Verhaeghe Duchesse De Bourgogne

Brewed by Verhaeghe
Style: Sour Ale
Vichte, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium

Bottle into a tulip. Pours an unclear yet charming rouge and brown that shimmers red when held to the light, all beneath a khaki head that sizzles and leaves a little foam around the glass. The aroma is yeast, dark fruits, and big sour cherries with a hint of funky barnyard and cream. The flavor is quite sour up front, which fades to a roasty middle and the finish is dry and hints of alcohol. The overall remaining flavor is a pleasant sourness. Very high carbonation, but not in a bad way.

11.2 oz. bottle from Total Wine in Norfolk (best before June 18, 2011). Reddish-brown pour with a thin off-white head. Aroma of apple cider vinegar, cherry juice, and oak. Flavor is more of balsamic vinegar than apple cider with a surprising amount of sweetness. This really isn’t that sour in my opinion. It’s a good beer but I think it’s even better with more aging, perhaps even beyond the recommended date on the bottle or cork.

Pours brown with a large tan head. The aroma is vinous with cherries, berries, and wood. The flavor is surprisingly sweet with a touch of sour. Same flavor as the aroma with maple syrup and a touch of balsamic vinegar adding to the sourness/acidity. An unusual beer, that wine lovers would probably really like.

Deep chestnut in colour this beer has stron mustard and nutmeg aromas. There is something of orange juice on the turn in there too! Sweet and nutty it has some maple syrup characteristics but these are outweighed by the rich vinous fruit and cheesy saltiness. In the finish it is very airy and mature with some walnut and toffee knocking about in there too.

Bottle. Pours a reddish brown beer with an offwhite/beige head. The aroma is berries, acidity, redwine, wood and lactic acid. The flavor is sweet and sour with berries, wood and lactic acid. The palate is dry. Overall a fresh and fruity beer.

Bottle. 11.2 oz. Pours fairly clear amber, with a tan, creamy head. Aroma of strong vinegar, which settles slowly into sweet malts, grapes, yeast, bread, and hints of caramel. Medium bodied. Tangy, tart, bitter mouthfeel with a slow, sugary finish. Terrible sour ale; tastes like vinegar piss.

Poured from tap into small 10oz wine-like glass. Dark ruby-brown with thin head and slight lacing. Aroma of apples, cider and vinegar - mix of sweet and tart. Really reminds me a mixture of cider, ruby port and malt vinegar. Definite notes of apple, autumn spice and tart sweetness. Not nearly as sour as Rodenbach Grand Cru (which I enjoy quite a bit), with more of a vinegary sweetness. Not really sure how to review this. Reminds me of a smooth cider. Carbonation is certainly noticeable, but not beer-like. Gets better with each sip and as it warms. I feel I could have just kept sipping all night - damn 10oz glass!

One of my Belgian favorites. Sweet and sour taste. Level of alcohol is just appropriate.