I purchased this beer on a whim. The glass was only $2.99 and I picked it up because I thought it was a pretty sweet goblet for such a cheap price. I then went and found the brew to match (every beer lover appreciates matching glassware). I've had it in my refrigerator for over a month now, and I think it is finally time to try it. I do know that a "Flanders-styled Ale" is usually a sour and from Belgium. This little guy seems to fit the mold perfectly.
It pours a dark amber with a red glow if held up to light. It possesses a nice khaki head that remains on top. This is a nice-looking beer if you ask me. Aromas: green apple, sweet malts, and candied notes. I know these aromas, and they usually mean I'm about to drink a sour.
While the range of sours is monstrous, just like the range of differences in any category, this is only slightly sour. It reminds me of Monks Sour Ale quite a bit, but it seems more relatable to Duchesse de Bourgogne. Anyways, the flavors are sour, acidic, malty, and oakie as I swirl it around in my mouth. The finish is clean with sour apple and those candied notes I mentioned earlier. Overall, this is a relatively easy-drinking beer and quite delicious. It is not too complex, nor is it too strong of a sour to turn off a first-time sour drinker either. This would also work as a nice palate cleanser if you are switching beer styles on a night of tasting.
At 5.5% ABV, it's not a monster but it does pack a nice collection of flavors. I will definitely buy it again and use my sweet goblet.
A lot of people have asked me why I do not "rate" the beers I review. Here is my reasoning behind the lack of ratings: whatever point scale I give to any sort of rating system would be misleading, considering that I am the only one who knows what the top of that scale tastes like. I personally think rating systems are often misused and relied on too much. In turn, my rating scale for beer goes as follows: I like it or I do not like it. It's that simple. It is up to you, the reader of this blog, to decide whether or not you want to try it on your own. The point of this blog, for me, is not to rate whether some beer is higher on my B.S. scale than another. The point is to let you all know what I taste when having a specific beer and whether it was worth my money or not. You will find no ratings on here, only my personal observations. Cheers!
