Verhaeghe Duchesse De Bourgogne

Brewed by Verhaeghe
Style: Sour Ale
Vichte, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium

This is a lovely brew. Poured a brownish thick head. Lovely balanced sour smell and the taste is sharp, spot on what is you should expect. Very nice sharp, but round overall palate. I love this.

Poured to a fluted fest glass at Brixie’s Holiday Beer Tasting in Brookfield, IL. The color was ruby/brown, and the head was modest, off white/light tan foam and light,clingy ribbons of lacing. Actually sampled this twice, with the first bottle being overly oxidized, with over powering vinegar scent. The second bottle was still a little acetic, but presented a better read on the features. A melding of sweet and tart, fruitiness, spice and caramel hints, and an altogether vinous nature made up the aroma as well as the flavor. Interesting brew, but put off by the vinaigrette in anything but a salad.

this was rather oxidized but I’m not sure if that is intentional or because it has come a long way... It was quite good though, sherry and apple cider aroma, cherries in the flavor good mouthfeel

Poured a dark reddish brown with a fluffy, moderate beige head. Smells a lot like apple cider vinegar, with other tart fruit aromas noticable. The flavor is unlike anything else I’ve tried. It’s not as sour as the aroma led me to believe it would be, and has a funky yeast character. There’s a noticable balsamic vinegar presence, a certain nuttiness, and more tart fruit. Fairly mild in flavor but quite complex. In some ways it makes me think of wine more than beer. I really like how subtle and pleasant to drink this is.

I’ve had this plenty of times, always had this ranked as one of my absolute favorite beers, but i guess my palate has changed in regards to flemish sours.. Pours a nice deep amber with a nice small off white head that has excellent retention... Cherry oaky, some apple, some pitted fruits in the aroma, a certain sweetness... First sip, and the tartness/sourness just wasnt what i remember/expect/wanted... The sweet fruitiness was there, but the sour tart kick was lacking to the point of dissappointment... Some noticeable berry aromas linger, the beer was lively, with a nice lingering finish that just did not have the sour punch i needed... Still Very Good

Deep, dark, ruby red liquid. Much like the blood of the Duchesse. One finger head of creamy tan foam. Truly excellent retention and great lacing. Smells amazing! Deep tart fruit smells. Lots of green apple and black cherries. Not quite ripened peaches. Scent of almonds/marzipan. Hints of underlying gingerbread spiciness. Slight touch of vanilla. This is such a phenomenal tasting sour (flemish red). Big cherry taste, sour and sweet, at the same time. Huge notes of green apple. Nice big presence of black currants. Nice woody/earthiness, here, also. Hints of oak and vanilla. Extremely smooth and creamy in body, like a mouthfeel of rolling fine silk. Carbonation is perfect, with tiny, tiny bubbles. This beer is so perfect. If it were Napoleon’s Army invading my mouth, my taste buds would have no choice but to surrender. I could drink this for weeks at a time and be perfectly satisfied, with no other options. Excellent!

Nose is quite sharp with caramel notes and a very strong vineousness. Pours resiny and deep deep amber with a vague head. Flavour is very palatable and quite different - a great balance of slightly sour vineousness (again) and sweetness. Finish is more of the same but develops a pleasant bitterness towards the end. Leaves you wanting more.

nice clear read body; smells of cherries and light vinegar. sour taste with clean crisp finish.