La Bière du Boucanier Red Ale

I kinda expected to hate this, given my experiences with the other Biere du Boucaniers. But this actually wasn’t half bad. Sure it was sweet, but a more subdued, fruity sweet and cloying. And the alcohol seemed to be in check, unlike the other ones. Some winey crispness in the finish.

Boucanier Red, comprata da Ciobì; non costava poco, ma prima o poi avrei comunque sentito il bisogno di assaggiarla... ha un aroma non spiacevole, dominato dalla dolcezza dei malti e con un certo terrigno. Però il sapore delude; pure a 7 gradi la presenza dell’alcool si fa sentire in un piccante smoderato che annienta ogni complessità; scaldandosi diventa meno banale, ma forse anche meno piacevole. Corpo medio, frizzantezza non elevata; si guadagna di superare la sua collega "bionda" per l’aroma e per la minore prepotenza alcolica.

Biere du Bouranier Red Ale 6/20/08 (bottle. Pours a muddy apricot with small white head. Aroma of ripe fruit, especially peaches and oranges, malt, and sweet spices. Flavor that hits you first is an INTENSE peach/citrus. I did not expect this, and the result was unpleasant. Upon second try, I noticed that the peach fruit is actually decently balanced with hops and yeast to produce a more rounded beer than I first noted. Nevertheless, the flavor is still dominated by notes of ripe/overripe peach. Finish is fairly long, with sweet lingering afternotes. I don’t want to rag this beer, for it has its strengths (the alcohol is well-hidden, for one), but it just wasn’t what I was looking for.

Pours a very murky, almost muddy brown, with a small white head. Nice malty aroma, almost breadlike. The flavor is caramel and a bit sour in the finish. Medium body, a bit oily. It’s good but the flavors are a bit muddy like the appearance: doesn’t really hold up to the belgian ales that I love.

Bottle @ Cnudde Tasting.. Clear light to medium amber color with a average, frothy, fair lacing, mostly diminishing, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, roasted, caramel, brown sugar, light yeasty. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet and light light bitter with a average duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. (290308)