Liefmans Goudenband

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

Tasted a ’03 and a ’92 bottle side by side. The ’92 was oxidized and past its prime so I’ll write the notes up on the ’03 vintage. Poured a deeper ruby-red color with a smaller sized head. Aromas and tastes of cherries, light citrus, fruity, some caramel and a little vinous. The sourness was on the tame side.

Sampled two of these side by side. Hopdog provided the 2003, Dickinsonbeer provided the 1992. Pours a red amber with with no head. The 2003 had lots of small floaties. For the flavor and aroma I’m going off the 2003 since the 1992 bottle was kind of tame. Aroma of tart cherries, light sourness, the older version had more of woodyness coming through (maybe from the cork?). Flavor was tart sourness a little sweet and malty with some vanilla.

Pours a reddish-brown with a small, quickly fading, off-white head. The aroma is very vinous with vinegar, toffee, cherries and notes of oak. Flavor starts sweet, with cherries, grapes and toffee. The sourness comes in about midway though before a nice malty, caramel finish. Mouthfeel is light and smooth with soft carbonation. A fantastic Oud Bruin.

Robe rouge très claire surmontée d’une mousse beige persistente. Arômes de cerises et d’agrumes. Saveurs de cerises, d’agrumes, de liège et de sucre.

Sampled from magnum bottle. Pours murky mahogany with a tjin, scattered white head. Aroma is quite complex: earthy and vinous with cherries and subtle hops spice. Flavor is balanced. Quite sour, fruity and earthy with a rich malt backbone. Medium-full body and well-carbonated. Unique, enjoyable and a must try.

Barnyard and sour wine aroma, which is very pleasant but not as powerful as it might be. Very dark brown. Considerable carbonation but the head is short lived. Several flavors. Balsamic vinegar, sweet fruit. Sour compared to many beers, but not very sour in its own right.

330 mL Bottle, corked & caged (2001 on the cork, sampled February 2006: strong and full tan, large bubbled head that, after 5 years can’t quite keep its form. Sour, black cherry aroma with a depth of sweet raisins and orange citrus. Creamy acidity with a strong hint of limestone and sour grapes. The gueuze like qualities have really developed and come to fruition…right up my alley.8/4/9/4/18 – 4.3

Fresh: This was my favorite beer I sampled while in belgium. A wonderfully dark ruby/burnt orange colour. Nose a bit musty with soft fruits and some malt. Flavour very complex, a fruit I can’t place (perhaps plums) and some nice sourness. I am not sure why this beer impacted me so much, but it was great. 10/4/8/4/18 – 4.4

Has a glass on draft that was perfectly uncarbonated. Not as acidic as I would of thought for a beer of this style but well balanced none the same. A solid maltiness with just enough acidity to balance in the absence of hop bitterness. This is a wild brew i could drink all night long.