Bacchus

Brewed by Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck
Style: Sour Ale/Wild Ale
Ingelmunster, Belgium

Serve in Snifter, Tulip, Tumbler

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Sampled 1702, Tucson AZ; September 2009
This beer arrives from the tap served in a tulip glass. It is topped by a frothy, almost two-finger thick, amber tanned head. The beer is a darkish, brown-amber color that shows a deep, clear red color when held up to the light. The aroma smells quite fruity with rich cherry notes taking the lead role here. Tartness seems to be missing from the aroma, at least it isn’t overly noticeable by me, though it is likely an acetic note that is bringing out the cherry notes. Cherry skin note add some complexity here and the nose smells somewhat sweet, other notes of children’s aspiring and some berry notes add a hint of complexity to what is otherwise a somewhat weak aroma.

Despite the sweetness in the nose the beer tastes quite dry as it first hits my tongue. The beer is most definitely tart, thank goodness, despite not smelling tart at all. The flavor really comes off as washed out though, even watery somehow. There is a soft acetic presence along with a lactic sourness; this is more tart tasting than sour and there is a sweetness that kicks in towards the middle of each sip and continues through to the sweetness; this light sweetness tempers the tartness even more. The beer tastes fruity as well, though perhaps not as pronounced as it was in the flavor; cherry notes are most noticed, but perhaps there is a hint of raspberry as well. A hint of tannins adds some structure towards the finish and there is a very soft malt presence (a hint of toasted malt and a touch of caramel are just perceptible). Really the flavors are just too light here, I really feel like someone took the volume on a normal sour beer and muted the hell out of it. Fairly light bodied, though not overly thin, this beer seems made for quaffing by the pint.

There is quite a nice mix of flavors to this beer, but it really has just been watered down too much. A more concentrated version would likely be phenomenal & for this reason I find this beer quite disappointing.

Sunday night late night brew. Pours murky red brown. Tastes of cherry, plums, oak wood, bread, wine grapes. Refreshing tartness.

tipica flemish; que poderosa. la malta y la fermentación te manda a la mierda con esta birria

Bouteille de 37,5cl. Couleur marron rougeâtre, mousse moyenne de tenue moyenne. Pour les amateurs de la Rodenbach, bien que je trouve cette Bacchus un petit peu en dessous. Trouvée à Roby - Menin.

botttle. Pours a handsome copper-red with a dense beige finely bubbled head that retains as a thin pad. Aroma is pretty faint for a sour, nuances of red fruits and wood, lightly musty. Flavours are equally unassertive, sour cherry and unripened raspberry, light lactic acidity, mild sourness that really is more a dry tartness. finish is quick and empty. This was just plain thin and watery, like I just drank a sour-light.

This poured a dark amber color with a white head. Aroma was of sweet malt, some light oak and some vinegar. Flavor was lightly sour but mainly sweet, very cheesy, and some stale hops notes too.

Has the appearance of an abbey ale, brown with off white head. Nice fruity sour aroma. Taste is sour, cherries with a creamy/milky finish and watery aftertaste. Not a spectacular sour ale, but definitely worth consuming.

Tap pours reddish brown with little off white head, smells of acidic cherries and vinegar. The taste is all vinegar with a moderate grain body. It slightly opens up with a cherry lemon tart sweetness but the vinegar is consistent. It does has a strong white wine like palate and finish, sort of between a sauvignon blanc and pinot gris with the dry nature and fruit. Enjoyable and a welcome change of pace.

Aroma of sweet caramel and pale malt with a pleasing moderate sourness. Sourness is milder on the palate than the aroma with some biscuity malt. Soft mouthfeel.

Draft at Rattle n Hum with Linh unintentionally. Pours a deep reddish brown body with no head. Aroma is sour cherries, oak, and light grape. Mouthfeel is lightly carbonated with notes of sour cherry, wood, tart grapes.

Green bottle by 20.09.2013. Sharp acetic nose with some balsamic and oak. Deep blood red with a lacing, rocky tan head. Sharp sourness lightly puckers the mouth, low bitterness, very low sweetness. Very airy and gaseous, would have preferred something denser, compacter. The wood is a bit underplayed, fruity (strong cherry and black currant) and lightly wild with a very faint metallic edge, light body is quenching and the aftertaste rings of red wine. A little simple for style, but most of the reviews below seem to do it a disservice in clamoring for something extreme. Still a good one.