Boon Framboise

Brewed by Brouwerij F. Boon
Style: Lambic - Fruit
Lembeek, Belgium

Serve in Flute, Tumbler

2004 Vintage Bottle, Sampled August 2007
Topped by a pale, pinkish tan colored head that starts out three fingers in height. The beer is quite hazy, but is still a striking red color. This is clearly a raspberry influenced beer as I can smell the raspberries as soon as I start to pour this brew into my tulip glass. Once I go in for a deeper draught of the aroma the raspberry dominance is confirmed; sweet raspberry aromatics, combined with woodier, raspberry skin notes as well as an almost chalky raspberry flesh note. The raspberry aromatics at times remind me of strawberries. Underneath the dominant raspberry aromas are some dusty grain notes, a wisp of ripe cheese and perhaps a hint of Brettanomyces funk. There is also a light sour aroma to this beer, which is a combination of raspberry notes and fermentation character (urea & lactic acid notes are noticeable).

Quite light bodied, but this beer still has quite a bit of sweetness left in it. Not overly tart for a Lambic, but still almost lip puckering. The acidity clearly says Lambic with Lactic acid notes being most noticeable. A backdrop of funk serves as a counterpoint to the dominant sweet fruity flavors here. Interestingly enough the flavor is not nearly as sweet or raspberry dominated as the aroma is, which is not surprising for a fruit Lambic. Fleshy, sort of pulpy, freshly picked, and sweetly ripe berry flavors as well as a hint of fruit tannins contribute to the flavor profile. It is interesting that the flavor almost is more berry like than distinctly raspberry in character. The beer is pretty well carbonated, which serves as a foil for the residual sweetness; it cleanses the palate and makes you ready for another sip. A slight woody, tannic note adds some structure and helps to foil the sweet fruitiness as well.

What about the funk, well it is here as well, it is just behind the up front fruit notes, but it is noticeable, especially if you look for it; musty, damp cotton notes, hints of cat piss, . While I would not say this is a super sweet beer (especially compared to the really fake Lambics out there), it is a bit sweeter than I would like. For me to get really excited, this should be quite a bit drier & quite a bit funkier; a lot of the funk is muted because of the residual sweetness. This is very drinkable, but I cant’ quite shake the wish for something much funkier. I am quite happy drinking this, but can’t help but feel a little disappointed.
Earlier Rating: 8/29/2003 Total Score: 2.8
Smells lightly funky with lots of sweet raspberry aromas. Lightly sweet with a bit of raspberry seed taste to go along with the raspberry fruit flavor. A bit of sour acidity as well as a faintly musty taste. Fairly simple for a lambic type beer. A light red color that shows brilliantly clear.

750 ml bottle @ Kristiansand Lambic festival. Aged for 7 years. Hazy red/orange body with a huge pink head. Moderate but very pleasant sweet, fruity and a bit ripe aroma. Flavor is moderate sweet with balanced acid. Fruity, but not particular raspberry. More a general berry fruitiness. Well matured, pleasant with a nice sourness in the finish.

Sweet raspberry smell. Not as tart as the Lindeman’s, which I like and don’t at the same time. Nice funk and great refreshment.

Bottle. Aroma of crushed raspberries and a hint of sourness. Pours murky light red. Dry raspberries on the palate. A hint of sourness. Lively carbonation. Could stand to have a tad more fruit influence.

Well this beer style is not my style but very very fruity indeed. This is much taste like sweet fruit wines i tasted in Şirince. Strange for a beer but really sweet and fruity, like mouintoin fruits.

Bottle. Pours a cloudy strawberry colour with a thin white head that lasts well and laces. Nose is sour but not predominantly raspberry, some hay and some apple and citrus. Mouth is raspberry sweet, with an initial sour attack, then some cider vinegar aftertones. A big gulp reveals more fruit and some grassy tones, but not as big as the flavour probbaly should be. Vinegar fades to leave a nice lasting sweetness, and a bit of a fizzy palate. Quite good.
Earlier Rating: 10/26/2006 Total Score: 4.3
Vintage 2004, bottle from Luvians, St Andrews. Pours dark pink-cerise colour, thin white head. Complex nose, raspberry (obviously), sherbert, oak, pugent tanginess. Initially in the mouth, tart, tangy, then wow, fruit, lots of that raspberry, reminds me of Marks and Spencer Panna Cotta (that’ll only mean something to UK folk). Cream, double creamy raspberry. Palate is slightly too carbonated, sweet finish, but some tanginess still hinting away. Excellent.

Bottle. 2007 vintage. Pours a clear reddish/brown color with a longlasting off-white head with some pink tones in it. Sweet fruity raspberry aroma. Sweet fruity raspberry flavor. Lots of raspberry in the flavor. Sweetish raspberry finish with some tart hints.
Earlier Rating: 12/12/2005 Total Score: 3.5
Deep red in colour with pinkish head. Huge raspberry aroma. Flavor is sweet raspberries, some tartness. Finish is dry and a little sour. Could be a little more sour.

Bottle. Pours a hazy red/amber with a moderate white head that leaves good lacing. Aroma of barnyard, acidity, and some raspberry. Taste is an excellent mixture of sweet and sour raspberries. Medium thin mouthfeel that finishes dry and not to sour. Delicious.