Bière Du Boucanier Red - Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.

ryandesign1

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Received this beer as a gift along with multiple other Belgian beers from a well stocked beer market. I was pleasantly surprised by its slight sweetness and incredibly smooth taste. The bottle has one of the most interesting labels as well. I took a picture to keep on hand to find in the future, as it had become one of my favorite beers instantly. I am a big fan of sweeter Belgians and this red ale was the perfect balance. It was not overly sweet, just mixed perfectly to create one of the smoothest drinking Belgians I have had.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2011 19:47:18 | More by ryandesign1

MABZ

Nebraska

4.55/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I enjoyed this varietal of Biere du Boucaniere even moreso than the golden. Excellent, and very refreshing for a 7% ABV beverage.

The appearance is a clear amber red color with a poofy white head. No sediment, no noticable carbonation.

The smell is of coriander and candi sugar. I was hoping for a bit more variety, but at least it smells good, and not too thick and medicinal.

The taste is amazing. It has a malty and candi sugar sweetness followed by a gentle and smooth coriander spice towards the finish. Only a slight hop bite in the end, and the alcohol taste is well hidden.

The mouthfeel is medium and has a bit of a sting to it, probably from the alcohol. Very highly drinkable for as big of a brew as it is. This is a must try if you can get your hands on it.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2005 23:18:13 | More by MABZ

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The "Red" Boucanier delivers a slightly hazy amber-copper body beneath a full head of creamy, bone-white froth. The head retention is excellent, and it leaves sheets of lace throughout the first half of the glass. The nose is yeasty, fruity (apricot and tangerine peel) and a touch phenolic (clove and subtly plastic-like); over a mild, bread-crust and caramel drizzled maltiness. In the mouth it's gently zesty before warming to foam-up and become slightly creamy. The flavor is initially fruity (tropical with pineapple, tangerine, kiwi, and even the suggestion of cocoanut); delicately spicy; and caramelish. It has a sweetish, toasted malt middle that still remains soaked in fruit. It dries nicely in the finish; and fades easily with remnants of all its components appearing in its long-lingering finish. The alcohol is well-cloaked; and this is probably the most balanced and most drinkable of the Boucanier bieres.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2005 22:51:43 | More by NeroFiddled

rallison

California

4.43/5  rDev +16%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours a cloudy dark amber color with a 1 finger white head. Smells yeasty and of toffee mixed with light fruits.

Tastes excellent. Surprised by this. Tropical fruits, Belgian yeast and some toffee. The flavors are very enticing here. Not extremely complex, but very tasty. I could drink this all day.

Mouthfeel is nice - creamy with a medium level of carbonation that transitions to a slightly sharp finish. Very nice.

Extremely drinkable. This is a beer I would drink a pint of without even noticing.

Highly recommended. I wasn't expecting this to be amazing, but it surprised me. It is very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2007 03:46:09 | More by rallison

PorterLambic

Florida

4.38/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours an orangish-red with a huge off-white, creamy head that rises out of the glass. The head consists of tiny bubbles (cue Don Ho) and looks like you could build on it. Absolutely fabulous retention.
Smell is malt, citrus, green apple, clove and yeast.
Taste is malt, dark cherries, light citrus, clove and yeast.
Mouthfeel is tingly with a medium body and is slightly warming.
Drinkability very high. With great balance and huge complexity this is a very good beer, similar to the Duchesse du Borgogne of which I'm a huge fan.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2005 19:40:31 | More by PorterLambic

CAMRAhardliner

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I agree with other reviewers, this is hands down the best Boucanier beer.

It pours a rusty orange with a great frothy head and sheets of thick lace. The aroma is fruity with orange, lemon, apple and pear evident. Its like smelling a fruit salad. Theres also flowery notes in the nose. The taste is a sweet, slightly tart, slightly bitter, explosion of the same fruit. Its light bodied and conceals its alcohol with perfection. Hops are evident, and provide nice bitterness in the finish. Theres also orange peel in the finish big time. The mouthfeel is light but creamy with the bottle conditioned bubbles.

This beer far surpassed my expectations. It blows away its bigger brothers (especially the indolent Dark). The taste is perfect, so fruity and balanced. This would be great in the summer. Worth buying the mixer pack just for this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2005 03:33:58 | More by CAMRAhardliner

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.38/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cream, five+ finger-head that goes slowly leaving some lace. Cloudy amber color, not red at all. Strong carbonation and medium bodied. Nose has hints of orange. Starts sweet, fruity and balanced, finish is smooth and clean, one of the best red ales I have had. The high ABV is not noticeable. 330ml bottle from six-pack $22.99 Tully's Beer & Wine Wells, Me.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2005 23:20:41 | More by jdhilt

BBP

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Pours yellowish golden with good carbonation and a decent head. Laces nicely.

