greig (72), Hamilton, New Zealand
Jul 29, 2008
2008 vintage. Not sure how to rate this as it’s a different beer to the one rated here. It will be a different beer every year too. This years is a Cherry Brown Ale. Loosely in the style of a flanders oud bruin, but with the addition of imported sour cherries. Pours a deep ruby reddish-brown with a beige head. Aroma is reminiscent od Boon Kreik, but slightly muted. Muted is the order of the day with this beer too. The palate is less full than it could be, with a nice soft carbonation. Flavours of crusty cherry pie, dusted with icing sugar. The finish is gone far too soon, and leaves a lingering sweetness, and a slight tartness and astringency. It might age, we shall see. It’s very nice, but it just tastes like it wants to be a big beer when it grows up!
 bluevegie (1818), Perth, Australia
Nov 28, 2008 Clear cherry red body with off-white head. Sugary aroma with only a little cherry coming through. Cherry taste is only slightly sour, some almonds in there as well.
Muggus69 (281), Sydney, Australia
Nov 21, 2008 500ml bottle, vintage Dec 08
Served chilled in chalice.
Reasonable pour, small creamy orange tan head atop a murky brownish ruby body laden with chunks.
Quite a complex nose, particularly odd though; cinnamon, wood, sour cherry, vinegar, prune, pure cocoa, vinous dried fruit with a mollassesy maltiness about it.
Low carbonation, body is reasonably lean, syrupy slightly, quite a tart vinegar-like sourness that blends with the brown sugary sweetness of the beer.
Sour cherry seems most prominant on the body, quite sweet, candy-like at times, brown sugar, almond, earthy spice, prune and date leads onto a woody cinamon note on the finish. Finish lingers slightly, dry with a cherry pip sourness and flavour.
Very unique brew. Really not sure what to make of it, but its certainly adventerous, complexly tasty, and well worth a try.
Chrism86 (115), Melbourne, Australia
Sep 7, 2008 Updated: Sep 27, 2008Pours ruby tending auburn with substantial pink blush coloured head. Nose displays cherries, chocolate and a hint of woodiness...maybe. Palate is dominated by sour cherries up front with darker malts coming into play to add balance and complexity. (very cherry ripe-like) Finish is faintly tart with a surprising degree of hop bitterness. Damn good effort!
Stew41 (899), Caulfield, Australia
Sep 5, 2008 Picked up four of these with the view that they might cellar ok (well, at least that’s what the wife reckons). Faint sweet cherry on the nose with a zingy, almost acidic feel. Very soft chocolate as well. Cherries are mostly firm, sour (not crazy sour) and dry in the mouth. More than a hint of Cherry Ripe here (ie cherry and milk chocolate). Gets more dry through the palate and a growing bitterness really makes an impact. Quite a good effort given real consideration has been made to impart bitterness and sour character, it’s just nowhere near the intensity of a Rodenbach and the like.
Cconners (11), Tauranga, New Zealand
Aug 23, 2008 Brownish red when poured and when held up to the light has a beautiful cherry red hue. The tan head is lively and quickly dissipates there is a smell of fruit and I can pick the cherries but not as I would have expected. Taste is very up front with a hit of cherry then a sour tart finish that ends very quickly.The sweet and sour character leaves me thinking there should be something else there, but alas. I may put one away and compare it with the next vintage.
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