Flanders Fred (w/ Alan Sprints) - De Proefbrouwerij (bvba Andelot)

falloutsnow

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From: Binny's, Glen Ellyn, IL
Date: Brewed March, 2012, best by 11/04/2014 on cork
Glass: New Belgium globe glass

Flanders Fred is a delicious collaboration between two skilled brewers, producing a sour Flanders-inspired ale that has strong fruit, malt, and oak influences. Perhaps fresh, the hops mentioned on the label would stand out, and while interesting, I'm not sure how this would influence my appreciation of the beer. As it is, I would purchase another bottle for enjoyment sometime in the not-too-distant future, though the price of a 750ml bottle is somewhat high (~$12). Probably best for fall enjoyment due to the tart fruit, oak, and leaf tannin flavors.

Pours a 1.5cm head of slightly off-white foam with average retention (slightly over a minute), falling to a 0.2cm cap of white foam atop the body. The lacing that remains is excellent, a large number of small dots of foam coat the inside of the glass, resembling a dot-matrix print or pointilist painting. Each sip also renews this effect for repeated entertainment. Body is a deep, hazy (50-60% opaque) copper orange-brown color, with light bringing out dried apricot orange hues. Carbonation is visible rising along the sides of the glass, somewhat plentiful and aggressive.

Aroma is sweetish and toffee-like, but with a notable influence of Brettanomyces-influenced tartness, dry leaf tannins, oak, and sour cherry and raspberry. The beer is a definite blend of a Flanders-style beer and another, lighter ale, though the hop character mentioned on the label (lemon, pine, and tropical fruits, really?) has definitely faded by this point, slightly over one year since it's bottling. Still, a very pleasant aroma that reminds me more of a good Flemish sour than any American hybrid ale.

The overall flavor of the beer is of a pleasantly sour Flemish ale that expresses cherry, raspberry, green apple, oak, dried leaf-like tannins, and toffee in pleasant proportion. Opens with sweet toffee-like flavors that are tempered by slightly acidic tartness, sour cherry and raspberry flavors, and dried leaf tannins. Mid-palate is of a sourish Brettanomyces strain that contributes mild acid and woodsy characters, with intensified sour cherry, raspberry, and green apple flavors, some oak, slight savory (the herb). Back of palate finds intensified sweetness and tartness with raspberry-cherry esters, somewhat like the similarly named US candy, but also complex oak, herbal, and bitter characters. Aftertaste is of sweetish toffee tempered by Flemish ale characters of Brettanomyces (tart cherries/raspberries/green apples), and leaflike tannins.

Beer is medium to medium-heavy bodied with carbonation of medium intensity, resulting in a feel that is slightly fizzy at first, then calming to a gentle, rolling and filling foam. Closes semi-dry, with fairly substantial stickiness lingering upon the palate.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 21:55:55 | More by falloutsnow

MasterSki

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Local Option. Served in a snifter.

A - Very pale for a Flanders Red, but I see this is listed as a Belgian Pale so I guess that makes more sense. White foam settles to a wispy partial cap, thicker collar, and plenty of lacework. Lightly hazed dark orange-yellow body.

S - The smell is immediately recognizable as De Proef, with the assertive house yeast and an almost savory vinegar sauce acidity to it. There's a mix of sweeter malts, spicy esters, and light tart lemon. I'm surprised by the intensity of acetic flavors though, although apparently this has Flanders-brewed 'lambic' and not authentic Flanders Red in it.

T - The taste is intriguing, with a near-equal De Proef and Hair of the Dog presence. The spicy and fruity Fred flavors are present mid-palate, but are preceded by sourness and wet oak flavors. There's a hint of cocoa and candi sugar late, as well as some cake-like flavors and a touch of phenolic Belgian yeast. Odd that that the sourness doesn't show up in the finish - there's just stomach-churning acidity after swallowing.

M - Definitely a bigger beer, with more substance and heft that you'd expect from a 7.5% beer. Medium-full body, with lower but present carbonation. Some tannic dryness even though the oak flavors don't manifest strongly. As mentioned, there's some acidity but not a ton of alcohol warmth.

D - Odd beer, although it won me over during the course of the glass. Seems more like a straight-up blend of two disparate beers than a Flanders Red. Definitely a slower sipper and not something I'd want often, but complex and fairly interesting. Mildly reminiscent of some BFM beers I've had but not as sour.

Serving type: on-tap

09-26-2012 16:23:50 | More by MasterSki

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.95/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a Unibroue tulip. Pours a clear orange amber. One finger off-white head with good retention and nice lacing. Aroma of light fruit, citrus, Belgian spicing and mild malt. Flavor is dominated by tart cherry, apple and citrus. Light earthy and light fruit flavors develop, finishing tart with a distinct acetic acid aftertaste, a hint of funk. This is nicely complex, but I'm having a really hard time detecting the Fred under the Flanders fruit and tartness. There is a hint of sweetness and citrus that is reminiscent of Fred. My tastes would have leaned towards more Fred than Flanders, but I still enjoyed this well made collaboration. The flavor complexity and depth carry it through. Light to medium body with pleasant carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 03:54:10 | More by LiquidAmber

vkv822

Oregon

3.95/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

on-tap @ Belmont Station.
taster glass : from notes.

