Struise Aardmonnik / Earthmonk

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

33cL bottle. Pours a deep, murky brown, with very little carbonation; only a few bubbles sit atop the beer. Complex tart aroma, notes of oak, balsamac vinegar, cherry, pepper, and red wine. Really phenomenal aroma. Flavor is just as complex, with raisin, oak, pepper, and vinous qualities. Long, tart finish. This is a really exceptional beer.

25 oz bottle, via Storm. Pours a very dark reddish brown, sort of a dark mahogany maybe, under a minimal beige to light brown large bubbled head that settled to a thin ring of bubbles and a whispy film. Not much in the way of visible carbonation. The aroma is quite aggressive, and seems very fore-warning that I’m going to be getting something quite unique here. Rich tart cherry skins, balsamic vinegar, port, sherry, light soy, a hint of vanilla, some woody earthy notes (chardonney like?), and something that reminds me of fresh air coming in off the ocean. The flavor was not as tart and cherry-like as I was expecting from the nose. More like a Woody mixture of caramel, grapes, port, light soy like notes and a touch of vinegar. Not really as acidic as I was expecting either, just a slightly puckering crispness that leaves some lingering oaky flavor. This is probably the most vinous beer I think that has crossed my lips. In an odd way, it kinda recalls a slight reminder of Gale’s Prize Old Ale. Mouthfeel is just perfect for this beer, a nice full rounded palate coating consistency with very minimal carbonation that doesn’t distract. I found it hard to not take huge swollowing gulps of this, as I’m really trying to savor this one and make it last. Thank god that this is coming to the US soon. I will buy as much of this as I can find.

In bottle at ’T Brugse Beertje. Browish red (as seen through the smoke in the bar). Sour, almost port like mouthfeel. My notes are horrible for this other than I had 2 of these and gave it 5*****. Hope to find this in the US soon. Acc. to the bartender, the current supply is almost out and Struise will be brewing more this summer.

Bottle @ ’T Brugse Beertje. Brownish red. Winey tart fruity nose with earthy wood. Initial taste is sweet balsamic - a bit clyoing but this quickly balances with nice soft vinegar, oakiness and sweet dark malts with lovely autumn berries. Very good.

Bottle shared by cquiroga on 12/1/06: Pours a transparent dark mahogany with nicely-lacing frothy tan head. Aroma of sweet dark cherries, some mild oak and nice tart notes. Body starts rich and caramely sweet, well-balanced with great tart dark fruit. Fresh and full in flavor, this finishes very well-balanced and enjoyable. A great Flemish sour that I hope will be imported into the US soon.

Bottle at Kulminator. Almost black with a very small, frothy head. Rich sour yoghurt aroma. Flavours are mildly milky and fruity with strong sour yoghurt. Soft, medium body. A great new Belgian is born.

bottle from quinns. What a treat! Well worth the trip all the way up the Northern line. Deep crimson with bizarre head - a few massive round bubbles. Mouth watering vinous nose of sour cherry and raspberry w/ sweetish chocolate hints (reminds me of chocolate cherry cordials). If this had been served to me blind, I’d have sworn it was wine. Totally flat with a vinous taste - a lightly oaky cabernet balanced with fruit and vanilla. Dry finish of tart, puckering wild berry jus. Perfect balance of sweet and sour. Cannot do the Earthmonk justice with just one taste - good thing I got a couple for takeaway. Mmmmmmmmmm.

Bottle. Souer notes, but in a nice way, it is also malty and filling. Good good beer.