Tag Archives: ba

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.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Garage Project, New Zealand, Wild Ale

Garage Project Random Acts Of Kindness

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Brewery: Garage Project
Country: New Zealand
ABV: 7.6%
Style: American Wild Ale
Other Notes: Wild Workshop

Brewer Description: (from bottle) The first in a very special series of beers that capture the essence of Wild Workshop. Two parts New Zealand grown pilsner malt to one part raw wheat go through an extended brewing process to yield a wort that is rested in a traditional open coolship, then fermented entirely using the wild yeast and microbes present in the air. This first release is a special blend of one year old barrels producing a unique and beautifully balanced beer, a true expression of our inner city terrior.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.06
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 750ml corked and caged bottle, bottled on 15th August 2019. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen stemmed glass.
Appearance: A slightly hazy golden colour with a two finger white head that eventually settled to a rapidly replenishing fluffy cap that left lots of nice lacing.
Aroma: Funky, straw, oak, Champagne grape, honey, with notes of stone fruit and citrus zest.
Taste: Sour, funky, stone fruit, apricot, peach, oak, and a hint of honey and lemon zest.
Mouthfeel: Dry-ish, medium bodied with moderate to high carbonation.
Overall: Very nice and enjoyable Wild Ale with good funk and fruity notes.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Alvinne, Wild Ale

Alvinne Cuvée Sofie Duindoornbes-Zilverbes

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Brewery: Brouwerij Alvinne
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Style: American Wild Ale
Other Notes: BXL Beerfest 2017 limited edition

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Barrel fermented and aged blond sour with sea buckthorn berries and silverberries. Limited edition for BXL Beerfest.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.99
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 750ml bottle, 2017 limited edition for BXL Beerfest, with a best before date of August 2022. Poured into an Alvinne teku glass.
Appearance: A lightly hazy copper orange brown colour with no head and no lacing.
Aroma: Sour, lightly tart, plum skin, grape, oak, funk, with notes of acetone.
Taste: Sour, plum, grape, mixed berries, lemon, oak, with vinous notes and hints of funk and red wine vinegar.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: I don’t know what sea buckthorn berries or silverberries tastes like, but this was an enjoyable sour with lots of fruity notes.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Alvinne, Wild Ale

Alvinne Wild West Barrel 58

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Brewery: Brouwerij Alvinne
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6%
Style: American Wild Ale
Other Notes: 2016 vintage. Alvinne limited edition, single cask, 400 bottles. French Oak from Pineau de Charentes

Brewer Description: (from bottle in Dutch) Barrel 58 is een uniek project waar we enkel zelfgeplukte bessen toevoegen aan Wild West rechtstreeks op het eiken vat. Passie, toewijding en kennis… Barrel 58 5 maand gerijpt op een Pineau de Charentes barrel. Sleedoorn (Moen), braambessen (Gavere), bosbessen (Vlaamse Ardennen).

(translated to English) Barrel 58 is a unique project where we only add self-picked berries to Wild West directly on the oak barrel. Passion, dedication and knowledge… Barrel 58 matured for 5 months on a Pineau de Charentes barrel. Blackthorn (Moen), blackberries (Gavere), blueberries (Flemish Ardennes).

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.39
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.3

Intro: A 500ml bottle, 2016 vintage, with a best before date of December 2021. Poured into an Alvinne teku glass.
Appearance: A lightly hazy rusty orange brown colour with a one finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly and settled to a thin layer.
Aroma: Tart, sour, mixed berries, vinous, oak, with a splash of vinegar and acetone.
Taste: Sour, tart, mixed berries, vinous, grape, oak, and lemon.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Very nice and balanced with great complexity and enjoyable berry notes.