Verhaeghe Duchesse De Bourgogne

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

On tap at Zeno’s Pub - State College, PA. Tangy, oaken nose backed with superfluous sugars, cherry pits and dry tannins. Pours a brilliant ruby and brown, with an off edge of tan. Flavor is initially a little artificially saccharin sweet, but slowly develops very classic Roselaire tartness, joined with a jolt of good oak, savory spices and fluent alcohols. Sippable, reflexive and mature. Fresh. Dries out with some faint mineral palate. Nice.

This is my first sour - so how do I rate it? I have nothing really to compare it to...that being said, I have a pretty good idea of what’s going on here. First thought was fresh apple cider, which turned into basalmic vinegar. Prune juicy. Raisins. Sweeter than I expected - my wife thought this very drinkable and reminded her of champagne and tea (Kombucha). Maybe re-visit this one when I have a better grasp of sours.

25 cl bottle at home: crisp dark cherry brown with a decent creamy tall tan head. Immediate notes of cherry syrup. Some dark crystal malt notes under the syrup. A tree-bark character floating around. Not quite wood. A faint lactic twang. The syrup is turning sickeningly sweet and artificial. In the mouth you are first hit with that syrup again. Definitely not a natural tasting sweetness. Cherry and a bit of muddled malt character come up under the sugar just before a decent lactic character rolls in. This however turns bad when the sweetness rolls back in. "Old coin" metallic character at end with some cold tea. A bit thick on the tongue. Perhaps a bit high on the CO2 as well. It drives something astringent into the back of your nose. I remember this as being much better last time I had in several years back. Hmm... has it changed or have I wised up?

Draft at Falling Rock Tap House in Denver. Pours a dark, slightly reddish brown with a small tan head. Aroma of ripe, sour fruits. Flavor is rich and coating, with plum, fig and other darks fruits abounding. More sourness is there, with little in the way of hops. Finishes tart and sweet. Excellent!

(BELGIUM) Courtesy of AFI96, Thanks Waylo !! Pours a nice dark amber color with a sm tan head. Wow, there are alot of different aroma’s here, cherry, dark fruits, toffee, and some vinegar. The taste has a very interesting blend of fruits, cherries, plums, raisins. The mouthfeel is tart and dry. I was not sure about this one at first, but now i really like it.

Bottled 25cl. It pours a ruby beer. the nose is of vinegar with notes of wood. The taste is mainly of vinegar. Plenty of character. Woody. sour with hints of glue. Decent lacing. A strong punch before the finish which is woody and acidic. Both nose and taste remind me of jarred pickles.

Ugh. It had a great smell if I was putting it on my salad, as a beer. Nyet.

Bottle shared with BeerGestapo. Pours dark reddish brown with a thin beige head. Smells of sour cherries, vinegar, some candi sugar. Taste begins with a shock of sour, turning sweet, and back to sour. Notes of cherry, apple, and red grapes make appearances in subtle ways. Mouthfeel is delightful, spritzy & dry, very refreshing. The only real problem I have with this beer is that the taste may not be quite intense enough. I would like to try this one again.