Liefmans Frambozenbier

Formerly brewed at Liefmans (Moortgat)
Style: Sour Ale
Oudenaarde, Belgium

There is a festive aura about this beer perhaps from unveiling the bottle of its delicate wrapping or popping the cork to release fragrant puffs of air. Something about fruits in beer bids for a joyous celebration. A cautious pour produces a fizzy beige head which dissipates to a light sheet covering the dark but reassuring red mahogany body. Raspberries always have a comforting odor to me, reminding of home and picking them in my grandmother’s garden. Like my own Proustian madeleines, the scent of this beer conjures such warm memories that may immensely amplify my appreciation of the simple liquid. The nose itself is of course dominated by the aroma of authentic fresh raspberries, not jam nor juice but the smell of a real raspberry bush. Sour cherries and rich brown sugar provide complexity and balance to the bouquet. The flavor is light and more beer-like than I expected, especially in comparison to Lindeman’s effort which felt syrupy and forced. Beneath the berries appear a soft citrus flavor not unlike ripe clementines. For my taste, this is by far the most enjoyable fruit beer I have had. Refreshing in the summer, merry in the winter, I think Liefmans has produced an excellent ale which I am excited to enjoy again.

Robe rousse aux reflets bruns surmontée d’une mousse blanche. Arômes de framboise et de liège. Saveurs de framboise, de fraise, de citron, de bois et de liège.

Brownsih pink with some fizzy white head. Nose is all raspberries. Flavor is, you guessed it, raspberries. Very tart. Raspberry was not overdone and is not syrupy at all.

For my tatse, it was very deliscious, it was the best beer of the evening, so far, and the colour is great, natural, and very foamy. I liked it very.

Tan-pink creamy head with large bubbles in; body is opaque drab red. Aroma is sharp raspberry with hints of sourness. Taste is subtle raspberry with unidentifiable notes and a sharp edge. Aftertaste is quite dry. Sourish. Well, not bad, but not that exciting, either. (0.33l bottle. 2002 vintage sampled in 2005.)

Well, I gotta admit this one took me by surprise. I really enjoyed it! It didn’t strike me as a beer, but then what does that really mean anyway? Big raspberry aroma and flavour, reminds me of warm current bread or fresh cherry juice. Its almost like a raspberry cooler with a subtle malt backbone. I sipped on it for a long time. Not sure if it is worth the price or the funny looks from people when I unwrap it from the paper and then uncork a reddish sparkling beverage and then claim it to be beer, but then again, who cares.

Not a strong aroma, but thick with raspberries. Dark red colour. Nicely sour, a very pleasant finish.

750 ml bottle. Pours a beautiful ruby red with a pink tinged head that leaves pockets of lace on the glass. Aroma is of fresh raspberries, tons of them. Delicious tart raspberry flavor. This beer is very drinkable, not overly sweet to deter me from drinking more than one bottle.