Struise Aardmonnik / Earthmonk

Formerly brewed at De Struise Brouwers
Style: Sour Ale
Oostvleteren, Belgium

(on bottle, batch no. 7) Hazy like mud, reddisbrown, no head. Sour cherries, moscovado, raspberry vinegar, maltsyrup, grapes. Light taste, yet malty and complex(gets more complex throughout the drink). Very dirty, as in dirt and humus. The grapes are a constant in the taste, sour, on the rounded and potent side. Has an odd clay- ryefinish; kind of "rubbly" in the mouth. Indeed a weird beer.

Bottle from Brad over in beer heaven. Pours a dark brown with small bubbly head on top. Nose slightly sourwith spices, berries, fruits, acidic. Flavor is even more sour with big time cherry. Not stellar, but drinkable for sure.

Bottle from Cracked Kettle. Black colour. Oily. Sour nose indeed. Very strong sour taste. Once gotten past that there are some traces of dark berries, especially towards the end. I can appreciate but not really enjoy. Pretty expensive too.

75cl bottle, with a big THANKS to sunevdj! Pours a dark brown like Coke with a very limited head that disappears quickly to a thin ring, no lacing. Aroma is boldly sour, with several things going on I just can’t put my finger on - all pleasant, but indescribable, some dark fruits blend in as well. Flavor is more sour, with a nice pucker and a lingering presence, some more dark fruits coming in @ the finish. This is a well done Sour, and another fine Struise creation!

Bottled. 33cl bottle courtesy of Carlo (Lachesis) at RBLCM last September. Huge thanks go to Carlo for the gift of this beer, but also for the fact that his company brew such a masterpiece. Pours dark brown with a purple hue, and very little beige head. The aroma is super sour. Gorgeous acidity but also a woody barky note and the merest hint of chocolate. More puckering sourness in the taste, together with all the flavours of Mother Nature: Earth and Wood abound. Tingly on the tongue but that’s the sourness rather than carbonation which is minimal. A beer I could honestly drink every day for always. I had the highest hopes but was prepared to be disappointed. My only disappointment is I cannot buy this anywhere close to home. Thanks again to Carlo, a true Gentleman.

This rating is dedicated to my second beautiful daughter Charlotte Megan Edwards born 5th October 2007.

33 cl bottle from Delerium Cafe. Pours an opaque brown with a medium head and intense sour-like aroma. Rich dark malt flavors with slightly sweet flavor balance matched to a bold sour character. Labeled "unfiltered and unpasteurised", containing yeast, hops, water, malt and spices.

Dark brown with a disappearing head. Sour aroma, matured fruits and vinous notes. Very complex flavor - chokolate, grapes and plums. Tarty and deep. Excellent beer and without competition in this category.

Bottle, 8%. Sour and vinous aroma. Very dark brown colour, seemingly clear. Frothy light brown head. The flavour is quite sour and a little sweet with some spicy fruit notes. The aftertaste holds a late black pepper note felt at the back of the throat. Might benefit from a year or two in the cellar.