Mestreechs Aajt (5% ABV, unsweetened)

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

Cherry red color. Lightly acidic nose, vinous, peppery, with hints of balsamic vinegar a touch of red fruit. I find this to be poorly blended, too much lager and not enough sour ale. It’s definately a let down, compared to the aroma, which led me to believe this was going to be intensely sour. The caramel sweetness from the lager seems to be the most dominant here and I look for a drier, less approchable and more sour version of red ale.

On tap at Hopleaf (a great bar in Chicago). This dark brown ale poured with a short tan head, eliciting a sour aroma. The flavor is equally sour, but in a pleasant way. It tasted very much like a typical Belgian sour brown ale, though not brewed the same way.

bottle from the grolsch-style rubber gasket bottle. i was expecting something lighter, so i was surprised to get a tart, dark ruby beer. explosively bitter and sour, kind of like a malty lambic. much smoother--but less challenging--to drink than many other sour beers. worth a shot even if you’re not a fan of the sours.

This oak cask conditioned bottled brew poured a medium sized head of mostly lasting foamy finely sized bubbles that left behind a fair lacing and a very softly carbonated transparent caramel brown colored body. The aroma was port like fruity and very lambic like sour raisin. The mouth feel tingly and sour yet mellowed quickly leaving only a dry aftertaste. Very much a Flemish sour Ale flavor and aroma.

Bottle. Small ivory head that mostly diminished, fine-medium sized bubbles, sparse lacing, minimal carbonation, transparent, and a reddish brown hue. Aroma was sweet and wne. Flavor was sweet, wine, and somewhat tart. Smooth, dry palate. Light-medium body.

Clear ruby-brown body with a sudsy, grayish soda-like head. Looks like root beer. Aroma has nice vinous qualities of both red and white wine. Notes of plums, grapes, and alcohol. A few fruit flies that were obviously attracted to the bottle (but not the Vichtenaar sitting next to it) were mildly amusing. Pleasant tartness and highly drinkable but very dry to the point of thinning the palate. Not particularly complex, but very enjoyable. A blend of Mestreech’s Aajt and Vichtenaar produced a more superior, better-balanced ale.

Tap @ spuyten Duyvil. Deep ruby red color with lasting beige head. Sour aroma. Very creamy mouthfeel. Flavor is cherries, a bit sour, and something i cant place but maybe windex. Finishes with a slightly unpleasant macro beer aftertaste. Enjoyable though.

Pours a mahogany color with a then head and no lacing. Aroma is light and fruity, I’m sensing cherries and apples. Flavor is...interesting; mild to say the least. It’s a nice intro to the style but hardly a standard-bearer. Light fruits follow the aroma closely, but not much more there. It’s good, but doesn’t have a lot of depth. Arlen has ruined me. Palate is too gentle. It’s not nearly crisp nor sour enough for the style. Overall it’s not bad and it’s a good intro to the style, but for the seasoned rater it just doesn’t quite measure up.