Mestreechs Aajt (US - Non-Saccharin Version) - Gulpener Bierbrouwerij B.V.

DoctorB2B

Massachusetts

4.58/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at The Beer Run in Charlottesville, VA ($11/16oz).

Appearance: Served in a 16 oz. pint glass (meh). Looked like cranberry juice with very little head to show.

Smell: Red wine vinegar, YUMMY!!!! I had a friend unfamiliar with the style take a whiff and he was quoted as saying "really? you're gonna drink vinegar?"

Taste: bye bye vinegar, hello flanders! Sweet, tangy and refreshing. It's a classic flanders style. Again, said friend quickly changed his tone when he tried ... he regretted not being open to trying it.

Overall: this was my first experience with this brew. Always up for sours/flanders/flemish yada yada, I'd order this beer again in a second.

Serving type: on-tap

07-05-2011 03:56:09 | More by DoctorB2B

DefenCorps

Oregon

2.68/5  rDev -34.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

On tap at Max's. I guess this is what I drank, unless we got the Dutch version

Dark brown, solid brown head with good retention and nice lacing. Nose is light, tart, roasty, mildly lactic and refreshing. Very grainy and rustic. Some sweetness is noticeable. Palate opens very sweet, artificial, almost like Equal. It really gets in the way, covering up the grain and tartness. Sweet, artificially so on the finish with a mild grainy husky character. Light in body with high carbonation, this beer is too sweet for its own good. I can't really recommend this.

Serving type: on-tap

06-25-2011 00:21:53 | More by DefenCorps

GbVDave

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a goblet a Map Room 9/15/07.

A: Served an attractive, dark, tarnished-copper color. Very dark, brownish-red with deep mahogany highlights. Some sticky lace.

S: Vaguely tart. Smells of earthy, dirty, and sour cherries. Also picked up a hint of raisin.

T: See above with the addition of oak and a pleasantly medicine-y flavor in the finish. Did I taste tree bark?

M: Sour and bitter with just the right amount of oak-y smoothness.

D: Quite refreshing, as far as sour beers go.

Serving type: on-tap

09-16-2007 14:20:56 | More by GbVDave

mdm46410

Indiana

3.7/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap, poured into a tulip. This ale pours a deep ruby color with a small quickly diminishing off-white/beige head. Leaves a fair amount of light lacing around the glass. The aromas are that of sweet/sour cherries, light wood, and notes of some vinegar. The vinegar smell is not overpowering, and somehow finds a way to blend with the other flavors to make a smooth, refreshing drink. Mouthfeel is lighter bodied with a good dose of carbonation. The ale finishes clean and dry with a slight hint of sourness left on your tounge. Nicely done.

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2007 23:57:05 | More by mdm46410

DarkerTheBetter

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I’d only had this in bottles and have had a hard enough time finding it, but leave it to Monk’s to have it on tap. <insert appropriate prostrations, bowing and scrapings here>

This beer came a glowing orb of cranberry in a tulip glass. This was absolutely stunning, but there wasn’t a speck of head to be seen.

Smelled of raspberries and cranberries with a smooth buttery straw and a funky, musky snap.

Tasted of raspberries and tart tingly cranberries that were blended into a musky funky yeast and a buttery straw.

The mouth feel is light with a great swarm of bubbles that really helped stir up the tangy elements of the beer. Nice!

This one’s simply a must; bottle or tap. It’s really a delicious and appealing rendition of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

04-27-2006 20:14:37 | More by DarkerTheBetter

Gavage

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Found on tap at Monk's in Philly.

Appearance: brownish red in color with a spotty surface head. No lacing develops.

Smell: tons of sour cherries with a candy sweetness lingering behind it.

Taste: the sour cherries tones were up front but not offensive at all. Oak, sweet red grapes, and a bit of earthiness rounds it out. Some hints of chocolate sweetness arrives as you swallow. Lightly dry throughout. Nice mix of sweet & sour.

Mouthfeel: crisp from start through the finish. The sour cherries tones linger briefly on the tongue. Medium bodied.

Drinkability: a very enjoyable slow sipper that grows on you as it warms. Not a beer you can have several of in a session, but this could be easily enjoyed several nights in row without getting bored.

