Category Archives: Style

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Lindemans x Brouwerij Varenbroek, Lambic - non-Lambic Blends

Lindemans x Varenbroek Goyck

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aka – Lindemans Goyck (beeradvocate)
aka – Varenbroek Goyck (ratebeer & untappd)

Brewery: Brouwerij Lindemans x Brouwerij Varenbroek
Country: Belgium
ABV: 5.5%
Style: Belgian Lambic (non-Lambic blends)
Other Notes: a fine blend of ‘Toots’ & ‘Lindemans Lambic’

Brewer Description: (from bottle) ‘GOYCK’ is a blend beer from a top fermented beer ‘Toots’ and a beer of spontaneous fermentation ‘Lindemans Lambic’. The bottle refermentation with ‘Brettanomyces’ gives the final beer a unique taste and aroma! ‘GOYCK’ refers to the old notation of the name of our beautiful village. A village and a beer of ‘Pajottenland’ to be proud of!

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.08
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 750ml bottle, bottled on April 2018, with a best before date of April 2025. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen stemmed glass.
Appearance: A lightly hazy golden straw yellow colour with a big three finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly but eventually settled to a very nice fluffy thin replenishing layer while leaving good lacing.
Aroma: Brett, damp wood, zingy, citrus rind, lemon peel, apricot, peach, straw, with floral notes.
Taste: Funky, brett, musty, apricot, peach, citrusy, lemon zest, grass, with a herbal and floral finish.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium bodied with moderate to soft carbonation.
Overall: An enjoyable blend of beers that is refreshing and great for a hot summer day.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Denmark, Lambic - Gueuze, Mikkeller ApS

Mikkeller HUES

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Brewery: Mikkeller ApS
Country: Denmark
ABV: 5%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Gueuze)
Other Notes: 2014 vintage. Brewed by Mikkeller at De Proef Brouwerij, Belgium

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Spontaneously fermented beer aged in Hungarian oak barrels.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.9
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 375ml corked and caged bottle with a best before date of 27th March 2024. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen gueuze glass.
Appearance: A dark rusty orange amber colour with a very thin white head that disappeared immediately and left no lacing.
Aroma: Funky, apple cider vinegar, green apple, grape, oak.
Taste: Sour, musty, wet oak, apple peel, vinegar, lemon juice, with vinous notes.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate to soft carbonation.
Overall: Reminds me of the Spontan series, and much like Betelgeuze, I grew to enjoy it more and more towards the end.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Denmark, Lambic - Fruit, Mikkeller ApS

Mikkeller Spontandoubleraspberry

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Brewery: Mikkeller ApS
Country: Denmark
ABV: 7.7%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Fruit)
Other Notes: Brewed by Mikkeller at De Proef Brouwerij, Belgium

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Sour ale brewed with raspberries & aged in oak barrels.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.43
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.3

Intro: A 375ml bottle with a best before date of 29th May 2028. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen stemmed glass.
Appearance: A hazy dark ruby red colour with a two finger pinkish beige head that had great retention and left lots of nice lacing.
Aroma: Wood, lightly tart, jammy, raspberry, strawberry shortcake.
Taste: Lightly sour, tart, jammy, raspberry, lime, oak.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Enjoyable jammy raspberry flavours. One of the better ones in the Spontan lineup.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Hanssens Artisanaal, Lambic - Fruit

Hanssens Very Special Old Red (V.S.O.R.)

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Brewery: Hanssens Artisanaal
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6.5%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Fruit)
Other Notes: Fruit: 7% blackberries, 13% sour cherries, 3% strawberries, 17% raspberries

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Fresh strawberries, black berries, raspberries and sour cherries – 7 months macerated in lambic oak barrels.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.49
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.3

Intro: A 375ml corked and caged bottle, bottled on 16th November 2018. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen stemmed glass.
Appearance: A hazy dark red colour with an orange hue, with a thin off white head that left no lacing.
Aroma: Tart, cherry, strawberry, raspberry, acetone, with musty, damp and balsamic notes.
Taste: Sour, intense sour, cherry, raspberry, oak, acidic, balsamic vinegar.
Mouthfeel: Sharp, acidic, medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: A few bottlings of Hanssens have had strong sourness and harsh acidity, and after the first sip I thought that this was going down that similar route. But thankfully things improved somewhat after that first sip, and I think that the berries somehow toned down the acidity to a slightly more acceptable level.

4 - Good (buy), Almanac Beer Co., Beer Reviews, Flanders Red Ale, USA

Almanac Grand Cru Red Ed. 2

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Brewery: Almanac Beer Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 10.5%
Style: Belgian Flanders Red Ale
Other Notes: 2016 vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Imperial Sour Red Ale, aged in red wine barrels, brewed with grapes, raspberries and vanilla beans.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.49
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.4

Intro: A 1 pint 9.4 fl. oz. bottle, bottled in Autumn 2016. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen stemmed glass.
Appearance: A hazy but bright orange red colour with a thin beige head that dissipated quickly while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Sour, tart, sweet, candy like, raspberry, cherry, grape jelly, vanilla, oak, and a touch vinous.
Taste: Sour, sour candy, raspberry, grape jelly, lemon juice, vinous, vanilla, oak and some light acidity.
Mouthfeel: Dry, medium to full bodied, with moderate carbonation.
Overall: A very nice and balanced Sour Red Ale with enjoyable candy like fruity flavours, and alcohol non-existent and well hidden despite being 10.5% abv.