Blended October 2007 #00276 Big sediment in a deep reddish brown with a nice few fingers of quickly collapsing tan head. Aroma is oaky sourness, some sour cherry and a wincing tartness. Very light body with an acidic profile. Very dry and some alcohol slips through in the end.

Courtesy of JSturm

Bottle: The aroma consists of caramel, sour dark fruits, vinous notes, and alcohol. It pours a hazy orangish-brown with a small beige head. The flavor starts with caramel, sour fruits, and vanilla. The finish is lightly oaky with some noticeable alcohol. Light-medium bodied with soft carbonation.

750mL Bottle courtesy of lithy. Thanks Justin! (I cut and pasted the thank you from TURDFERGUSON, but it’s true!) It’s funny how the 2005 version is listed as a Belgian Strong Ale, and it also sour. The label says Swiss Ale de Garde. It’s definitely sour, I like this categorization. Pours with with a big head, even though cold, and fades quickly to a tiny small bubble ring around the edge of the glass. First smell is of sour cherries, a bit Brettish. Lots of oak, approaching a wine-like oakiness, I wouldn’t doubt used red wine barrels for the aging. Aroma is really wonderful. Dark red-amber color. Taste is really dry and a bit of sour. Nice sipping beer. Kind of reminds me of Red Poppy. Kind of an apple skin bitterness, probably tannins from the red wine. Alcohol is very well hidden, probably because of the mild sourness, but still has medium drinkability. A hint of age is showing in the beer, but doesn’t detract from the beer. I would actually expect more aging might do it some good to mellow and the blend the flavors some more. As an experiment, I watered down the beer with 40% lime Perrier with wonderful results. I find I don’t finish strong beers, because of low drinkability, so if I cut them with sparking water, especially lime sparking water, drinkability improves greatly. In this particular case, a little sweetness from Sprite would also be a wonderful mix.

Bottle courtesy of lithy. Thanks Justin! Pours a hazy orange/red with a small off-white lace. Nose is oak, leather, cherries, light vinegar. Flavor is more vinous and tannic, more tart cherry, oak, alcohol.

Sample Capital Ale House Midlothian 08/29/2008. Fruity Belgian yeast character with moderate sourness and wood. Clear deep amber brown with small white head. Light body and mouthfeel with tart dry woody finish.