Serving type: on-tap

04-26-2006 11:31:58 | More by Gavage

GClarkage

California

4.38/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

04/06/06- On tap at the Toronado in San Francisco, CA during Belgium Beer Month.

Presentation- Via the tap into a tulip type glass.

Appearance- Off brown in color. Maybe a mahoganey or off cherry color as well. Light rim of head after the pour. Nice lacing left behind.

Smell- Mild funk. Not really barnyard though. Maybe some pickup of some plums or other dark fruits. A bit woody.

Taste- Very nice tart flavor at first taste. Not to tart though. Even has a taste of sugary sweetness after you get into the beer. Maybe some oak aspects as well.

Mouthfeel- Caresses the mouth nicely. Low to mid range carbonation level. Low aftertaste effect.

Drinkability- Fine example of a Flanders. Worth trying for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2006 20:02:03 | More by GClarkage

Foxman

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It came to me a ruddy but lively brown with glints of red in the bar lights. A thin film of off-white head dropped away to frothy swirls. Flits of lacing lay on the glass.

The aroma carried vinegary notes of ripe cherries and plums, backed by some sweet and sour dueling, as well as earthy tones of nuts and cocoa.

The first sip cascaded in cheek-sucking sour ripe cherry and a gone-over vinous twist. More overripe berries punch through, carrying sweetness to battle the sourness, but currents of chocolate and some nuttiness lead a decided funky barnyard stomp into the mix. The finish was quick, with a flash of pruny sweetness promptly bested by a shortly lingering dryness. The interplay is an interesting tide of crisp characters.

Medium bodied, it lays on the palate with a fruit juicy tart astringency the exercises the 'buds.

There be plenty of tart sassiness here, but it's simple to take it in stride as a comfy compliment to the flavor elements that come into play. It's utterly drinkable, quenching in its way, and alive in the mouth, sparkling and tinkling as it crosses over. It's got everything you'd expect in the style, and while it isn't incredible, it is memorable, and outright good, and that's a commendable achievement.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2005 15:37:58 | More by Foxman

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The Meestrech's Aajt is an impressive example of the Flander's red style. This version is unsweetened, and I assume their European version is more like the Duchess de Borugone.

It pours a reddish-chestnut brown beneath a short lid of creamy tan foam that drops shortly to a standard collar with just some spider-web surface covering (which is common for the style). It does, however, leave some nice splashes and spots of lace about the goblet.

The nose is grape and cherry-like, with some earthy character (muddy barnyard), and some mild acetone. It's medium-light bodied and gently effervescent. The flavor is a bit more intense than the nose suggests, and includes a wider range of fruit (some plum), more tartness over some sweet caramelish maltiness. The bitterness is limited, as it should be, and the tart character over-rides its sweetness to become acidic and dry in the finish.

Refreshing and exciting!

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2005 13:07:23 | More by NeroFiddled

PatandDavid

Massachusetts

4.88/5  rDev +19%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had this on tap at Redbones his weekend hanging with David and Uncle Jimbo. Pour was dark garnet in color, faint low tan head that went away leaving me with a small Rorshach (sp?) pattern on top. I had three of these in a row, and picked up different aromas in almost every glass, ranging from a sour fruit/kriek-like one, to concord grapes, to some musty barnyard aromas. I have to say, I haven't had a beer this good in a while, and it was definitely a real pleasure. Medium mouthfeel and fine carbonation add in making the taste last. The balance of sweet to tart is perfection, and both sensations are not over the top. Main flavor notes were low malt backbone, with really just sweet and tart fruit notes (one minute kriek, the other grape). There was some lingering astringency in the finish. Outstanding.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2004 12:22:07 | More by PatandDavid

cerevisiaephilus

Michigan

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Great treat on draft at the Exton PA Drafting Room. Nice looking beer. Deep mahogany red with a light beige head that left scant but noticeable lacing. Smell is nice and funkified. Definately pick up the lactic sourness, but a distinct mustiness is present also that is also present as a flavor component. Something that I found ever so slightly amiss in this beer. Nice sweet component to the beer which balances the strong sourness, but that dirty kind of musty taste didn't sit right with me. I think I like a bit cleaner sourness in a Flander's Red. Perhaps it was just the rather strong sourness that makes me think its a bit musty. Decent mouthfeel. I wouldn't drink more than 2 or 3 of these, but all in all pretty good.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2004 22:17:28 | More by cerevisiaephilus

