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

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

PopeJonPaul

Oregon

4.18/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Smells like a stinky sour cherry lambic, looks like a dark brown ale. The color of red-tinged bark with a miniscule but solid white head, left a good snail trail of lacing behind. A smooth chocolatey-malt taste of black cherries, sugar, caramel and overripe sour berries. Great light and silky mouthfeel, very drinkable beer. Free of aftertaste and very refreshing, we drank Spuyten dry of this stuff.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2004 21:30:57 | More by PopeJonPaul

rabidawg

Georgia

4.33/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Ruddy chestnut with light carbonation and a small head. Sticky spots and streaks of lacing.

Smell: Funky lambic-esque aroma, with wine-like qualities. Tart cherries with wood and leather in the mix.

Taste: Surprisingly un-funky considering the smell, but still sharp, tart, and acidic. Some sweetness remains, but is quickly swept away by the acidic, bone-dry finish. Quite vinous after the swallow, oddly reminiscent of red wine.

My first Flanders Red, and certainly an enjoyable experience. A big thanks goes out to HumblePatience for the chance to try this.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2004 00:34:32 | More by rabidawg

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

kennyo

New York

3.13/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Dark red / cherry wood stain color, clear, beautiful. Pours a nice big head, but is gone line that. Aroma is beautiful, cherry/sourness. Probably the best part of the beer.Taste is not that impressive, cherry, a little sweetness but a very chalky feeling on taste buds and back of throat. There really is not much there.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2004 02:06:50 | More by kennyo

counselor

Connecticut

3.1/5  rDev -24.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

pours a dark brown with hints of ruby. No head to speak of. Aromas are more like a cider than any malt or hops. The flavors are very muted, nothing really stands out. Some granny smith apple flavors, some crispness, grass and lightly soured. There is a little sourness left after swallowing, but overall, very little aftertaste. The mouthfeel is crisp, lightly carbonated and quaffable, inoffensive. I wuold not buy this again, but was a decent enought beer - unobtrusive.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2005 20:27:39 | More by counselor

twilight

Germany

4.2/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Somehow this one doesn't seem to appear to have any carbonation. Turns out it is very light, but the dark deep ruby tones fail to make up for the lack of head or lacing. The nose is slight soysauce. No, cherry cough syrup. Woody with the faint nose of actual cherries. The aroma of them just sitting in your bowl as well as the medicinal flavor of cherries.

It begins with this intense sourness that just gives way completely to a cherry note that ends with the cherries almost leaving and no sourness or tartness. It is quite incredible that this happens as the sourness just kind of kicks you and runs away rather quickly. Getting used to this one is amazing. I love the way it comes down. I don't think there should have been huge bubbly carbonation, but the slight carbonation is less than amazing. Good beer, though. Maybe some more tartness and some more carbonation next time.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2004 01:19:42 | More by twilight

weonfire

Kentucky

4.33/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Served in a oversized wine glass at the Holy Grale in Louisville, KY.

A - Deep Ruby. Looks a dark brown or black until held up to the light. Frothy, off white head, one finger worth, holds steadily. tiny little bubbles of carbonation. lots of lacing.

S - Awesome sour notes. granny smith apples, vinegar, wine, cherry, grapes

T - Starts sweet, ends sour. Excellent blend. very mellow. slight acidity on the tongue initially. all mentioned smells- very complex.

M - Frothy, fruity, viscosity is high, leaves a light soft and fuzzy fruit flavor to savor.

O - Delicious. Keeps you wanting more. never to sweet - but personally i could have it more sour - maybe too mellow? I would certainly buy this again tho.

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2013 03:59:16 | More by weonfire

camil1mj

Michigan

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

On tap at Ashley's in Westland.

A: Somewhere between deep crimson red and maroon. 1 finger whit head.

S: Sour fruit and vinegar.

T: Different than the other sours I have tried due to the finish. Sour cherries with other fruit notes followed by a malty, sweet finish.

M: Medium carbonation and light to medium bodied.

O: A very good sour because of the finish. I would drink it again.

Serving type: on-tap

07-19-2011 23:18:54 | More by camil1mj

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

MufflnMan

Florida

4.47/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at Thirsty Monk. Poured a ruby color with a lacey off white head that lingers.

Smells of tartness. Promises a sweet and sour treat full of berries.

Taste delivers that sweet and sour treat, perfectly balanced and not at all mouth-puckering. Berries are there up front again with a little malty sweetness to calm them down at the end.

Mouthfeel is medium. Alcohol? What alcohol? Ridiculously easy to drink.

Definitely try if you can, and grab some for seconds.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2011 17:02:47 | More by MufflnMan

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

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

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

Claybo

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap at Chicago's Local Option; admittedly, a few months ago. This has to be my favorite sour ale, and I believe the first of the style I ever tasted.

A: Pours a nice dark amber/brown - chocolatey. Half inch head that lingers a bit, unlike some other sours I have tried (especially krieks).

S: You can smell the sour, right up front. A little bit of funk as well, like an old cellar. Some cherry scent.

T: Complex. Sweet and funky. I get raisins, then the wood, with a little bit of funk near the end. Finishes sweet and tart, but not a lingering sourness.

M: Smooth as butter. No bite from the sour, low carbonation.

O: My favorite sour, and apparently rare in that I can't find it anywhere else any longer. (if any of you reading this know of a place in Chicago that has this beer for sale, and feel like sharing, let me know!)

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2012 20:32:54 | More by Claybo