

A: Beautiful ruby color with a whipped meringue head that lingers for several minutes, leaving big lacing. Awesome appearance!

S: Sweet cherries and wild yeast, definitely in that order

T: SWEET! sour. This is beer is much sweeter than it is sour. I was really expecting and hoping for a better balance between the two. Sweet cherries and cherry juice dominate the flavors, so much so that I feel I may be missing out on other complexities in this beer. There is only a hint of sourness, along with a yeasty, bread-like quality. The flavor is tasty and done well, but heavily favoring sweet cherry.

M: Sweet and smooth. Average feel.

D: I couldn't even finish my glass. The sweetness becomes very cloying, and quickly.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2010 03:54:35 | More by Huhzubendah

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

De Proef Zoetzuur Flemish Ale
(according to the bottle, brewed with Kriek juice)

Pours a nice ruby color, off white head and nice lacing. Aroma of berries, so quite fruity and slight hint of funk. In the taste, a nice tart sourness, mild acidity, sugary malt, and a hint of cherry juice. Very well balanced with a perfect mix of sweet, sour, malt, and fruit. Ever so slight touch of red wine vinegar. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied and drying. Overall, one of the best examples of the Flanders style, and the fruit is downplayed and left in the background where it belongs. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 00:33:45 | More by Stinkypuss

ccrida

Oregon

4.47/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on draft at the Portland International beer fest. While I normally don't review fest samples, this was only my 2nd tasting of the day, I had two 4 oz. tasters, and took good notes.

The appearance was a cloudy amber muddy brown, with an eggshell collar that left moderate lace.

The aroma is fantastic, strong, sweet and tart sour cherries. Yummy.

The taste is very good as well, semi sweet, a nice sour cherry tartness and a musty, funky bite that fades to a pretty clean finish. I really like this style, and I think this one would be an excellent introduction to wild ales in generally. It has the pucker, but it's not extreme, and the beer is very tasty.

The mouthfeel is average, medium-light bodied.

This was super drinkable for me, as I love the style, and the funk was light enough here to keep this one from being to much if I had the fortunate opportunity to session them.

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2007 19:44:25 | More by ccrida

RoyalT

Ohio

3.45/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Appearance –The head here was off-white and about a half-inch high on an easy pour. It sat on a very dark, almost brown liquid body.

Smell – The sharp yeasty sourness sticks the nose sharply. It smells like pure lemon in there with a tad of malt.

Taste – The lemon isn’t as big on the tongue as it is in the bouquet, but it’s pretty hefty. The malts are lightly-toasted but not bready in any way. It’s more of a barley-type of flavor.

Mouthfeel – The exciting carbonation and light body in the mouth help the flavors along nicely.

Drinkability – This was fun to drink, but a one on one with a bomber of Zoetzuur is asking a lot of the palate.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2006 03:11:40 | More by RoyalT

largadeer

Kentucky

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

Appearance - Not really red; more like brownish-amber, and quite hazy. Pours with several inches of thick, frothy foam; head retention is exceptionally good.

Smell - Mild funk, sour cherries and apples, oak, subtle fruity sweetness.

Taste/mouthfeel - Sour, but not lambic sour; more balanced between sweet and tart flavors. Dry apple cider and sour cherries, raspberries, balsamic vinegar and a touch of vanilla. Medium-bodied with smooth, tingly carbonation. Finishes with a dry, oaky bitterness.

Notes - This is a solid Flanders red, and it's very reasonably priced. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2007 23:17:46 | More by largadeer

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to mughugger for sharing this w/ BitterBeerFace, HombreWing and me. Poured chilled into a Gouden Caroulus goblet

A - Deep amber w/ full white head of about an inch. There is a slight haze on this ale, probably from temperature

S - Cherry and raspberries w/ tropical accents like mango and pineapple. the medley of sweet and sour aromas is great. It has more sour notes when swirled, but has a nice nose

M - This is excellent feel-wise. This ale is not so sour that it makes you pucker, just enough to add depth and give the fruity sweetness contrast. It is highly effervescent and feels light but bursts w/ energetic presence

T - The main flavor is similar to strawberry w/ an earthy note and slight brett w/ subtle citrus and herbal tinges. The grain and yeast combine to give a nice underlying spice taste but the sweetness is relaxed and the flavors are layered w/ complexity

D - This is just out of this world drinkable for a 7% ale. The representation of the style is great I would drink this any chance I can get it is refreshing and has depth not something you can find often like the best of both worlds

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2008 17:34:51 | More by Slatetank

TheLongBeachBum

California

4.5/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 750ml tall brown glass long neck bottle sealed with a simple unmarked thumbed cork, steel cage and black metal cap. It does seem like the cork has the code “ZZ54” on it upon closer inspection. Labeled as one of a series of the ‘Brewmaster’s Collection – Special Reserve’.

