Mestreechs Aajt (5% ABV, unsweetened)

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

Deep dark reddish auburn in color with mid-sized forthy head. Aroma is chock full of raisins, cherries and vinegar with a not unpleasant tartness. A bit of iodine and lime is present as well. Flavor is tart and sour, but tempered with an ample bitterness on the swallow. Fairly light in body with a long bitter finish. I did not like the bitterness in the finish. I did not feel it was balanced enough to be called smooth. ****Re-rate 02//10/2005, bottle version***** Perhaps this second bottle was spoiled, but I honestly cannot give this beer a good rating. Vinegar-laden, this brew was undrinkable. Given my original rating, I will assume spoilage, and not adjust my rating.

Yeasty (socks, a little bubble gum and a lot of plum, but not spicy) aroma. Beautiful clear red if a bit thin and very little head. Nice Flemish SA - I concur with several others that this isn’t over the top in sourness, nor is it too sweet. Nice entre to style, perhaps?

Dark brown color with some red hues. Small rimming head. Aroma is vinegar, apples and cobwebs. Flavor is mildly sour with the malt sweetness somewhat overpowering the finishing sourness. Smooth body. OK beer.

A very dark color without being black. The beer is very sweet. Apples, cherries and caramel dominate the palate. The finish is light but again very sweet

Dark, rich red color with full on head. Aroma is of sour cherries and light caramel. Taste is like cherry sweet tarts which become quickly balanced by roasted malt. Lightly carbonated. As it warms up becomes a bit sweet. A lot going on with this baby.

Head is initially small, frothy, light brown, mostly diminishing. Body is dark amber. Aroma is moderately malty (toasted grain/nuts/bread, caramel), lightly yeasty (cobwebs, earth, barnyard), with notes of cherry and cask wood. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic. Finish is lightly sweet, moderately acidic, lightly bitter. Medium body, velvety/creamy texture, soft carbonation. Enjoyable little brew here...not a full-on sour ale, but not too sweet either. Delightful.

Deep ruby color with low carbonation and no head. The aroma is sweet caramely and inticing. The flavor reminds me of a cherry sour tart, very pleasing. Clean finish with residual sweetness lingering and inviting the next sip.

I was really digging this brew served on tap at the blind tiger in NYC. The balsamic nose is out of this world. Darky red color and low tight head with lace. Sour and lactice - yeah! But at the same time sweet, even sugary, undertones. Classy, unusual and refreshing, but somehow pure and simple.