Good afternoon all. As part of my "Year of Belgian Beer" (that will hopefully have its own logo and a better title before the year is out), I've been seeking out the best beers that Belgian breweries can offer. A few days ago I had a bottle of Duchesse De Bourgogne, a Flanders Red Ale from Brouwerij Verhaeghe. Flanders Red Ales are fairly similar to lambics, but the particular yeast strains used impart a sharper character to the beer that is reminiscent of vinegar, representing an alternative to the fruity sourness of lambics. I've had a beer in this style before and enjoyed it, so let's see how I got on with this one. As usual, the review is after the pic....
Duchesse du Bourgogne (6.2% ABV) pours a dark amber colour with a short lived off-white head that dissipates to a patchy covering over the surface of the beer. The aroma is quite heavy on the acetic acid/vinegar, with a slight sweetness, dark fruits and hoisin sauce. The last one sounds quite out of place, but it's the first thing that came to mind when I detected some sweet fruitiness and it works well with everything else. The taste is composed of acetic acid, cooking apples and meat stock, with an acidic tart finish and an aftertaste of Campino sweets. The tart apple flavours linger long after drinking and mingle well with the sweetness. The mouthfeel is light/airy and the carbonation is moderate. Overall, a very interesting beer that cleanses the palette nicely and provides a truly unique experience. Potentially a good choice for wine drinkers looking to get into beer, and any lambic fans looking for a different take on sour beer. Definitely recommended.
Until next time....
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