Flat Earth Rode Haring Flanders Red Ale

25 oz bottle. Pours a slightly hazy ruby body with a small fizzy off-white head. Tart and vinegary nose with some sour cherry and oak. The flavor is tart and fruity, but overly earthy for me, with some light oak. It’s not crisp or clean at all, just sort of flabby and muddled. Mouthfeel is thinnish, a little drying oakiness, and fizzy spritzy carbonation. Overall, just a little too thin and murky for me.

750ml bottle #253 of 500. Courtesy laroja. Pours a clear, reddish-crimson hue with a thin beige head that settles to a frothy, bubbly edge. Broken microfilm and tiny spots of lacing mark the glass. The aroma is a bit odd, showing a slightly wild, bretty overtone and notes of tart cherry, with aggressive, oaky vanilla and a hint of unexpected smokiness. Flavors are tart, but lacking the crisp acidity that I seek in a Flemish red. Cherries and woody oak form a complementary pair, with some of the barrel char coming across in the form of smoke. Medium bodied and somewhat prickly, the palate drinks easy and finishes semi-dry and refreshing. Good, solid brew.

(BCTC, 750ml bottle) Small beige head atop hazy dark amber body. Aroma is medium sweet, sour cherry, light wood. Taste is medium sweet, cherry, some sour, wood, light yeast. Undercarbonated light body.

Bottle shared at Where the Wild Beers Are NYC 2009. The aroma is tart, estery, vaguely fruity. The appearance is a clear red/brown, tan head. The flavor is nutty, fruity, tart. The finish has a slight tart fruit quality. Enjoyable.

Bottle shared at Where the Wild Beers Are NYC 2009: Hazy copper with a consistent tan head. The aroma has some buttery oak and toasted malts as well with a touch of nutty character and mild green raisin. The body is light and fluffy and has a nutty and fruity flavor. Has some tart raisin and dried cranberry with malt husk notes and some soft oak tannins linger into the back. A pretty decent effort at a sour ale.

750 ml bottle (#72/500) via trade with tytoanderso last year. Pours a hazy amber color with a large two finger thick light tan head. Lively carbonation. No real lacing to mention. Aroma is tart esters. Flavor is lightly sweetened malt, tart esters, and some unpleasant phenols in the finish. Medium body. Except for the phenolic taste, this wasn’t too bad. Not overly sour. Thanks Tyler.

Bottle that I think came from DalzAle. Pours amber/mahogany with a thin ring of light white bubbles. Smells acidic/sour with some residual sugar and funk. Tastes dry, tarte and funky with a nice sourness on the finish.

Quite enjoyable. Balance sour and fruit. Little aroma of wood and flavor has enough fruit for the light sourness.