S- Apple and pear, caramel, belgian yeast, slight spiciness.

T- Tastes much like a BSPA. It's stronger than a BPA, but it's just as smooth as one. After you sip it you're welcomed by sharp apple and pear fruitiness, followed by yeast and spices. A tad of clove. Enough to taste it, but not too much. Has the kind of sweetness that isn't in your face, but is quite pleasant. Very good fresh fruit flavor. Spiced smoothly, and it works great while you drink it, but it's a bit too noticable in the aftertaste.

M- Medium full. A bit heavy on the tongue, which I think is a good thing. The carbonation is spot on. Moderately dry, and slightly sticky.

D- Extremely drinkable. There's very little indicator that it's 7%. It goes down like a BPA.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2011 01:10:04 | More by BBP

Prime16

Connecticut

4.38/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured a light reddish/golden color with a off white head.

S: Smelled of candied fruit, light yeast.

T: A little sweet, with banana, cherry, currant and licorice notes with yeast in the back round.

M: Nice and creamy, easy on the carbonation.

O: I really enjoyed this beer. Nice change from a normal Belgian Pale Ale.

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2011 20:36:14 | More by Prime16

Erdinger2003

Iowa

4.35/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The head pours out very high and thin, leaving small head with a little lacing. The smell is mellow and has apple scents. It's flavor is very refreshing and taste great. Mouthfeel is very nice and brings the whole beer together greatly. I wish I could drink one once a week.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2006 04:47:13 | More by Erdinger2003

TheLongBeachBum

California

4.33/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 11.2 fl.oz (330ml) ‘Duvelian’ brown glass stubby with a themed label that reflects the brews name. An eye-patch wearing Pirate with his toothless smile dominates the front label whilst in the background wooden barrels and a Buccaneer ship complete the display. A small orange colored neck label has the words ‘Superior Class, From Belgium, East Flanders’; all this is finished with an appropriately color coordinated crown cap. The main label has a generic design and the words ‘Bière du Boucanier’ which appear on all three BdB variants. Only the small text words “Red Ale” below the larger word Boucanier and “alc. 7% by Vol” differentiate this from the other two “Golden Ale” and ”Dark Ale” versions.

Appearance: Dusted copper and hazed amber body that pours with a huge head, I noticed this one literally frothing at the mouth when it left the bottle. Gorgeous large frothy and rocky head that is off-white in color and typically Belgium in its appearance. Smooth gentle tilting of my Duvel glass coats the side walls with a fine looking bubble coat that laces nicely. Solid conditioning.

Nose: Spicy oranges tangle with and a zesty citric malt kick. Sugared apricots and peppered Satsuma rinds the peppers from the back end. Strong inviting nose with a lot of character and complexity.

Taste: Candy sugar threads throughout the lovely fruity orange and lemons, finishes with a raisin twang that rises quickly from the pale ale malts. The fruity aspects remind me of several fruits whose names don’t exactly spring to mind at this late hour but they make for a real fruit salad of a brew. Spices pepper the body and the spritzy carbonation lends a bite to this Red.

Mouthfeel: Smooth but peppery the conditioning is lively but restrained. It tickles the tongue at first but soon settles down to a carpet soft finish.

Drinkability: Easily partaken, the 7% alcohol is perfectly balanced with the strong carbonation, but the spicy zesty fruits are what really makes this a treat, not you’re your average “Red Ale” at all, this one is a lovely twist on the Belgium Pale Ale and it works extremely well. Highly Drinkable and Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2005 06:47:21 | More by TheLongBeachBum

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.33/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Crazily bubbled dusky orange with subtle brick red highlights and brighter orange edges. The ecru head looks like the head on virtually every other grossly over-carbonated beer that I've ever seen. It's as airystiff as styrofoam and about as sticky. I'm surprised to see that a thick, fuzzy ring of lace sets up shop at mid-glass and remains there until the beer is gone.

This is one of the most upfront Belgian pale noses that I've smelled in quite some time. It's muskily fruity with melodious notes of fermented apple and pear and is impressively yeasty. To break down 'yeasty' even further, it's faintly funky, considerably clovey and perceptibly peppery. If the flavor follows suit, I'll be a happy buccaneer.

It does. First of all, thanks to the appreciable alcohol, it tastes more like a BSPA than a BPA. That's not a knock on the beer, just an observation. Of course it doesn't look like either one, but I'm not holding that against it. If I pause for a moment a try free association, the first three phrases that come to mind are sour fruit, spicy yeast and bubbles.

