Cuvee Freddy - Picobrouwerij Alvinne / Den Bierzolder

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to hopdog and Dixie Normous for sharing this piece of art.
Appears a deep dense, mahogany with small off white cap with spotty bits of lacing around the glass.
Smell is of red wine, vanilla, tart bits of apple, berries, and funk.
Taste is of the aromas with strawberries and funky wine.
Mouthfeel is medium full bodied with a tad bit of tartness pulling through.
Really nice stuff. Wish I had more.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2010 02:42:03 | More by weeare138

Keene

Massachusetts

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

A tart but inviting beer, Cuvee Freddy pours a deep burgundy or mahogany color, leaving a fine ring of tan foam behind. The nose is sour with a whiff of vanilla, likely due to the aging in oak barrels. In short, this Flanders Oud Bruin is bold and full-bodied; cherry tartness and the aforementioned woody character are apparent in each and every mouthful.

Its drinkability is enhanced by the softening of the sour flavor in the drying finish. Let it linger on your tongue and you'll also notice hints of leather and dark skinned fruit. Overall, this is an aggressive and slightly acidic beer that serves as a noteworthy example of its style.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2011 11:59:07 | More by Keene

drseamus

New York

4.47/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Served on tap at Ebenezers

A: Dark brown body with a good tan head.

S: Slight sour smell with a hint of vinegar

T: Light flavor with sourness and some vinegar. Slight touch of sweetness but a fairly short taste. Pretty good flanders.

M: Light bodied and really easy to drink (if you like flanders)

D: All day long easily. I ran 16 miles before I went to Ebenezers and I wish this was at the finish line ready for some thirst quenching.

Serving type: on-tap

09-07-2011 21:29:24 | More by drseamus

sweemzander

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

11.2 oz bottle poured into a tulip.

(A)- Pours a very dark and murky purple to burnt sienna brown in color. Some semi transparent brown froth that dissipated quickly.

(S)- Very acidic with an inky-like dark fruit aroma. Lots of dank and dirty; almost smoky oak with subtle dark cocoa. Very vinegar-like throughout. A very intense aroma for the style, but I like it.

(T)- Not quite as intense as the smell was, but with very similar characters. A great underlying acidic and vinegar-like sourness. The fruits are extremely dark like plum, prune, cassis, yet quite dirty/inky-like with a subtle smokiness that pokes through with dark cocoa and oak. Finishes very dry.

(M)- Very very subdued carbonation level, but with its vibrant acidity it really is not missed all that much. A very deep and dark rendition of the style with subtle sweetness despite all the acidity and very dirty/smoky oak.

(O)- I can see why not many would like this one, but I certainly do. Like I mentioned before, this is the darkest/deepest take on the style I have had with it being almost so earthy, I do get essences of actual dirt; strange but enjoyable somehow. It is really not much to look at, but the rest of this beer shines.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 21:13:30 | More by sweemzander

Viciousknishs

Virginia

4.4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- pours a dark dark brown color with a very short lived light tan fizzy head. Looks a bit like cola in my goblet.

S- sticky ripe cherry, damp musty oak and basaltic vinegar with notes of leather and lovely funk.

T- tart acidic sour cherry, underripe blackberry and rich oak flavors. Notes of leather, oak and basaltic vinegar mid palate. Finishes with a smidge of malt sweetness and cranberry with a lingering tartness and red wine tannins.

MF- slick acidic mouthfeel with a medium body. Low soft carbonation.

D- very drinkable for the sour lover. A bit to acidic for those who don't care for the style.

Overall an awesome beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 04:56:05 | More by Viciousknishs

tendermorsel

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

An older vintage (2008?) shared with thepeter as a morning tick from his cellar. Tried this on draft on Borfets and since he had this vintage bottle in the cellar why not?

Redish purple in color. minimal short lasting head. Crazy nose. Fruty, musky and sour smelling. Awesome.

Very tart and complex. Sour cherries plums with dried fruits mixed in. This aged very well. One of the best examples of this style. Not to much vinegar, actually quite balanced.

Much better than the fresh draft verision. Great stuff and the 3-4 years in thepeter's cellar did great things to this beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 15:54:39 | More by tendermorsel

nickhiller

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: dark cherry to coffee brown, thin but bubbly head, big chunks of yeast floaters.

S: sweet and sour, tangy even, raisins.

T: musty cider, crab apples and sour grapes, blue cheese, oak shines through as a warming red wine, finish is bitter roasted coffee.

M: light and crisp, warm bitter finish.

O: reminds me a lot of Orval, which I love, light bodied but complex and surprisingly strong for an 8%er

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2011 01:22:16 | More by nickhiller

Arenbeer

Connecticut

4.22/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2floz bottle into a Goblet glass

Thanks to Finewinemike for this one

Best by Jan 2014

A- Pours a really really dark reddish brown that appears an opaque black with small reddish hues in the light. No head at all even with a vigorous pour, just some small white bubbles around the rim of the glass.

