 boboski (1095), USA
Mar 27, 2007 Updated: Mar 28, 2007
Rating is a culmination of notes from samples from vintages 1986, 87, 90, 91, 92, 93, 98, 99. All bottles(9 and 11oz) held up superbly, a testament to Rudy Ghequire’s expertise and a sophisticated recipe and bottling process. Dark, deep red pour with oily chestnut highlights. Tall cream colored head, slowly diminishing, never fully. Aroma is sour and sweet cherries, wet oaken barrel and refined glorious yeast. Also apricot rinds, apples, peaches, flowers and wax in unison, all in reserved quantities. Breathtaking. Flavor is once again solely focused on cherries, oak and yeast, and has very minor notes of funk, acidic fruits and sour grapes. Alcohol is never a noticeable factor. Finishes sweet with little acidity, cherry and sugar lingering. Palate is perfectly wrought and though syrupy at times, there is always enough sourness to dice through it. Every bottle was memorable, especially the last one, as I knew it would probably be the last ever. A tragedy this was discontinued, but hope glimmers that it will return one day. Classic.
BDR (1966), Roseville, Minnesota, USA
Oct 7, 2008 This was hanging on better than I’d heard. Hazy copper color with cherries, brown sugar, and pitted fruits. A smooth body with similar flavors and the faintest hint of banana marring the otherwise fantastic body. A very thick mouthfeel.
santoslhalper (252), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Oct 3, 2008 1996 bottle, I think. Reddish amber body with a thin fizzy head. Very fruity, oaky and sour smell with some grapes, cherries, chocolate, raisins and lemons. The taste is incredibly fruity with a strong sour back. Cherries, dates, plums, oak, lemons, oranges, chocolate, raisins, and tons more. Complex, and aging great. Can’t wait to have another bottle in 10 years!
dpjuart (608), Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA
Oct 1, 2008 9/17/08 - Courtesy of santoslhalper, shared with Exec Board. ’96 bottle. Pours orange/amber with red hues, eggshell, fizzy head that reduces quickly to a thin, rimming film. Nose is caramel, raisin, figs, chery and mild chocolate - slight sherry notes. Taste is lots of cherry with caramel notes, leading to a candied chocolate, nice crisp tartness fro mthe sour cherry. Very, very solid beer. Yummy in the tummy. Thanks for the treat, Jon.
JMFG (1202), Florida, USA
Sep 27, 2008 Courtesy Beerlando. Cloudy copper-brown color, a little soapy white head. Some creamy dark fruits, mild oak, a healthy sweet component set off by lactic tartness. Sweet oak and sour cherry notes dominate the taste with nice lingering tartness on the back end. Good balance, great flavors.
Beerlando (1460), Orlando, Florida, USA
Sep 10, 2008 Pours very lightly hazy, almost transparent, and ruby red in color. A small, foamy, cream colored head leaves soapy spots of lace behind. The aroma is absolutely fantastic, notes of intense, sour cherries meeting sweet, fruity malts, vanilla, and sour lactose. Hints of worn leather, brown sugar and dark, sweet and sour fruits permeate. Flavors show even more sourness, tart cherries and lactic acidity screeching through the sweet fruits, oaky vanilla and lightly musty yeast lending complimentary depth. Medium bodied with light to moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is stellar for a brew of this age. Overall, this one lived up to the hype for me. It’s a simply fantastic brew that should be put back into production ASAP.
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