Monk's Café Flemish Sour Ale - Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.

gottabetweed

Texas

3.43/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a cloudy brown with a minimal head that dissipates quickly. Little lacing remains on the glass.

Smell is sour, with fruits and malts. Malt is more prevelant than most sours.

Taste is sour at first, cherries, and lemons at the finish.

Overall a good, but not great sour.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 00:23:45 | More by gottabetweed

tectactoe

Michigan

3.78/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

On tap at the Oak Cafe. It's got a pretty solid, burnt ruby color with a mahogany base. It seems to be somewhat translucent, although the bar I'm in is pretty dimly lit and therefore the opacity is hard to judge accurately. Basically no head on top of this one - just a small, beige ring that only stays for a minute or so before floating away.

Juicy, ripe apples and cherries outline the aromatic profile, or at least the first sniff. Residual sweetness backs up the apples nicely; a very faint tartness can be detected at times, though this is still telling me that this brew will be more sweet than sour. Time grants the ability for the beer to open up a bit; berries, darker cherries, acetic acid, light vinegar, and some mild barrel/oak.

Funk in the aroma is definitely there, but in small quantities. There's a slight "wet hay" and faint must character, but it's minimal compared to some other Belgian sours. This follows through into the flavor profile, as the first sip contains almost no funk at all, rather it's pretty heavy on the fruits - cherries, grapes, red apples. Vibrant, zesty, and juicy are good words to describe the flavors.

This beer is mildly tart, but only for a brief moment. The residual-like sugary sweetness creeps in pretty steadily and washes out any hope of this beer actually being "sour", despite the name. More vinous notes come in, although the more I drink, the more it just seems like heavy grapes rather than actual wine-barrel notes. The finish is fruit juice-like with fading cherries and grape skins, and maybe a hint of oak. Still no funk, sad to say. Snappy, crisp mouth feel, wet and slick; thin bodied with medium-heavy carbonation.

Pretty good beer, drinkability is insanely high - a 5.5% ABV beer that tastes like bold fruit juice. I would have like to see a bit more tartness or funk, as this one was kind of mild all around. But hey, perhaps that's the style they were going for. Still a nice drinking sour ale as long as you're not expecting it to be too sour (or too funky).

Serving type: on-tap

05-24-2013 11:50:20 | More by tectactoe

yancot

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

05-24-2013 01:51:18 | More by yancot

kvnstfrd

Missouri

1/5  rDev -74%

05-23-2013 04:49:40 | More by kvnstfrd

ESeab

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Served in a Stella goblet

A - Dark ruby red, almost copper brown when not in light. Yeast flaoting around the bottom

S - Smells of raseberry and other fruit. I'm not really getting much though

T - Tastes like it smells. A touch of lemon and cherry comes through big time. It is definitely a great balance of sweet and tart, neither of which are too strong.

M - Real nice mouthfeel. Carbonation plays well with the body, which is a bit more syrupy than expected.

O - Solid sour if you are just starting. Or a nice refreshing beverage if you are already into sours.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 20:14:38 | More by ESeab

drummermattie02

Texas

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-21-2013 20:08:00 | More by drummermattie02

rvajohn

Virginia

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-21-2013 01:06:44 | More by rvajohn

Arithmeticus

Maryland

3.25/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured chilled in flared sample glass @davewhite4, the third of a sour beer trilogy.

A: thin head, but very active carbonation; cola color; snowglobe effect from all the yeast floating about
S: not much aroma; opens up into some vinegar
T: very flavorful; sour cherry dominates; good malt presence

Good specimen of a sour beer

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 22:29:00 | More by Arithmeticus

drgonzo2k2

California

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-19-2013 16:54:07 | More by drgonzo2k2

VinnyA

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

05-19-2013 05:14:21 | More by VinnyA

Steamer

Missouri

3.78/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: A rich ruby red; light tan head with large bubbles, sparkling effervescence. Smell: A dry champagne aroma. Taste: Very mild sour and tart flavor, almost too light, refreshing though. Mouthfeel: Again champagne like; heavy carbonation. Overall: On the mild side of sour ales. Would be an excellent choice for someone just getting into sours or anyone looking for a light tart ale on a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 00:14:28 | More by Steamer

Shads42

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-18-2013 18:39:30 | More by Shads42

chefduff2

New York

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

05-18-2013 05:57:32 | More by chefduff2

Hoppy_McMalt

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

05-18-2013 03:24:55 | More by Hoppy_McMalt

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-17-2013 05:14:30 | More by Slatetank

cliftonsbiehl

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-17-2013 03:07:30 | More by cliftonsbiehl

mtalley999

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

05-17-2013 01:25:43 | More by mtalley999

TastyIsBeer

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

05-16-2013 02:15:43 | More by TastyIsBeer

lucasj82

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

05-15-2013 02:28:45 | More by lucasj82

NorCalMaekJuMan

California

3.83/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

At first I was a little intimidated by the word sour in the title but I really liked it. I found it went well with roasted pork loin cooked in apples and onions (like pork chops Normandy). I liked the coppery head. I can't really describe the smell but I liked it. I find it very similar to any of the Russian River sour beer types (ie...consecration, temptation)..although I think I prefer the stuff from Russian River.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 02:55:27 | More by NorCalMaekJuMan

aLenwell

Florida

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-14-2013 00:27:07 | More by aLenwell

djwhit24

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

05-14-2013 00:17:31 | More by djwhit24

amcaleh

Indiana

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-12-2013 16:25:48 | More by amcaleh

twenty5

Pennsylvania

1/5  rDev -74%

05-10-2013 16:19:01 | More by twenty5

Xzfgiimtsath

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -15.6%

05-10-2013 13:06:59 | More by Xzfgiimtsath