Liefmans Goudenband

Brewed by Liefmans (Moortgat)
Style: Sour Ale
Oudenaarde, Belgium

A murky brown brew with musky aroma’s of blue cheese, cherry, plum, dark sugar, oak and cigar box. On the palate it is sweet, and citric. Dried fruits, maple syrup, lots of CO2, also lemon and apple. Shame about the excessive sweetness, but the addition of sweetening syrup was to be expected from this brewery. However, this is surprisingly complex and balanced, a pleasant surprise from the dreaded Liefmans.

Bottled at Tre små rum, Göteborg, Sweden. Deep reddish with a minimal foam. Quite complex fruity aroma with cidery apples and red and dark berries, along with notes of wood. Light to medium in body with prickling carbonation. Almost perfect balance with a light swetness balanced by a fresh acidity.

Dark red/brown. Thick, tan head. Aroma has yeast, berries, maybe grass. Tastes sour, as it should, citrus. Quite carbonated.

Dark red-amber beer with a quickly disappearing head. Nice sour aroma. Flavor is initially sweet but than the sourness comes up. Nice balanced.

Brown ale com malte Barley Wine, motivo pelo qual sobressai o sabor de uvas viníferas. Carbonatação média, final excelente e refrescante.

Garrafa. Coloração vermelha escura, com creme bege muito bonito. Notas de uva (vinho tinto) e malte. Algo salgado, mas bom! Algo doce também. Carbonatação média. Personalidade!

Green bottle, corked (2006) and caged. Aroma acidic with gueuze notes, wild and slightly metallic. Light fruit and stronger yeast. Pours a deep brown that nears opaque with a rocky, soapy beige head. Very sweet taste, sugary with good, firm carbonation, some interesting angular fruitiness, and controlled sourness and acidity. If not for the initially cloying sugariness, this would be much more drinkable, much more so than other sours. Some strawberry-rhubarb. Underlying maltiness shows promise, but it’s not really allowed to come out an play. Alcohol is hidden. Full body. Aftertaste is somewhat bready. Rich dessert beer - I like this a lot!

A little wary of sour ale, I was so overtly astonished by the balance of this one, witht its grunty malt backbone and odd cherry-like tartness, I had to check it wasnt the kreik. truly luxurious and delightful.