Billolick

New York

3.83/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Blind tiger, NYC. Pours ruby red with a reddish medium bubble head. Nose is clearly of spicy old stinky feet/cheese. Sharp, fruity,sour, cherries, plums and other fruit flavors in the mix. Malty flavors come in later and make this more user friendly. Sourness not overwhelming. Take some getting used to, but clearly an interesting, complex creation. Have an open mind and give this stuff a try.

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2004 15:54:17 | More by Billolick

zaphodchak

Virginia

4.18/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Almost opaque from the side, a deep, deep ruby under the light. A finger give or take of large-bubble offwhite head. Laces decently.

That signature tangy sour smell of a Flemish sour; more vinegar than citrus or anything. Sort of an apple cider vinegar nose.

Taste is remarkably rich, smooth, and balanced. The vinegary, kombucha-esque tartness, sure, but balanced by a ton of sweetness and some malt character that reminds you that in fact the lovely fermented beverage in front of you is beer. Grape tanginess overtones, especially on the finish. Remarkably sweet start, date-like or pruney. There's something very faintly vegetal here, but I can't put my finger on it. Possible rotkraut. The aftertaste is a bit sticky, so consider having with a glass of water. Magnificently complex for a style I had almost written off as one-dimensional.

Mouthfeel is good, a bit prickly, but nothing objectionable. Pretty average.

Overall, this is the best Flemish sour I've ever had. It has a complexity and balance that a lot of sours lack.

Serving type: growler

07-01-2011 00:46:08 | More by zaphodchak

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very dark garnet that is clear. Minimal head but a fair amount of lacing on the way down. Nose is berry like with an almost inky edge. Flavor is smooth. Berry tones that are strong but not overpowering or overdone. Sweet and even. Feel is close to syrupy. Extremely drinkable. Could go for this a lot, especially at the price. Definitely worth a try...or two.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2007 21:00:51 | More by RblWthACoz

YonderWanderer

Colorado

3.6/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a brownish-red with a thin layer of foam on top.

S: Tart cherries, berries, a hint of vinegar mixed in. Sourness is evident from the start.

T: Similar to the smell. Some acidic sourness mixed in with cherries. A bit of a malty backbone is evident as well. Fairly balanced overall, and pretty good.

M: A little thin, with medium carbonation. I'd like a little bit more to this.

D: This is a simple, but solid example of this style. Definitely worth trying, but I'd probably take a Rodenbach over this.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2007 00:31:50 | More by YonderWanderer

AndoBrew

Georgia

3.83/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

*Loved it! Might buy it*

app: brown watery with no head at all

smell: Nice! sour, tart, and sweet ... Neat!

taste: I like it, its good very balanced with almost a brown ale type flavor but its mostly red ale all the way.. refreshing!

mf: to much water in the mouth for this one, but good otherwise.

drinkable?: yep

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2007 02:36:09 | More by AndoBrew

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.1/5  rDev -24.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a clear, still, dark brown body.

Smell: Aroma of raisins soaked in balsamic vinegar and aged in wood.

Taste: Intensesly sweet-sour raisin flavor. Subtle wood character. Finishes sweetish and acetic.

Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. No carbonation.

Drinkability: Not really too much to say about this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2007 21:28:26 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a cola color with a modest head despite an aggressive pour; some lacing

Smell: Cherry and oak underly a tart vinegar sour aspect

Taste: Starts with a tart cherry flavor that acquires some oaky and leathery elements mid-palate, as the sourness builds; after the swallow, the tart flavors fade and the sweet fruit builds into the finish, although there is an underlying tartness at the end

Mouthfeel: Slightly watery without much carbonation

Drinkability: With a better mouthfeel, this would be a first class Flanders Red; as it is, the flavors are very approachable

Thanks, eclectic, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2007 22:14:47 | More by brentk56

OldSock

District of Columbia

4.05/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance – 11.2 oz swingtop bottle from Luke's. Poured into a wine glass it is dark brown with red highlights when held up to the light. The thin off white head quickly falls back into the beer without leaving any lacing.

