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

rickyleepotts

Arizona

4.1/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer is apparently rare. I had no idea. I don’t even remember what it cost, but it was less than $10 for the bottle. I grabbed a bottle at Whole Foods. They have a solid selection, but sell just as many cases as they do single bottles. I think ALL beer should be available at ALL stores by the bottle. But that’s just me.

I don’t remember the show, but when I search for “Monk’s Cafe” on Google, the restaurant from the hit TV show Seinfeld shows up. I wonder if that was the name of the restaurant on the show… anyone know? Anyway, let’s get busy drinking.

In the Glass: I didn’t expect this to be so dark. It’s almost red. The label is red, which makes sense. But the last few sours I have had were not red. That’s for sure. But hey, I am fairly new to sours, so maybe THIS is normal.

Nose: Holy cow. The first thing I smell is sour. Like SOUR sour. Not just sour… but sour sour. Did I mention this beer is a sour? I also am picking up some spices on the second sniff. After three or four smells, it starts to settle down a little bit. But I can already taste the sour. Let’s just see how sour she is.

Flavor: The beer quickly slides across the palate, with little carbonation and then just disappears leaving your tongue with that almost too sour sour, but then a soothing finish. The back of the throat gets those spices I was picking up on the nose, but the sour doesn’t really last. That’s OK.

Mouthfeel: I wanted a few more bubbles, but the beer has a great mouthfeel. You don’t get much on the front of the tongue, but then the sour slides around and just punches you in the teeth when you start to swallow. Then the sour leaves, and those spices hang on into the aftertaste. The beer is also very thin, which I expected. As sour as it is, it is very easy to drink, and with a low ABV I could see myself throwing back a six-pack on a Friday night.

Aftertaste: The sour is so forward, it doesn’t really stick around. The spices that were on the nose do. The aftertaste lasts for three or four minutes, then you are left with a somewhat bitter, dry finish. The burp is pretty weak too, but the sour explosion on the tongue when you start drinking puts the rest to shame.

This beer is rare, but shouldn’t be. It’s delicious. It’s also a good springtime beer too, as those sours make me think/feel about the summer just around the corner. I wonder what foods this would pair with… anyway, it’s great. Bottoms up, people!

Monk’s Café Flemish Sour Ale - The bottle says: “We blend young and old beers to make this mildly sour sour ale. Light bodied with a lactic/sour nose and a bit of sweet and sour in the finish. Very refreshing!”

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 18:29:34 | More by rickyleepotts

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

beernads

Florida

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-08-2013 08:15:07 | More by beernads

MADPolo

Florida

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-07-2013 17:13:00 | More by MADPolo

Honus1

Ohio

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-07-2013 02:16:01 | More by Honus1

TGS

California

4.5/5  rDev +16.9%

05-06-2013 03:04:33 | More by TGS

TimHitchings

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-05-2013 22:33:21 | More by TimHitchings

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

05-05-2013 13:30:53 | More by Jason1337