Appearance: Gorgeous presentation, appealing looks and a classic defined Belgian feel to this one in my Westy Goblet. Deeply polished cherry wood body, chestnut flashes with a garnet hue. Creamy beige head produces a uniform cap and seems to last at ½” forever. Lovely lacing is well supported by the infinitesimally fine conditioning. Supreme looks!

Nose: Mix and match juxtaposed aromas. Sharpness from freshly skinned damson plums blends with a yeasty acidic punch in the middle. Soft malts sit inside rounded dark fruit alcohols, black cherries, citrusy tingles here and there, a defined but clean farmyard feel and a nice earthy musty feel on the back of the throat. All this is spattered with dusty Brett laden cobwebs throughout the nasal structure. Orgasmic odors!

Taste: Lovely farmyard entrance, soft earthy Brett with some musty damp oak wood undertones. Cutting damson plums balance the alcohol, sour traits, but never astringent, always soft. Funky but in a clean cultured way. Dusty body, the dark cherry and plum fruits rise and fall against the sourness as you drink this one. Gentle tip of the hat to most Flemish Reds with some unique Proef characteristics thrown in. Felt cleaner than most though.

Mouthfeel: Has a delicate talcum soft texture, a very light feel but with plenty of support from the finely dissolved soft conditioning which presents a great platform for the Flemish Red characteristics to shine through. Excellent mouth feel from the off.

Drinkability: Utterly Effortless!!! Intensely refreshing, it cuts a wide swathe through thirst. Easily one of the smoothest Flemish Reds, somehow it merges the traditional sour-sharpness with a smooth well-conditioned fruity feel. The farmyard is present but it has been tidied up a little it seems. Technically “cleaner” than most, but still a great example of the style for my money. Very refreshing and highly quaffable. More please!

Overall: A solid Flemish Red.

Highly Recommended!

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2006 04:09:23 | More by TheLongBeachBum

jrallen34

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750ml corked bottle, poured into my Narke glass...A dirty medium copper, hints of amber. A huge creamy light tan head. A big lasting cap, great retention, awesome lacing...Nice aroma, brett, cherries, yeast, very musky like a saison. A hint of vinegar on the very finish. A touch of to much brett, but pretty nice and balanced overall...The taste flips the aroma as the front is musky brett with a slight cherry finish. Not as balanced as the nose, or as enjoyable. The finish is really awesome though, surprised how fruity the cherry note is...Feel is perfectly carbonated with a great finish.

This isn't a flanders red to me, but a really nice brett wild ale. I recommend this.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2011 03:21:20 | More by jrallen34

Bitterbill

Wyoming

4.3/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle courtesy of joe1510. Thanks Joe!

A big pop when I removed the faux cork, it pours a clear ruby red with a one finger head of foam and shows a ton of nice lacing.

The smell is fruity sour with big notes of cherries and a very light note of something sweet. Maybe I'll figure that out when I taste it.

The taste starts off tart with the cherries and green apples but quickly is matched head to head with a nice honey like and maybe fruity sweetness. Man, this one is sweet & sour but neither wants to take center stage and for me, that works very damn well for my palate, not so much for what I'd expect for the style. It sure is easy to drink though so I can't complain all that much. Heck, now I'm tasting a bit of funk that I didn't notice when the beer was a bit colder. A plus in my book.

Medium bodied with medium carbonation, it finishes decidedly on the sweet side. Head rention seemed to get better with every pour and the lacing is just outstanding.