S- Sweet and lactic cherries, apple cider, and vinous notes with tons of funk. A good amount of balsamic vinegar and slight musty wood notes coming through as well.

T- Up front the balsamic vinegar flavor dominates with hints of sweetness from the cherries. The back end provides a lot of musty oak notes and funky fruity flavors.

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation and a nice slightly tart finish.

SkÅL!

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 22:36:27 | More by Arenbeer

stckhndlr

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appears quite dark with no head.

Citrus sour, with a fruity sweet smell

Oak and lime sour, yeast and dark fruit. There's a caramel note that starts to grow on you as the beer warms.

Thin but not watery, and oily kind of feel. Not alot of carbonation.

The flavor of this reminds one of a whiskey sour mixed drink. Just with a touch of carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 04:16:17 | More by stckhndlr

oglmcdgl

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A bottle split with friends with a ton of baller cheese.

A- two fingers of tan head from steady pour. Ruddy dark brown in color with hints of copper at the edges.

S- deep rich oak notes with dark stone fruit and a mild tart and sour hit.

T funky oak barrel and tart stone fruits. Quite vinous. Sweet and roasty at times with a subtle lactic sour.

M- medium body with a light carb. Very big tannin quality that dries the mouth.

D- lovely stuff mildly sour and rich. With a nice complex depth.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2010 23:07:04 | More by oglmcdgl

mdfb79

New York

4.1/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 08/26/10 notes. Had at a local DC tasting.

a - Pours a dark brown color with a few inches of off white/tan head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells of sour, dark fruits, as well as oak and roasted malts. Lots of tart cherries. Very enjoyable.

t - Tastes of sour dark fruit, sweet fruity malts, oak, and roasted malts.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation.

d - I liked this flanders a lot> i really enjoy tart cherries and sour dark fruits, so the smell was great to me. Would like to try again.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2010 22:25:12 | More by mdfb79

jpmclaug

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Small bottle poured into a tulip.

Dark brown, maybe with a hint of red, not much head present.
Cherries, toasted malts, some sour notes, fairly sweet aroma.
Fairly sweet, some funky blue cheese like notes, hints of cherries but not much sourness. Medium body with a light carbonation.

A pretty solid beer. I wish I got more cherry flavor and a bit more tartness. That said it has some nice funky notes. I'm glad I tried this one and wouldn't mind revisiting it in the future.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2011 01:24:38 | More by jpmclaug

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from bottle into a Duck-Rabbit stemmed snifter. Poured a massively dark brown (basically black) with a minimal light tan head. Maintained decent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, tart cherry, acetic acid, and tart. The flavor was of sweet malt, tart cherry, caramel, wood, and subtle sour. It had a medium feel on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this was a pretty good brew. This brew really threw me off as it smelled as if it would be much more sour/tart than it actually was. This one did have the tart/sour aspect going on, but it was not the dominant flavor in it at all. The flavors that were present really did a nice job of working together and enhancing one another. Just wish there would have been a little bit of the acetic acid present that I picked up on in the aroma. Defintely worth trying if you get the opportunity.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 17:44:52 | More by thagr81us

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Farmer's Cabinet served in a small stemmed glass. This brew appears a dark brown with no head but some tan bubbles collect around the boarder of the glass when swirled. When held to the light, it shows ruby clarity through the browness of the body.

The smell of this brew is primarily balsamic vinegar. Very light on the fruited quality with a distinct lactic character that adds depth with some wild funky notes. Across the back of the brew evolves some smooth oak and vanilla which gets more pronounced as the brew warms.

The taste is sharp with an ackward acidity that mixes with a taste of dark balsamic vinegar. Some dark fruity quality I present but gets overtaken by acidity before really evolving into any distinguishable fruited flavor. The aftertaste continues to hint on dark fruits and mild malt character tasting a bit like chocolate.

This is a medium bodied brew with a low level of carbonation. The alcohol is hidden very well, it never once felt even near 8%. It has decent drinkability and a fair blend of flavors, overall not bad.

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2011 15:03:53 | More by stakem

Halcyondays

California

4.03/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From a 750, shared by gregoryG, a Flanders Brown aged in Burgundy barrels,

A: Pours a dark brown, almost black with light off-white head, a little fizzy, mild lace. One of the darkest Flanders beers I've ever seen.

S: Real nice acetic type acid and barrel character. The Burgundy is evident, complex inviting mix.

T: Dark berries - blackberries, black currants come to the forefront. Again, tasty acid, with a hint of roast and chocolate, almost tastes like a barrel aged stout.

M: Moderate acidity, thins out a bit towards the finish. Medium-bodied.

