Bios Vlaamse Bourgogne

Brewed by Brouwerij Van Steenberge
Style: Sour Ale/Wild Ale
Ertvelde, Belgium

Serve in Snifter, Tulip, Tumbler

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UPDATED: SEP 14, 2006 Best before July 2007, Sampled January 2006
Pours a deep brown color and is topped by a frothy, thin, light brown colored head. The aroma has that expected twang to it that is a mix of sour woodiness, a hint of balsamic, and a bit of cherry-like tartness. In the finish is even a touch of sweetness that helps to accentuate the cherry-like aromatic notes. All in all the aroma is quite nice, though it could perhaps use a bit more complexity.

The taste is fairly dry, in fact it has hardly any malt sweetness to it. Instead there is a nice tartness which is balanced by a certain fullness that this beer has. The fullness adds to the suggestive malt character that would have otherwise been accentuated by some sweetness. There is a sort of bready quality that reminds me of lightly toasted bread, and perhaps even a hint of chocolate in the finish. The tartness of this beer reminds me of tamarind with perhaps a hint of balsamic vinegar thrown into the mix.

This certainly a decent example of the style, and it is fairly tasty tipple to boot, but it could use a bit more complexity. The acidity makes it a bit too one dimensional; some extra malt, and perhaps even some more funk would make this quite a bit more enjoyable.

Earlier Rating: 8/29/2005 Total Score: 3.4
Pours a brilliantly clear amber-ruby color with a thin tan colored head. The aroma is tart with notes of sharp cherry, caramel, tannic wood, and a light mustiness. The aroma is pretty interesting, I am definitely looking forward to the taste. The beer is fairly dry up front with a thin body. The taste has an appealing tartness to it that is a mix of a sour cherry-like fruitiness and a bit of acetic acid. The taste is a pretty clean mix of fruitiness, sourness and toffee malt notes. The taste is just a bit too simplistic and thin, did not quite live up to the aroma. Certainly drinkable and even a bit enjoyable.

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Pours a dark red color with a small beige head with minimal lance. Aroma is lightly tart, subtle red grape and cherry notes and brown sugar. Flavor slighlty tart, cherry and apples. The body is light with a dry mouth feel, sour , milky flavor are more obvious at the finish.

My first sour beer, recommended to me by the biermeister at Wilbur’s in Fort Collins, CO. I am an IPA drinker, so this was out of my envelope. The sweet/sour taste and finish were very pleasant. This would be a perfect session beer.

Sour, but one of the mildest lambics I’ve had. A light cherry flavor, not too thick or overpowering.

Bottle under the name Monk’s Cafe. Pours a dark red color with a beige head. Aroma is lightly tart, metallic, some subtle red grape and cherry notes and brown sugar. Flavor isn’t really tart or sour at all, I get metallic notes, red grape, cherry notes, brown sugar and an dusty old taste. The body is light with a dry mouth feel. Overall probably the most disappointing Sour I have had to date.

Pours a medium brown with a small head. Has a light "sour apple" taste but not as sour as I expected. Some bread and fruit notes. Not bad.

poured brownish, almost the color of coca cola, with a great head. smelled boring and plan. tasted only slightly sour with as aftertaste of grape. good but not very sour.

Pours a reddish brown with a paperthin head that slowly creeps to the glass of my tulip. Great lacing throughout. Aroma of sweet wine and lactic sour. Taste follows the nose tart but not overpowering. Smooth and sweet. Easy to drink where I could have two or three in a sitting. I love this beer

330 ml bottle as Monk’s Cafe Flemish Sour Ale. Pours brownish red with light head. Not much nose. Pleasant light malts but not sour. Mild.

Pours dark copper color (with some light behind the glass, it appears a dark cherry red - almost like a glass of wine). Thick, lasting, foamy head. Strong (rather refreshing) fruity, vinegary aroma. Taste is similar to a hard cider. Fruity, some sour taste. Sweet/sour aftertaste.

Bottle labeled Monk’s Cafe Flemish Sour Ale. Pours clear garnet color with off white head. Vinegar and malt aroma. Cherry flavor with some sweet malt and wood. Not sour at all, slight funkiness. A little watery. Medium body with moderate carbonation.