Drinkability? No problems with the abv, plenty of flavour, I'll have no problem finishing the last pour from the bottle which, btw, is decidely cloudy now. A very enjoyable brew and I again thank Joe for his generosity and spirit of adventure as I don't think that I'd have ever sought this beer out on my own. When I visit a beer store with a lot of Belgians, I get overwhelmed! ;^)

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2009 16:35:32 | More by Bitterbill

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.63/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750mL bottle, corked and caged, bought for $12.99 at Rozi's in Cleveland last week. For whatever reason I've never seen this on shelves before, surprising given there are already so many reviews. I grabbed it without a second thought, as De Proefbrouwerij makes quality wild ales.

This beer has a glorious appearance, reddish orange and clear with a slight chill haze, thick rocky poofs of off-white foam. This is the perfect Flanders Red visual. The aroma is really strong with brettanomyces, sharp and funky, leather and dark fruit like plums and cherries. Nice subtle malts, earthy and authentically Belgian.

This beer just doesn't disappoint by any measure. Damn, it tastes delicious and perfect. Makes you wonder why people rave over legitimately good American wild ales while never mentioning Belgian greats beyond Cantillon. Cherry/plum alcohol, nice sweet counterplay, the sour doesn't reach bracing levels but is rather well balanced by the sweet malt and sugar. Tart, refreshing, addictive. Soft body, silky-like with just enough carbonation, very good.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2010 02:09:41 | More by TurdFurgison

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.8/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark copper color with a fine-bubbled, fluffy light tan head. Very good retention and lacing.

Smell is perfectly funky and wild with equal parts rotting wood and sour berry tartness. Raspberry puree with maybe a bit of blackberry and cherry notes. Not much malt or hops on the nose, but that is ok with me for this style. This beer smells delicious, a joy to sniff!

Mouth puckering sour tartness takes the lead by a slim margin over the brettomyces funk and cedar plank flavors. Some lighter berry notes come through with some strawberries and sour cherries. Earthy in it's own way with some of the caramely malt sweetness making an appearance as it warms a bit. Wonderful sour beer, one of my favorites.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2009 14:30:44 | More by twiggamortis420

StonedTrippin

Colorado

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

totally different than any other flemish red ive had. pours a little redder than copper, with a touch of haze and a one inch tan head that has nice patchy retention. smells smokey, familiar but i dont know how. also lots of tart cherries in the nose. yeasty too. flavor is so weird, earthy, but its got a beef jerkey sort of flavor that comes from the aroma. hard to describe really, any cherry or brett flavors take a back seat to that beefy meaty smoke flavor. i dont dislike it, but its really different. feel is good, well carbonated with a medium body at the most. a 750ml is a lot of this beer, but it works for me i guess. worth a try for its distinct aromatic and flavor profile, but dont come in expecting a traditional flemish sour.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 18:19:37 | More by StonedTrippin

nickfl

Florida

4.22/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - One finger of off-white head that settles quickly but leaves excellent lace. The body is dark reddish brown and very hazy.

S - Strongly acidic with notes of caramel and dark, sour cherries. Subtle vanilla oak note with noticeable, cheesy brett funk.

T - Dramatically sour with a brown, malty flavor to balance. Carmel and balsamic vinegar notes in the middle with very intense woodiness taking over in the finish. Quite a lot of wild funk in the finish along with a powerful tannic bite from the wood.

M - Medium-high carbonation, medium body, and a very dry, tannic finish.

D - Very nice overall with a great sweet and sour interplay, especially in the nose. The tannins are a bit excessive for my palate, and the funk might be overdone as well, but all in all, one of the best Flemmish Reds I have come across.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2009 01:09:57 | More by nickfl

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.7/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

25.4oz bottle picked up at the Village Pump in College Park a while back. Into my trusty Duvel tulip

A: The first pour is a gorgeous clear crimson with a dense beige head with excellent retention that leaves some lacing as it slowly recedes

S: Sweet and fruity (cherries) with a good deal of bready notes. Doesn't smell very sour at all. Oak is subtle. Not very complex.

T: Light bodied, this beer starts off with fruity with cherries and red plums before developing a mild acetic sourness. Oak is present with a definite woody presence. The finish is a mixture of dry and sweet.

M: Carbonation is great and the mildly tart finish make for a very refreshing beer. Unfortunately, it's a little watery on the finish.

D: This is fairly drinkable and I'm enjoying this.

Notes: This is a good beer in its own right but in the past two weeks, I've had decidedly better beers, the Ommengang Rouge and Rodenbach Grand Cru. This doesn't stack up too well against them, though.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2008 20:40:57 | More by DefenCorps