Smell – Cherries, funk, a bit of vinegar and sweet malt. Its solid, but not exemplary and the vinegar like aroma makes me worried.

Taste – The taste is much less sour than the smell indicated. It is tart, but well balanced with a sweet caramel/toffee maltiness. The cherry aroma carries through in the flavor nicely, making the beer taste a bit like cherry preserves. Hops and alcohol are basically non-existent.

Mouthfeel – A bit syrupy for the style with low carbonation. I would prefer a bit more carbonation to help lighten the body.

Drinkability & Notes – Not an overly complex sour red, but well balanced and easy to drink. An interesting varient of the Flanders Red, and if Wild Brews is correct soon to be gone.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2006 22:55:01 | More by OldSock

Crosling

Colorado

3.38/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Cherry red color. Lightly acidic nose, vinous, peppery, with hints of balsamic vinegar a touch of red fruit. I find this to be poorly blended, too much lager and not enough sour ale. It’s definately a let down, compared to the aroma, which led me to believe this was going to be intensely sour. The caramel sweetness from the lager seems to be the most dominant here and I look for a drier, less approchable and more sour version of red ale.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2006 15:50:15 | More by Crosling

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

(Served in a tulip glass)

A- This beer pours a dark mahogany brown body with a fizzy light brown head that turns rocky very quickly. There appears to be lots of carbonation of tiny bubbles.

S- Even as I pour I detect an odor of red wine vinegar. On closer sniff, I notice hints of cherries and a faint note of fresh bread.

T- The flavor starts with a soft mild sour note that has a faint cola hint. In the finish there is a very soft old oak note that has a slight sweetness to it giving a note of cherries and vanilla.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel that might be a bit more full from the fizz in the texture. There is no alcohol warmth or astringency at all. The sour notes are very gentle.

D- This beer is a gateway beer to the Flanders Reds. It is very soft and mild leaving me wanting more pucker, more sour and more oak notes. I think it needs more of everything but it is pleasant to drink if I wasn't hoping for a big Flanders.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2006 00:11:07 | More by rhoadsrage

maxpower

Missouri

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2 swing top bottle pours a deep clear reddish brown color with a nice creamy light brown head that leaves a sticky lacing in my glass. Fruity vinegar aromas, cherry, sour apple and vinegar flavors. Medium bodied with a smooth and creamy mouthfeel, finishes sour, very delicious.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2006 21:41:11 | More by maxpower

TurdFurgison

Ohio

2.85/5  rDev -30.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This comes in the coolest beer bottle, similar to grolsch but more stylish. A keeper for homebrewing.

Poured into a Watou goblet, brown red color with very little head.

It smelled like Easter eggs in vinegar, sour and icky. I gave myself time to overcome the smell and try the beer. It tasted like a sour red ale. The flavor wasn't as bad as the smell.

I tried it once, that's enough. I recommend Rodenbach over this.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2006 01:56:37 | More by TurdFurgison

jewski

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Slightly chilled 11.2oz. swing-top bottled served in a wine glass.

Pours a medium brown color with a touch of red. Quite highly carbonated. Interesting grey-brown head.

Smells of tart cherries and lime with faintly earthy and grassy aromas.

Tart cherry and lime flavors somewhat overpowering the more complex woody and earthy components; not particularly balanced. Very subtle vinegar flavor. Dry finish.

Good mouthfeel and quite easy to drink and quite refreshing.

Not my favorite Flanders Red Ale, but worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2005 08:55:43 | More by jewski

GnomeKing

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A funky take on sour ales. I was surprised by the mouthfeel, which was dominated by the sharp bubbles-on-the-tongue feel I associate with seltzer water. Because of this, or at least in keeping with this, the taste reminded me in some ways of italian sodas...it almost could have been cherry or raspberry italian soda from Starbucks. There were some tart and sour flavors that wouldn't let me forget that I was drinking a Flanders Red, but the overall impression was of something that was one of a kind. I appreciated this beer for it's uniqueness, but it didn't provide all that much enjoyment.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2005 18:58:30 | More by GnomeKing