Mestreechs Aajt (5% ABV, unsweetened)

Formerly brewed at Gulpener Bierbrouwerij
Style: Sour Ale
Gulpen, Netherlands

Hazy cold, brown coloured body with a super-thin off-white head. Aroma of sour cherries, malt, caster sugar and some off scents. Light-bodied; Super tart cherry flavour with sweet sugars following behind. Aftertaste tart and crisp-odd, but its a full-bodied feeling. Overall, nice to try and a real treat from the Dutch. I sampled this 33 cL bottle purchased at Whole Foods in Vienna, Virginia on 18-September-2004.

A big gush of fruity aromatic goodness hits as soon as the seal on the cap is broken. Pours a nice dark amber color with a tan head that diminishes leaving behind a spotty sheet of lace. Nose is bursting with raisin with a strong tart, vinous presence. It’s got that fascinating sweet and sour contrast like a good Flemish-style sour should have--that vinous sourness with a sugary sweetness such that it almost feels like you’re drinking two liquids at once. Notes of holiday spice, cherry and molasses are all present. Very nice indeed. A solid effort at a Belgian style by a brewery from the Netherlands.

non-saccharin (US) version: Deep garnet. Webby patches of ashen foam cling to the class. Mediocre retention. Splendidly fruity dark malt aroma with cedar, roast, tannins, and spiced black cherries. Touch of brett, medicine, and hay. Lush, feathery soft carbonation elegantly integrates the remarkably composed malt sweetness and lemony tartness. Pillow-soft malts cushion the sharp and snappy tartness. Semi-woody and tannic. Vinous acidity fades as the bready malts continue to build. Notable iron twang is marked with spicy brett. Uncanny softness, throughout, with just enough depth-lending iron harshness. Splash of phenols and spiced cherries. Faint musty mineral note surfaces late, lifting the wild yeast and firm, musty wood aspects from beneath. Buttered caramel merges with understatedly husky malt flavors, continuing to expound on the acidity. Finishes everlastingly fluffy and malty, with subtleties of spiced cherries and tobacco. This is a world-beater, and exemplifies complexity and balance for such a low-gravity beer. Wow!

Deep ruby mahogany color with a quickly dissapating cream head. The beer does leave some lacing. Aroma reveals some malt and lots of fruit. Flavor has some malt, but is outweighed by the fruit, which is mostly apple and pear. The wild yeast notes are clearly present in this one. Finish is fruity but clean.

Dark brown, cola-looking body with a nice clarity to it. Khaki head is small and doesn’t hang around long. Smells of cardboard, german hops, sour cherries, framboise and ambrosia. Taste sweet and sour (acidic) grapes, cranberries, rasberries, dark malt. This beer gets extra consideration for its refined palate and even tastes.

I really enjoyed this Flemish Sour. Spicy fruit aroma, deep burgundy red body. Taste was sour cherries, sweet malts, sour vinegar tartness, very vinous in flavor and body (just with added carbonation). Tons of fruit in this - I loved it.

Pours a deep reddish auburn color with a medium beige head. Thin and quick lacing. The aroma is strong sour apple along with vinegar and spice. Medium-bodied and smooth with tart fruit (apple again), yeast and some malt tastes. Also a little bit of a Cabernet or Concorde grape wine flavor. The finish is fruity and earthy and maintains the sourness. I am still having trouble appreciating this style but I would probably try this again.

Deep brownish red, nice tan head faded almost completely. Aroma was an interesting mix of dark black cherry and balsamic vinegar. Flavors centered around dark cherries, wood, and a bit of sourness. Nice. Is hurt by the fact that Flemish Sours are such an impressive category of beers overall that it is difficult to compete on that level.