Struise Aardmonnik / Earthmonk

Formerly brewed at De Struise Brouwers
Style: Sour Ale
Oostvleteren, Belgium

Bottled. Dark brown coloured. Dense light brown head. Sour, vinegar, fruits, berries, spice and light earth in the aroma. Very complex. Flavour is at least as complex as the aroma. Sourich and fruity. Has loads of berries and spice. Vinegar is there again. Very balanced. Medium to full bodied. Very dry and acidic. Is fruity and sweetish in the end with a light sour touch. Yet another pearl from de Struise brewers.

This Flemish sour pours a dark reddish brown color from a 330ml(?) bottle. Medium sized white foamy head. Aroma is fruity and funky, vinous and tart. A medium to full bodied Flemish sour. Malts are funky and fruity, vinous and tart. Lively carbonation. An amazing balance between the fruit and the funk. Lots of cherry and vinegar, must, leather and cobwebs. Nice beer. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet and tart. Thanks to Chris C for sharing this one as well.

Bottle. Pours dark brown with a spare, light brown head, completely diminishing. Aroma is heavy malt (cookie, caramel, straw), average hops (flowers, perfume), average yeast (horse blanket, barnyard, earth) with notes of alcohol, plum, date, and cherry. Medium bodied, thin and oily texture, soft carbonation, and a sour finish. Long duration, light sweetness, heavy acidity and sourness.

Dark red, near black colored, little yellow head. Rich aroma indeed with sourness, and berries, licorice, mild smoke, mild bubblegum and nice alcohol, deep and complex one. Medium to full bodied. Flavor has also strong sweet and sour sides, licorice and vinous tones also present. Aftertaste turns to nicely dry and hopped after sweet start, still some licorice lasts with mild alcohol. Extremely complex though very sweet brew.

33 cl bottle from Delerium Cafe. Pours an opaque brown with a medium head and intense sour-like aroma. Rich dark malt flavors with slightly sweet flavor balance matched to a bold sour character. Labeled "unfiltered and unpasteurised", containing yeast, hops, water, malt and spices.

Last May I was driving through the beautiful Belgian countryside, finally gazing upon the hop fields of Poperinge and the Westvleteren abbey, scenes I had dreamt about since my first few beers. Little did I know that my casual visit of the nearby De Struise brewers would be such an eye-opening experience. In the company of Carlo and Urbain, I had my first taste of the debuting Earthmonk, a cask-sample elegantly tapped and deliciously satisfying. A few months later, two bottles arrived in the mail, a generous donation that I was impatient to sample. The long maturation and bottle-conditioning were certain to yield the polish I had found in Pannepot and De Struise’s other excellent efforts. In appearance this Flemish Sour was unusually dark, a peat black hue glinting with deep ruddy highlights and topped of a ballooning off-white froth. Rich vinous tones erupted immediately, enhanced by copious oak and vanillin, and an intense licorice fragrance. The voluminous nose is decidedly unique and mouth-watering, sharing the qualities of ripe cherries, brown sugar, apple, milk and the overarching resonance of fresh mineral water. Sour at the offset, the flavor shifts through a gamut of fruity and malty notes, initially emphasizing juicy cherries, Granny Smith apples, wild strawberries and cola. Woodiness prevails just a moment later, accompanied by earthy brown sugar, leather and a hint of Balsamic vinegar. Finishing with a slight metallic tone, the aftertaste develops a remarkable chocolate and hazelnut aspect that I’ve never seen before in the style. The obvious lack of carbonation is unfortunate but creates a rather fertile ground for the complexity of this brew to evolve. Earthmonk has changed since its days in the barrel, on one hand I regret the eminent Speculoos and brown sugar flavors that I had loved, on the other, I find the beer more intricate and mature, more sour and empowered. I can only see this brew improving, especially as I assume the good fellows at De Struise will have their refermentation well in hand next time around.

Courtesy boboski. 2005. Dark ruby/brown with a layer of tan/light brown foam. Gorgeous color. Aroma of tart cherries/dark berries, vinegar, airy yeast, stale earth, apples/pears. Flavor adds sourness, strong malt support, and light dose of earthy, floral perfume. Body is a bit thin with very light carbonation which is easily tolerated because the flavor profile provides enough sharpness on its own. Still would like a little more weight to the body, have to get a fresh bottle. Excellent brew.

Dirty, hazy brown with sediment dancing in the glass. Freaky foam. The aroma is fruity sour with notes of young Beaujolais, apples and port. A very full aroma with a fresh, sour touch. The flavour is wineous with a sound malty base. Fruity and with a dry, sour finish. Extremely balanced and complex with a nice brett character. A great and adventorous beer.