I really have very little to add to my description of the aroma except to say that the beer is even more aggressive on the palate. Since flavor is oozing out of every porthole, it's a good thing I like it. Sweetened clove-spiked caramel apples burst into a thousand pieces each time beer enters mouth. It won't be everyone's cup of grog, but I like this one more with each passing sip.

I found Biere Du Boucanier Golden to be tough to swallow due to an 11.0% ABV that drank like 15.0%. This one drinks like a 9.0%'er, putting it smack dab in the heart of BSPA country. The mellow alcohol is a welcome member of the flavor profile as far as I'm concerned. The body/mouthfeel is light-medium initially because of the manic carbonation. Once the bubbles calm down, it becomes medium-full with a pleasing slickness on the back end.

Biere Du Boucanier Red looks like an American red ale (except for the head) and tastes like a sweet and spicy Belgian Strong Pale Ale. I wasn't expecting much after drinking a bottle of its high-octane brother, but I ended up being impressed in the end. Good beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2006 16:36:56 | More by BuckeyeNation

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: It has a nice deep golden/amber color to it. It has a nice thick off-white head that dies down moderately and leaves some nice lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitely give out hints of Belgian yeast, bready malts, tropical fruit and peppery spices.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has a nice tropical taste (pineapple, citrus), Belgian yeast, breadiness and some pepper and cloves

Mouthfeel: It has high carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with good flavors and aromas. Not the most complex Belgian Pale but a tasty one.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 21:44:14 | More by SebD

giblet

Ohio

4.28/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

arg!!! this poured a reddish color into the glass with about one and a half inch head. nice steady carbonation. very nice lacing down the glass. this is a good rich malty sweet beer. good floral tones to this one. good mouthfeel, chewy. this is a darn good brew.

suckem up and movem out...arg!

giblet

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2010 20:49:39 | More by giblet

MattyV

Ontario (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +12%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Pours a crystal clear light copper colour with a relatively dense white head.
Nose is of banana, spice, a general fruitiness that I can't pin down, some caramel/nuts.
Bready malts are apparent right away, which lead into caramel and fruits. Very light citrusy hop finish with a spicy, fruity aftertaste.
Good carb, but feels a bit thin and watered down in general.
I surprisingly enjoyed this one more than the dark and golden. It showed great complexity and a unique and enjoyable flavour profile.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2011 06:53:58 | More by MattyV

gfreed

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Arrrgh, etc. Add this to the list of decent, understated Belgian ales that could teach a few over-hormoned American brewers a lesson or two in balance and taste. Yeasty, bready, slightly bitter but overall well-malted, etc. Everything you like in a Belgian ale with some ABV warmth that is well modulated. Plus the gap-toothed goon on the label provides some amusement. Worth hunting down.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 19:52:26 | More by gfreed

Billolick

New York

4.22/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This one says "red ale" on the label, and although thats not listed on the style selection choices for Belgians, (Its not a Flanders red ale, believe me) this one is very slightly red. 11.2 ounce stubby Belgian style bottle, Very similar label to the Strong ale. Best before dating of 18-05-06. Very pleasant flowery nose, soft off white head, excellent retention and long stringy lacing left behind. Notes of melon, sweat fruits, yeast, soft spiceness, delicate hops to dry things out at the very end. 7% well hidden, Lucious and very tasty brew. After a measily 11.2 ounces, I definitly wanted at least 2 more!

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2004 22:05:53 | More by Billolick

msmezher

California

4.22/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bière Du Boucanier Red is a magnificent Belgian Red Ale. A crisp, frothy, off-white head bulging over the top of the tulip glass. The beer is medium to light bodied with a hazy red coloring. A sharp bite of belgian sour candy, honey, and fermenting fruit fills the palate. Less alcoholic than its Blonde and Dark counterparts. While I'd love one again down the road I rate the drinkability a little low because I don't know if I would want more than one at a time.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2010 02:18:24 | More by msmezher

allergictomacros

Ontario (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Hazy orange/copper with a copious, but loose head. Nice lacing.

S - Bready, yeasty, fruity. Notes of apricot and peach. Lots of apricot. Grassy and floral notes appear later.

T - Somewhat sweet, and extremely fruity and buttery. Definite yeast presence is notable. Lots of complexity and some notes of alcohol.

M - Lively carbonation, slightly slick and oily.

D - Very nice. Fresh, fruity and very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2006 01:11:28 | More by allergictomacros

crossovert

Wisconsin

4.2/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2 oz bottle form a mix pack of 3 different Bière Du Boucanier beers.

Pours an amber color, very similar to their golden ale, though it is labeled a "red" It has a big foamy white that leaves a lot of lacing.

