Category Archives: 4 – Good (buy)

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Czech Republic, Métaphore, Wild Ale

Métaphore Here and Now: Rhubarb & Reine Claude

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Brewery: Métaphore
Country: Czech Republic
ABV: 5.1%
Style: Wild Ale

Brewer Description: (from bottle) A blended, coolshipped spontaneously fermented beer, aged in oak barrels for one, two, and three years, married with locally grown organic rhubarb and Reine Claude plums. A harmonious and delicate expression of the local landscape and its passage through the seasons, captured in a bottle. Best enjoyed in good company! Na zdravi!

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.24

Intro: A 750ml corked and capped bottle, with a best before date of 10th January 2034. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A slightly hazy golden straw yellow colour with a one finger white head that had good retention while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Lightly tart, earthy, rhubarb, yellow stone fruit, plums, wood, with light funky notes.
Taste: Much like the aroma, lightly sour and tart, earthy, rhubarb, plum, wood, funk.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate to soft carbonation.
Overall: Good easy drinking as the earthy rhubarb goes well with the plums, and overall not too sour or acidic.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Lambic - Fruit, Vermeersch

Vermeersch Jan

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Brewery: Vermeersch
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6%
Style: Lambic – Fruit
Other Notes: 2023 vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Rabarber.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.43

Intro: A 750ml corked and capped bottle, 2023 vintage, bottled on 6th July 2023. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A hazy orange colour with a one finger white head that had good retention, and left some nice lacing.
Aroma: Rhubarb, green apple, earthy, funk, oak, lemon zest.
Taste: Soft tartness, rhubarb, green apple, minerals, light oak, with a splash of lemon zest.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with soft to moderate carbonation.
Overall: The rhubarb might not be as strong as in other rhubarb lambics, but the there is enough to have a nice balance with the minerality and acidity. Easy drinking and enjoyable.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Heroes Beer Co., Hong Kong, Italian Grape Ale

Heroes BB&FOAGAwBOGADFB&C (7th Anniversary)

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Brewery: Heroes Beer Co.
Country: Hong Kong
ABV: 6.7%
Style: Grape Ale
Other Notes: Bottle 472 of 500

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Bourbon Barrel & French Oak Aged Grape Ale with Blood Orange, Green Apple, Dragon Fruit, Blueberries & Cinnamon. For our 7th anniversary we decided to go outside of the box. BB&FOAGAwBOGADFB&C is a Red Sangria-inspired Grape Ale. Aged in both Bourbon Barrels and French Oak, it offers subtle funk and fruity complexity. Expect vibrant, cocktail-like notes of grapes, blood orange, with a touch of cinnamon spice. The beer was fermented on skin and the oak aging introduces a soft tannin, mimicking the depth of a classic sangria. The finish is crisp yet smooth, with just enough sweetness to round out the bright acidity.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.07

Intro: A 750ml clear bottle, bottle 472 of 500, packaged on 6th November 2024, with a best before date of 5th May 2026. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A hazy purplish red colour with a half finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly, while leaving only sparse to no lacing.
Aroma: Yoghurt, fruit cake, orange, green apple, grapes, with notes of cinnamon.
Taste: Light to moderate sweetness, fruit cake, fruit cocktail mix, orange, grapes, green apple, notes of mixed berries, vanilla, and a splash of cinnamon spice.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Lots of fruit, easy drinking. Bourbon barrel might be there, but it’s not obvious. It’s not as complex as it sounds, and thus seems quite expensive for what it is.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Lambic - Fruit, Vermeersch

Vermeersch Lieve x Marie

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Brewery: Vermeersch
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6%
Style: Lambic – Fruit
Other Notes: 2023 vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Vlierbloesem x abrikoos.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.3

Intro: A 750ml corked and capped bottle, 2023 vintage, bottled on 3rd December 2023. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A hazy dark orange colour with a one finger white head that had good retention, and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Floral, elderflower, lychee, grapefruit zest, apricot.
Taste: Sour, tart, elderflower, yellow stone fruit, apricot, citrus zest.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with soft to moderate carbonation.
Overall: I especially enjoyed the aroma, while the flavour has a good floral and fruity balance.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Lambic - Fruit, Vermeersch

Vermeersch Marleen “blanche”

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Brewery: Vermeersch
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6%
Style: Lambic – Fruit
Other Notes: 2023 vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Witte nectarine.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.43

Intro: A 750ml corked and capped bottle, 2023 vintage, bottled on 6th July 2023. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A hazy orange colour with a one finger white head that had good retention, and left some nice lacing.
Aroma: Yellow stone fruit, peach, nectarine, lightly tart, citrus zest.
Taste: Sour, lightly tart, peach, nectarine, orange, citrus zest.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with soft to moderate carbonation.
Overall: Smooth, soft, with good aroma and flavours. The nectarines are front and centre. Easy drinking and enjoyable.