Dark golden orange with a foamy off white head.

Tart fruit, cherry?, lacto, slightly funky.

Medium body, light prickly carbonation.

A well done blended beer, a lot going on within the tart/sour notes.

Serving type: on-tap

09-02-2012 04:39:31 | More by vkv822

suncrust

Washington

3.93/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750mL bottle poured to a tulip.

A: Pours a hazy, clouded honey-orange with a foamy white cap. Bubbles rapidly push upward from the glass bottom. Very active carbonation reminiscent of champagne. A light, white lacing stuck all the way down.

S: Sour barrel and subtle cherry hit my nose first. Mellow but complex citrus, especially apricot & tangerine. Tart plums blend nicely with a soft sugared candy, and sweet breads. Underneath lie herbal notes & spice, melding with barnyard funk & yeast.

T: Very layered, and ever changing. Starts with a little spice, soft, tart tangerine & citrus notes that mellow quickly to reveal an earthy element, subtle bitterness & dry barrel. Mid-palette sour green apple lingers, finishing with faint breads, sweet toffee syrup, yeast, cherry skins and more spices. Barrel oak, funk… if you look for something in this, you'll probably find it. There's a lot happening.

MF: Lots of prickly carbonation, medium body, with some warming booze. I taste Fred the most in the mouthfeel.

O: A really interesting beer. There's so much happening I felt each sip was exploratory. Some were intriguing & balanced, others deceptive & chaotic. Tart, dry, sweet, soft, citrusy, earthy, and continually evolving. Tough to rate. Tasty though.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 01:26:08 | More by suncrust

brentk56

North Carolina

3.89/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Pours a clear amber color with an impressive head; nice squiggly patterns of lace are left behind

Smell: Tart lacto with berry yogurt from De Proef that is buttressed by the strong toffee base from the Fred

Taste: Fred faces forward, on the front, end with the toffee and Belgian yeast strain; by mid-palate, however, the lacto, berry and green apple flavors start to balance and then overcome the caramel; in the finish, there is a strong sense of vanilla and oak

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate to high carbonation

Overall: I like both of the base beers I am tasting but I am struggling with the blend; still, a very interesting effort, but the vanilla and the sour flavors don't mesh for me

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 20:41:38 | More by brentk56

merc7186

New York

3.85/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Fat Heads in Pittsburgh PA, poured into a goblet.

A: Hazy Golden Straw Hue, Passes Some Light, Thin White Head Ring, Mild Lacing

S: Cranberry, Apricots, Sour Cherries

T: Apricots, Sour Cherries, Sour Mash

M: Average Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Semi Sour

Overall, a pretty decent flanders even though lightly under carbonated.

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2012 21:31:41 | More by merc7186

sweemzander

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750mL corked and caged bottle poured into a tulip. Thanks for sharing Matt!

(A)- Pours an orange colored amber. Some white colored froth and lace.

(S)- A relatively rich body of a dry, oaky, malty sweet fig and apple combination.

(T)- Similar to the smell. An assertive figgy oak and honey malt profile that flows into a dry tangy, almost sour acidic fruit that is quite nice actually

(M)- A good carbonation level and balance. Sweet, but dry/oaky and ever so subtle funky and sour all at the same time. I can definitely see the parts that was Fred, and the rest being the blended flanders. Turns out to be a touch too sweet overall for me though.

(O)- An interesting collaboration. It might get a touch sweet as it warms, but I do enjoy how it jumps from slightly sour, to funky, to sweet so there is a nice dynamic play that could develop further with some time; who knows.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 18:25:19 | More by sweemzander

ehammond1

California

3.78/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle (2012)

Thanks for opening this with me, BdubleEdubleRUN!

Hazy crimson with a small-moderate sized khaki colored head that stays around for nearly the duration of the drink down. This beer leaves irregular dots and webs of lace down the glass. Very pretty.

Sweet aroma leading with toffee, some citrus, oak, very mild funk, and a bit of sour character. I anticipated more acidic sour notes.

The flavor isn't as sour as expected either, with good amounts of fruit-like sweetness leading the way, along with grass, mild vinegar, and a mild, funky earth character. Only moderately sour.

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

Good, but I was hoping this would be better.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 18:15:05 | More by ehammond1

ThePorterSorter

New York

3.78/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

thanks merc for sharing this bottle
the beer pours like an amber with a fluffy white head that fades quickly. The nose is slightly vinegary with some fruity sweetness that builds. The taste is like a flanders, but it's a lot sweeter. there is a touch of oak and yeast that help build up the beer's body. it has a creamy, medium bodied mouthfeel, with a bit of acidity towards the end. it's a strange concoction, but it pulls it off well. I'd try this again, but I wouldn't seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 04:09:39 | More by ThePorterSorter

writerLJBerg

Oregon

3.73/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle.