It smells really nice. The yeast is almost tutti fruity with a froot loops of fruity pebbles scent to it. One of the fruitiest smelling ales i have come across.

It tastes pretty fruity as well. Just straight up fruittiness, it works amazingly well. Melon, lime, strawberry, ect all combine for an amazing flavor.

This is my fav beer in this series.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2010 03:36:01 | More by crossovert

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Boucanier RED? From FLANDERS?

It's like a triple (Augustijn), without the added sugar.

A: Golden copper/bronze, pours with lots of fluffy white head, some retention, beautiful lace. Carefully decanted, but some chunks of yeast made their way into my glass.

S: Not very powerful, but a pleasant mix of bread, yeast, earth, a little spice, with a hint of pineapple.

T: Bready, nice malty sweetness, with a lot of yeasty flavour (earthy & spicy) and a little orange rind. A touch of bitterness in the aftertaste. Wonderfully balanced.

M: Light to moderate body, moderate to high carbonation, dry finish.

D: Quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2006 22:53:19 | More by Derek

Wildman

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer poured a clear amber gold color and formed a foamy white head that receded very slowly and coated the glass with lace. A small amount of carbonation was present. An aroma of malt, yeasts and banana. The flavor was of malt, banana, bread(yeast) and touch of pepper. The body is light and the finish a touch astrigent, yet having that tangy property that you sometimes find in the belgian styles.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2006 01:54:15 | More by Wildman

BeerDocT

Georgia

4.13/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a chilled tulip glass.

-Appearance 4.0: Poured out a beautiful, golden-red color. Semi-translucent with a half inch head that dissipated leaving swirling foam on top. Big carbonation bubbles began to form and cling to the side. Lovely.

-Smell 3.5: Subdued bouquet, but I do smell that lovely Belgian yeast, a light caramel sweetness and a very light barley tone.

-Taste 4.5: Front is actually tangy, slightly sweet and very pleasant. Middle is yeasty and also somewhat sweet, but very light. Finish is a smooth, medium barley taste with subtle yeast undertones and that same cloying, slight sweetness. Aftertaste is where I detected the malt. All elegantly understated and very refreshing. This is 7% ABV????

-Mouthfeel 4.0: Above average. For a Belgian, this beer is lightly carbonated and the smaller amount of bubbles really added to my enjoyment of the brew.

-Overall 4.0: Excellent Belgian beer that exhibits so many characteristics which brewers from other countries would do well to emulate. Subdued, balanced, elegant and never overwhelming, this is beer on another level. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 03:57:56 | More by BeerDocT

Boilermaker88

California

4.1/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on-tap at Lucky Baldwin's Sierra Madre outlet pub. Served up in a smallish Bière Du Boucanier tulip glass. Cost: $6.50.
Appearance: clear copper color topped with a large white head that maintained itself quite well thanks to the copious carbonation. A swirl of the glass halfway through resulted in the head ballooning back to life. Quite attractive.
Smell: definitely not an American red ale, this Belgian brew has got all those aromas I love about Belgian ales: lots of fruity sweetness - apricots, nectarines, apples and citrus - and peppery spices.
Taste: candied fruits figure prominantly throughout. Sugary sweetness just doesn't quit here. Added to the glazed nectarine-and-apricot is the tang of orange peel and pineapple. Zesty, peppery flavor packs a punch that nicely offers up a counterpoint to all that sugary sweetness.
Feel: medium-bodied, rather fluffy, with a smooth finish.
Drinkability: pretty darn good. It was tough not to give in and damn near gulp it down. Alcohol content, already not absurdly high, was quite well disguised, something not always the case with Belgian beers of this style. Well worth the money and cetainly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2006 17:39:52 | More by Boilermaker88

DoctorDog

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 11.2 oz bottle into an oversize wine glass. Stamped with "19/12/09" on the back label.

A- Orange and strikingly clear. Pours with ~1/2 finger of white head, which fades quickly into a thin, sporadic cap. Some splotches of lacing.

S- Citrusy maltiness.

T- Lots of malty sweetness dominates, but is not cloying. A minor hint of citrusy hoppiness rolls to the back of the tongue. Moderately low bitterness. Touch of alcohol warming on the finish.

M- Carbonation is moderate. Light feeling and smooth.

D- Extremely drinkable. This one went down in a flash, and had I another, it doubtlessly could've as well. The whole greater than the sum of it's parts in this realm.

Future outlook: Nothing flashy or amazing about this beer; just a solid, tasty, easy drinker. I'd be happy to have this again, and look forward to sampling this breweries other offerings.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2009 03:50:39 | More by DoctorDog