Grumpy Troll Flanders Ned Ale

Brewed by Grumpy Troll Brewery, Restaurant and Pizzeria
Style: Sour Ale
Mount Horeb, Wisconsin USA

On tap at the Grumpy Troll brewpub. Dark reddish brown with a thin off-white head. Aroma of cherry, apple and light smoke. Grapes, apples, cherries and oak make up the flavor. Smooth body that is very sour and tart and finishes sour. For some odd reason, I really like this style as an occasional brew to have. Probably my favorite of the grumpy troll offerings and the name and logo of Ned Flanders cracked me up a bit too.

This is the first example of this style I’ve ever tried. I have to say it was quite enjoyable, but I don’t know how it stacks up against others of this kind. Anyhoo, on tap of the annual WORT-FM block party, this poured a somewhat cloudy dark brown with ruby highlights. Smallish eggshell head. Nutty aroma with a sharp apple cider overtone. First taste is, well, SOUR--a lot like a crab apple. The tartness quickly subsides, leaving a malty background and some fruitiness thrown in for good measure. Slightly bitter finish, maybe a tad grapefruit-y. I liked it and now I look forward to trying others of this type.

Sampled on draught at the GTMW ’08. Pours a semi-clear brownish amber brew with a fast dissolving fizzy off-white head that dissipates to a thin off-white ring. Aroma of tart cherries, brown malt, a touch of barnyard funk, tart apples and yeast. Taste is mildly sour, some carbonation with flavors of sour caramel malt, tart cherries, white grapes, tart apples and yeast. Finish has a mild fruity sour aftertaste that quickly disappears. Not too bad for an average brown sour ale.

tap. Big small bubble head. Mild sour aroma. Some oxidation. Medium to mild sourness. Easy to drink.

Pours brown / orange with a tan head. Ther aroma is sour with notes of cherry, oak and acidity. Medium body that is fairly slick with soft carbonation. The taste adds some nuttiness and more maltiness than expected for the style. A good sour ale for an American brewer.

G.A.B.F. 2008: Deep copper/brown with a dense khaki head.The aroma has some toasted malts, cocoa, mild nutty notes and raspberry. Has a flavor that’s both tart-ish and toasted. Mild cocoa, toasted vanilla, tart raspberry like notes and other nondescript fruitiness. Pretty nice stuff.

Pours a mahogany color with a medium white head. Aroma is cherry, apple, cranberry, and some light funk. Taste is about the same. The palate is VERY nutty but it is a very unique.

Small sample, on tap at Great Taste of the Midwest. Consumed on 8-9-2008. Pours an opaque, cloudy, reddish brown. Sour, malty aroma of rotting apple and apple crisp. Dry, sour flavor. Different and tasty. Silky texture.