Duchesse De Bourgogne - Brouwerij Verhaeghe

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

4.53/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured a deep reddish brown color, clear, nice head that left a sheen on top, very nice lacing.

Smelled absolutely amazing, but hardly like a beer at all, more like wine. A very strong smell for such a low ABV beer, you wind up thinking you're smelling strong alcohol, but you're not. Powerful dark fruit aromas and an earthy, woody background combine with the yeast to hammer the nose. Just a touch balsamic vinegar like (that's not bad tho, I love the smell of balsamic vinegar).

A true taste explosion, amazing flavors. Cherries and raisins dominate, yeasty and sweet, woody and tart. Highly complex and fabulously delicious. Tart and tangy in the mouth, a sweet, sour, complex lingering aftertaste follows.

An oddity: based on the smell I would think it would be hard to drink, but it's exactly the opposite. Very easy to drink, very quickly leaving me wanting more.

Drink is off the charts with easy going deliciousness. Really combines the properties of wine and beer, harnessing the best qualities of both.

My first true "sour" experience. I'm hooked already!

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2010 23:10:13 | More by AlCaponeJunior

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle poured into tulip 18/6/13

A nearly clear ruby red with lots of carbonation, a light brown two finger foams a little darker then expected and quickly looses half its height but then sticks around a pinky deep leaving several partial rings deep down the glass

S earthy wood notes, some sour fruit, brown sugar, just a very faint hint of funk and vinegar, smells solid but could use just a little more intensity

T flavors stronger then the nose, has a sweet and sour thing going on and it works very well, cherry, strawberries and raspberries both sweet and tart, those fizzy candies that come in the two foot long strips, wood and vinegars quite faint, soft caramels add to the mix, wonderful stuff

M silky through the lips and creams up nicely, sweet and sour, a little slick inside your mouth and sticky on the lips, mild fruity aftertaste is rather clean much to my surprise

O great beer that's already gone at this point, very easy to drink and everything meshes together to create a lovely sweet and sour, fruity mix

I've had this several times before and I'm not really sure how I've never sat down and reviewed it, a classic brew that I doubt will ever go out of style

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 17:58:26 | More by wordemupg

Sirwootalot

Minnesota

4.36/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap at the bulldog downtown in minneapolis, mn.

Pours a rich, dark ebony-brown with a nearly nonexistent pure white head. The smell is borderline unpleasant, like dirty underwear or rotting flowers. Each sip is elegantly, richly layered with notes of berries, balsamic vinegar, and dry malt. It's utterly delicious, and the taste evolves to an earthier, maltier molasses as it lingers on the tongue. If there are hops, they are utterly undetectable. The mouthfeel is sweet, silky, and slightly astringent.

Overall, this is a fantastic beer that makes me feel like i should be dressing up and pairing it with a cigar; it's easily the tastiest sour i've had to date and a new favorite. I'd score it even higher if it didn't smell so odd.

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2013 03:15:46 | More by Sirwootalot

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -15.3%

06-18-2013 21:04:51 | More by Kegatron

brutalist

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +21.1%

06-16-2013 04:07:57 | More by brutalist

djre4orm

Virginia

3/5  rDev -27.4%

06-13-2013 20:26:09 | More by djre4orm

dwren89

Virginia

4.35/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: reddish mahogany, sticky, foamy off white head, good clarity

Aroma: funky barnyard smell, musty, fruit sweetness, slight sour notes and acetic nature

Taste: barnyard Brett character, mustiness, slight fruit character, yeast does the hard driving of flavor here, malt provides a canvas for the yeast to paint the picture

Mouthfeel: moderate carbonation, smooth character, medium body,

Overall Impression: A truly different sort of Flanders Red primary driven by its Brett yeast character and subsequent musty, barnyard flavors. Berry fruitiness plays in the background as well as malt sweetness. Hops round out but are not noticed in flavor or aroma.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 22:03:09 | More by dwren89

kaodoo

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +9%

06-12-2013 21:43:31 | More by kaodoo

CDCNAM

Louisiana

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

06-12-2013 13:52:27 | More by CDCNAM

rather

California

4.75/5  rDev +15%

06-12-2013 03:13:36 | More by rather

Ajlvt

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +9%

06-11-2013 22:49:55 | More by Ajlvt

Burkbom23

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

06-10-2013 14:45:10 | More by Burkbom23

jarrgal

North Dakota

3.5/5  rDev -15.3%

06-10-2013 11:48:29 | More by jarrgal

silverking

Florida

3.98/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- it pours a deep red with a tall tan head. Lattice like lacing and excellent head retention.

S- acidic, vinegar, tart red fruit.

T- acidic, but with a nice cherry note to balance it out. The finish shows notes of Sour cherry and raspberry.

M- light and refreshing with moderate/light carbonation. Fresh.

O- better than i had expected. Crisp and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 04:14:12 | More by silverking

FlussigkeitMut

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

06-10-2013 01:36:40 | More by FlussigkeitMut

pinnser

Colorado

4/5  rDev -3.1%

06-09-2013 20:37:38 | More by pinnser

FLBeerGuy

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

06-09-2013 16:52:42 | More by FLBeerGuy

jbaker67

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

06-09-2013 15:12:00 | More by jbaker67

denver10

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Pours a dark amberish-brown with a nice big beige head. Aroma is smoothly sweet and tart; some brown sugar, ssome fruits such as dark cherries, plum, raisins, some vinegar. Flavor was pretty much the same. A lighter mouthfeel to this, worked well for the style. Overall, a wonderful beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2013 14:17:54 | More by denver10

BrockLanders

Oklahoma

4.75/5  rDev +15%

06-09-2013 02:07:37 | More by BrockLanders

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +9%

06-08-2013 14:39:49 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

jamiecoppin

North Dakota

4/5  rDev -3.1%

06-08-2013 14:18:20 | More by jamiecoppin

praxis16

Oregon

4/5  rDev -3.1%

06-08-2013 09:47:19 | More by praxis16

dimitrov

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

06-08-2013 05:12:40 | More by dimitrov

Dave1999

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +9%

06-08-2013 01:42:26 | More by Dave1999