D: A quality sour beer here from Alvinne. Never thought I'd get to try it. Good drinkablity, I never knew it was 8%.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2010 19:07:12 | More by Halcyondays

yeahnatenelson

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance -- Pours a dark brown, bordering on plum, with zero head. A fine ring of suds crowns the glass. Great hue, but otherwise not a showstopper.

Smell -- Okay, things are getting better: Tart cherry, raisin, underripened berries, cocoa, wet oak, vanillin, bright acetic tart, and a dab of funk. Lots of depth, very pleasant.

Taste -- Dark fruit, apple must, cocoa, berry tartness, vinous oak and vanilla. Not quite as acetic as the nose suggested, but slightly funkier - I like it. Finish is plum skin, roast malt, and acetic tartness.

Mouthfeel -- Medium-light body with milder prickly carbonation. I was really worried that this would be flat. Slightly undercarbonated, but otherwise great.

Overall -- This is really quite nice. Great roast malt base compliments the tart components. Well-balanced, no elements outpacing the others. I have a sneaking suspicion that I got an undercarbed bottle - will have to try this again. Definitely worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2011 02:38:29 | More by yeahnatenelson

olfolxholme

California

4.01/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml bottle into Delirium Noel snifter

A - Very dark brown beer. Looks a little watery after the giant cola colored head fizzes away. No head retention, no lacing. Watch out for sediment when pouring.

S - At first I was getting some iron character, but that faded after a few minutes. I'm glad, because that is almost always unenjoyable for me. A nice, classic tart esters, some barrel - red wine? - and a clear presence of sweet dark malted barley.

T - Sweet malts with a lot of sour cherry and tart candy flavors.

M - Effervescent and refreshing. Leaves you a bit puckered, but it's nice. Feels like you've been drinking a nice red wine.

O - A very nice beer. I am glad that I was able to have a few bottles of this, and could see myself having it again. It's a little on the spendy side, and I would say it's only a must try for real fans of Flemish Ales. I wish there wasn't as much sediment in the bottle, that isn't as appealing. If this were on draft, I would definitely get a glass. Worth trying.

63

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 03:01:41 | More by olfolxholme

merc7186

New York

4.01/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

11.2oz bottle into tulip glass.

A: Opaque Hue, Passes Almost No Light, Thick Brown Head that dissipated quickly, No Lacing

S: Pinot Noir, Vinegar, Tart Cherries, Anise, Mild Chocolate

T: Vinegar, Tart Cherries, Acidic, Mild Red Wine, Mild Black Licorice

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Semi Acidic, Mildly Bitter, Mildly Metallic

Overall, a very complex beer with a big mixture of a Flanders Red and Oud Bruin beers, just slammed together. Complex but not over bearing on the back end even though it is kind of metallic.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 02:41:17 | More by merc7186

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle split with Oglmcdgl and Dermopower.

A- Freddy has a dirty reddish brown look to itself with no apologies. Freddy does not boast alot of bubbles, just some soda pop like fizz on top leaving a trace cap of off white/tan foam.

S- A good amount of oak/wood under some malted barley and apple with a small amount of cherry coke, i swear to god. A small dark fruit component and trace vinegar.

T- Probably one of the tastiest Flanders Oud Brunes I've had recently, a style that got away from me. I like this because the vinegar is muted and it's nicely balanced between the oak and the dark fruits with cherry. The fruit wins a bit IMO. Trace amounts of vanilla.

M- This is probably the beers weak point, it has a mediumish feel with a small amount of bite. There is some carb present but the overrall flavor does not stick around for long. This gets bonus points for not being a vinegar bomb.

D- I think I might could drink a whole bottle of this if I tried, and I might one day. I gotta try that oak podge and the one brewed with mustard seed now.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2010 00:55:02 | More by onix1agr

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to bu11zeye for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours a dark brownish-red color with a tan head. The aroma is toffee, lightly tart cherries and oak. Very inviting. The flavor is tart cherries, oak and vanilla. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A very nice, lightly sour beer that is very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2010 04:07:44 | More by Mora2000

SpdKilz

Illinois

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance – Pours an almost opaque color into a generic tulip. Slight red can be shown around the edges but overall, this sucker is practically impenetrable by light. Less than a finger of very quickly dissipating head is achieved with a decent pour, that leaves little lacing.

Smell – Acidic characteristics up front, red wine vinegar, sour cherry, granny smith apples, slight vanilla (an odd yet pleasant aroma I was not expecting), and of course lots of funk.

Taste – Red wine up front – the initial taste reminds me of consecration but not on the same level/caliber to be honest. Dark fruits such as cherries and plums, more sweet malts and oak come through midway, and at the end is just the hint of vanilla. The warmer this gets, the more the tart/sour cherries come through. However, not to be a downer or a negative nancy, this just isn’t on par with what I was expecting. I was hoping it to be a bit more mouth puckering and what not. Perhaps one with age...