A: Hazy copper with a bubbling champagne head that quickly recedes. Good bubbles.

N: Grass and hayfields, lemon and green apple. Some cherry and tannins, though I'm not sure this is oak aged. Plenty of white grape. Some sugary sweetness.

T: Vinous grape juice. A good tartness, but I'm rather suprised how little Fred I get as this warms. Lemon, apple, some acetone and cherry to show the flanders side. Some caramel and toffee. M: Spot on here. Well carbonated and light, especially for a 7.5% beer.

O: Tough beer to rate. It's at odds with itself every other pour, in turns complex and delicious, at other times revealing apathy.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 19:05:10 | More by writerLJBerg

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.7/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

total oddball and not at all familiar. pours hazy copper to light red in color with an inch or so of persistent off white foam. the nose is almost like a sour, smell some funky yeast, brett maybe, and a lot of red malt, very appetizing. the flavor starts off nice enough, not really sour at all, but yeasty, spicy, and enjoyable. then something weird happens though, the beer just sort of runs out of flavor midway through. like, right where the flavors should be climaxing, they disappear. it just sort of creams out, there is no finish at all, its just gone before its swallowed. never had that happen before, and it prolongs a little bit once it comes up to room temperature, but where is the back end of this beer?! fine feel, a little thicker and sweeter from the red malt addition, and the carbonation is great. very alive. it does have a bit of a funny belly though, and sort of sits weird in me, churning the stomach around a little. sort of vinegary in there, not breaking down real well. in any event, this was a letdown for me. overpriced and esteemed beyond the reality. passable though, just not sensational.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 23:58:00 | More by StonedTrippin

womencantsail

California

3.68/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy orange/amber color with a sticky white head. Some acetic sourness, cherry, and a nice lactic note. There is a fair amount of oak, some grass, and a bit of lemon peel. A touch of fruity sweetness. The flavor is quite tart, maybe a bit on the acetic side. Red wine vinegar, leather, some oak, and a hint of cherry. A little bit of lemon and lemon peel. Light malt and fruit sweetness in the background. Just a hint of straw and grass in there too.

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2012 06:39:53 | More by womencantsail

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

3.58/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle into a snifter

A: Pours a cloudy light amber color with two fingers of pillowy head. Retention is great.

S: Much more mild than I thought it'd be - very light lactic sourness balanced by caramel malts. A mild spiciness as well, seemingly from the yeast. I don't get much else. Good, but very subdued. As the beer sits, the beer opens up and I get a stronger aroma of Belgian yeast along with some caramel and tropical fruits.

T: Starts out with balanced lactic and acetic sourness. This only becomes a portion of the beer as it opens up, though. I get spicy Belgian yeast - quite floral with cloves. The sourness is subdued, but a welcome addition to the complexity. The beer behind the sourness is nice, but not terribly complex. There is a toffee sweetness with the aforementioned spices.

M: Medium mouthfeel with high carbonation, but appropriate for the style.

O: Not bad - a nice sourness with a simple, but tasty beer behind it. Quite balanced, but lacking a bit in complexity.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 23:13:33 | More by coreyfmcdonald

Hoptometrist

Oregon

3.55/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap into a nonic glass at 16 Tons

A- Poured a murky amber color with an off-white soapy head that dissipated instantly and left no lace

S- Big funky green apple. barnyard funk, and vinegar notes in the aroma

T- Big funky green apple and apple juice notes, vinegar, lactic sweetness, barnyard funk, and nail polish astrigency. Interesting mix of sour and bitter in the flavor profile.

M- Effervescent, very dry, high carbonation, lots of lactic acid and sourness

O- Some really nice flavors, but it did not quite mesh for me. The mix of sourness and bitterness helped cut one another, but was not totally pleasant. Not a bad beer, but nothing I would get again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2013 06:14:36 | More by Hoptometrist

kojevergas

California

3.5/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served on-draught into a stem-tulip at the Muddy Pig in St. Paul. Reviewed from notes taken earlier this month.

A: Pours a half finger khaki colour head of nice cream and thickness, and okay retention. Body colour is a hazy nontransparent tangerine. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Funky lactic yeast, bright fermented fruit, and pale malts. An above average aroma.

T: Nicely funky, even a touch tart on the climax. Pale clean malt foundation. Crisp. Fruity and balanced. Pleasant and enjoyable.

Mf: Luscious, full, clean, smooth, and wet. Good carbonation. Crisp. Tasty. Great mouthfeel.

Dr: Very drinkable and enjoyable. I'd have it again. A surprise success from De Proef. A delightful brew.

High B-

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2012 00:54:38 | More by kojevergas