Bios Vlaamse Bourgogne

Brewed by Brouwerij Van Steenberge
Style: Sour Ale
Ertvelde, Belgium

On tap at Monk’s Cafe - Philly. Really rich vinous and acid nose. Complex, sherried, and rosy. A real fresh amalgam of ruby fruits, delicate acid character and slight maple sweetness. Awesome. Flavor is ridiculous. A real dense combination of oak, cherries, sweet caramel, and a perfect kiss of acetic acid. Blended, I imagine. A real nice integration. Kisses of chocolate, sweet almonds, and light carbonation. Real easy drinking and very expressive character. This is a fun and exciting version!

Pours a dark ruby amber with a thick head. Aroma of sweet / tart black cherries, cranberries and malts, and a strong note of holiday spiced cider. If Martinelli’s made an alcoholic beverage, this would likely be it. The flavor reminds me so much of Duchesse de Bourgogne that I’d be hard-pressed to tell them apart in a blind tasting. This one has even more tart apple cider in the flavor, and it just explodes on your palate. Although the flavor doesn’t linger as long, this is simply delicious.

On tap at Stone Sept. 12, labeled as Monk’s Cafe Sour Ale. Dark pour. Very little head, and not much lacing. Aroma is sweet, like fruity sweet and candy. Sweet flavor. Way accessable. Not overly sour. Not the type to make people worry that it was something that went bad. In a good way it was like drinking Boon’s Farm wine. Yummy

Bottle: Pours a brownish amber pour with a creamy dense tan head. Has a standard Flemish aroma- mild oak, vinegar notes, a touch of raspberry yogurt as well. Nice fluffy feel. The flavor is somewhat sweet but i’s soft. Has a touch of almond paste-like sweetness, candied raspberry, nice Belgian malt subtleties come through as it warms, as well as toasted oak. A sweet and tart Flemish Red.

Beuatiful dark red, almost black color, almost entirely opaque. The head is a thin cream colored foam which is relatively thin and dissipates quickly. The aroma is most assuredly sour. The aroma is sour cherries, and somewhat oif a vinegar smell. The smell is somewhat reminiscent of a cabernet.The flavor is sour cherries, other dark fruits, maybe some citric acid also. There is a fizziness which burns on the palate slightly. The palate quickly turns to a dry finish, again reminiscent of a dry red wine. Not my favorite style, but this was cool to try.

11.2oz bottle, labeled as Monk’s Cafe Flemish Sour Ale. Pours reddish copper in color with brown head. Aroma sweet and of sour cherries. Taste of dry and sour cherries with dry finish.

Pours a vey murky dark brown in color with ruby highlights. Smell is extremely sour. Catches you off the bat. Very sour. Taste is very sour. Very highly carbonated, but still very sour. Some nice dark fruits, but the sourness takes over the beer and dominates. Very good beer. I would put this up against Rodenbach or the Ommegang Grand Cru that I just had a growler of. Well done.

Botella. Dark brown colour. The aroma is sour with well toasted malt. Good mouthfeel. The flavour has a pleasant malty sourness with some sweetness and some dark fruits. Thanks Ogi!