Mouthfeel – Low (too low in my opinion) carbonation, medium bodied.

Overall – A good flanders, and one I’d honestly pick up in the future to see what age would do to it. I’m in the process of trying to find RR replacements now that I’m back in IL, and this one may have to do for a Consecration Also wish there was a bit more carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2011 03:28:21 | More by SpdKilz

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a deep cloudy burgundy color ale with a medium size foamy head with average retention and some light lacing. Aroma consists of sour and tart notes mix in with light sweet notes and some sherry. Taste is also a nice mix between some tart notes which are well balanced with some notes of sherry and port with a subtle vinous character. Body is quite full with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Very nice and not too one-dimensional on the sour side of things.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 15:53:38 | More by Phyl21ca

Seanniek91

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

Served from an 11.2 oz stubby bottle into a Kriek Belle-Vue tulip. Served just below cellar temps.

Appearance- Dirty, dark blackish/grey. Can't see anything through it. Doesn't look like there's any carbonation in it. Zero head.

Smell- Heavy cherries up front. Bourbon-like lingering aromas of caramel, vanilla, and oak take up the rest of the aroma followed by some light boozieness. Cherries still dominate this beer.

Taste- Cherry tartness mingles with some heavy oakyness. Lemon and earthy grassyness. Plums or another similar stone fruit take its place. Mild tartness, less than I suspected from the smell or style. Bourbon flavors finish this beer.

Mouthfeel- This is where it loses me. On a scale of 1-10 for carbonation (10 being highest), this has a 1. It's barely there. Mild tartness, not puckering though. Smooth finish. I can't decide whether or not I like the lack of carbonation or not.

Overall- I'm torn on this beer. I don't know whether I love it or hate it.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 18:46:33 | More by Seanniek91

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Supreme sour and savory fusion is on display with this Belgian-brewed Sour Ale that favors a balance of succulent sweetness notes that are hard to put your finger on. But with this ale, placing a taste bud is quite easy.

Dark ruby-brown in color, the haze of the beer masks its color and pushes it to an obscure russet dark color. Nearly absolute stillness ensues as the beer relaxes in the glass and preferred still character. Dark for most wines, the beer can resemble aged sherry with its deep saturation of color.

Strongly aromatic, the beer doesn't need any spring of carbonation, it puts on a full-on display of tart and savory balsamic, oxidized sherry wine, soft brandyish sweet notes and savory near-soy sauce-like character. Black cherries, tart apples, and dry white wine all play into the dry fruit and savory scent.

Softer and more savory in taste, the flavor spread of the beer is variant but doesn't share the high sourness in taste that the aromas suggested. Instead the savory-sweet and tart notes of sherry, soy sauce, oak and toasty chocolate greet the early palate. Surprisingly, the tastes only settle into more savory tobacco, leather, and tea-like taste while restraining much of the sourness that was expected from the nose.

There's a pleasant inky weight that these beers do to the palate sensations. Even with the sheer acidity that wants to pang against the tongue, the beer offers up a palate-stripping acidity that's near wine-like and warms the palate much the same.

Cuvee Freddy is an exquisite ale that seems to carry the fundamental complexities of Flanders Red Ales and Oude Bruins but with the aged, earthen maturity of unblended 3-year Lambics. Its a refined taste that deserves a sophisticated palate for true appreciation.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 06:06:57 | More by BEERchitect

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.98/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Lovely unassuming bottle picked up from K&L Wine Merchants in Redwood City, CA.

Pours a light but unassuming brown-red colour, with what seems to be a filmy, unadventurous head, that rapidly settles out into a fine crest of beige foam. Extremely powdery carbonation forms when tilted, leaving a slick film of lace wherever it goes. Although after a while the head dissipates, it's a very fine looking beer.

Nose is wondrously full of rich oak barrels, mingled with subtle vinous acidity. The body and depth lends some deep grain notes, hinting at chocolate and resiny bark. The acidity is never overdone, but it performs a duty in lightening the rest of the nose. Really lovely.

Taste is smooth and light, and very nicely balanced between the grain/malt sweetness that lends the hint of cocoa and chocolate, and the acidity, which leavens and crisps up the palate. Unfortunately, the acidity also flattens any potential complexity: leaving the beer smooth and consistent, but filtering out any oddities. Acidity ends up being rather acute, being strikingly dominant on the back.

Feel is very light, leaving a sharpness, but no real impression on the mouth.

Overall, I was a little disappointed with this brew. It had so much potential, but really slammed it hard with the acidity, steamrolling any true complexity or subtlety that might be there. While the elements themselves might be very pleasant, it fails somewhat as an overall package.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2012 12:38:01 | More by lacqueredmouse