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

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at Ebeneezers

big fluffy belgian head, dark molasses, brown almost black color.

Nose is dark belgian malts, tart cherries, malt vinegar.

Taste Light sweet brown sugar and candi sugar, syrups, dark belgian malts, light Belgian yeast fruit, some tart cherries, hint of sour and malt vinegar, bit smoother, sweet tart cherry finish, bit drier on the finish as well.

Mouth is med bodied, lower but decent carbonation.

Overall good, nice malts and fruits, great cherry flavors, low abv and drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2011 02:44:59 | More by jlindros

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ypsifly

Michigan

4.45/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Undated 11.2oz with a flip top, poured into a tulip.

Dark brown with red tinged edges supporting a small, light tan head that falls to a veiled ring with wispy lace.

The nose has a great balance of overripe dark fruit tartness and an earthy, farm funk. Acidic, but with some sweetness. More complex than I can adequately describe.

Tastes fruity apfront, but not in a bad way. Dark cherries and grapes with just enough tartness around the edges for it to get sweet. There's a woody component that provides a good background, and there's an appropriate suggestion of bitter hops.

The mouth seems a bit light for the style, but the drinkability is exceptional.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2005 05:15:37 | More by ypsifly

Frozensoul327

Michigan

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

First, I must assume that I have the right brew, as I bought this in the US, therefore am going with the assumption that this is the US Non-Saccharin Version. Poured out to a dark red / amber color with a very nice head and good lace around the glass. Odors of sweet grapes and plumbs that have fermented. Very Nice. Flavors of sweet fruit and dark berries are most present, as is a slight sourness that lurks in the background. Also a slightly roasted quality was present, which added to the limited complexity of this beer. Finished smooth, with some bite toward the end, but just enough to get your attention and invite you back for another sip. This is a good sipping ale. Highly recommended. If you have never had a Flanders Red, this is a good place to start.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2005 02:13:33 | More by Frozensoul327

Reverand

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I really love this style of beer. Although not quite as good as the Duchess but still a great representation of the beer style.
Mestreech poured to a beautiful ruby red with a slightly tannish head. Distinct berry aroma with a sharp tangy taste that seems to be a bit to tart but certainly a beer worth looking for.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2005 08:39:27 | More by Reverand

brewbacca

California

4.53/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Drank in small flute glass.

Pours out smoothly with a small head which disapated shortly, leave nice lace on glass rim. Apears a reddish brown color.

At first it tastes of sour fruits, with a floral back, finishes with a oak barrel and extremely lite honey taste. super smooth.

smells of sour cherries and floral aromas, with an acidic tinge.

drinkability : could drink till I need a new liver

overall: one of my favorite sour reds out there

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2005 05:59:07 | More by brewbacca