De Proef Flemish Primitive

Brewed by De Proefbrouwerij
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Lochristi - Hijfte, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   add pic

UPDATED: NOV 17, 2005 Reinart Flemish Wild Label. 750mL bottle shared on 11/6/2005, not sure of the date, probably 04 or 05. Pours a light caramel-orange tinted gold body, plenty of white head that is well-retained and provides light lacing, but for this strength and sweetness, it should lace better and be better retained, I think. Unfiltered and lightly hazy as well. Aroma shows sweet toffee and caramel, with a slight brett note. It would probably be less slight if there wasnt so much sweet malt. Bits of dry fruits (apricots, peaches, tangerines) and a light vanilla cream-like note as well. Other than the light brett, it’s fairly clean. The flavor shows brett right off the start, but again, is quickly enveloped by sweet caramel and toffee, with a mild vanilla and orange liqueur flavor. Mouthfeel is fairly tight, but the high amount of residual sugar in here contributes a light stickiness that is detracting from what I feel a wild ale should be. Low alcohol apparency, even at 9% and a very clean yeast (non-brett yeast, that is). Well-constructed, and the brett adds a noticeable touch of tartness, in passing, but I’m not getting all of this cheesey/funk that I see in other reviews. Could see this improving greatly with proper aging. 8/4/7/3/14

2/18/2005 Spoon Whacker lable. Pours a hazy, light golden-yellow body, with some fluffy white head. Notes of lemon, grass, hay in the background of the aroma, but up front, to my delight, is a ton of brett character. The vapor from the bottle upon first opening is just a pure shot of wild yeast decadence, quite unmistakeably queuze-like. Band-aids, wet hay and straw. Taking in more of the aroma, there is a quite detectable note of alcohol, which detracts from the experience, and some light dough notes, reminding me of a doughy, alcoholic, perfumy trippel. Flavor begins with tart, wild yeast, lightly chewy consistency and some angel-food cake notes. Alcohol grows on the palate, just like in the aroma and some sweet honey flavored pils malt is quite detectable. The more I drink, the more the barnyard qualities fade and I’m left with a yeasty, phenolic, trippel, or perhaps, a Strong Golden Ale (though not overly spicy). However, I cork the beer and save it until the next day. Upon trying it the next day, it seems about the same, unfortunately, though some alcohol has died off. With the last quarter of the bottle to go, I vigorously swirl the bottle and infuse all of the sediment in to my last glass.
WOW. This is splendid! I’ve never seen a beer change so much for the better on the yeast pour! The nutty-dryness of the yeast halts the alcohol’s sharp effect on the palate, while some funky notes are renewed. Wonderful, smooth texture from the yeast, with light malt notes and just a much better balance. Not bland in the least. Score is an average of the yeast-pour and the non yeast pour. Definitely going to go get another bottle and see what comes of shaking up the yeast on the very first pour. 7/4/8/4/15. Total score an average between the two labels.

Plain and without character. A little bit bitter. Personally I don't like it. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Slightly cloudy dark gold. Disappaiting white head. Brett and yeast on the nose. A good mix of sour/yeasty flavors and hints of fresh apple and pear. Like a saison/Lambic mixture. Clean, fresh fizzy mouthfeel and a palate cleansing finish. Food friendly.

Reinaert Flemish ale: Des houblons végétaux percent mes narines en compagnie de notes sauvages, d’agrumes et de poivre frais. En bouche c’est une effervescence militaire qui piétine tout sur son passage en amenant les mêmes saveurs perçues en arôme avec une finale très poivré.

Pours a crisp golden color with a big fluffly head that floats along and never really wants to leave... Nice aromas of brett, granny smith apple, and a touch of pepper... lead into a crisp beer with a good balance between funky tartness and sweet malts. Great earthy flavors of leather,hay, straw a touch of lemon peel moving through from beginning to end and the finish is dry with an almost mineral quality.

Very light banana and apricot notes. Very hazy golden yellow with nice pillowy bright white head. Flavor is rather flat. Nothing very prominent. Very light grainy, bready note. Light bitterness at finish. Very dry. OK to try but nothing I’ll search out again.

Pours a pale golden yellow with a aggressive white head and plentiful lacing. The aroma is of apples and straw. The taste is earthy with some apple (horse apples) notes. The sourness found in the middle is subtle. The pallet is medium-light with some carbonation present. The finish is a refreshing hopped bitterness. All in all, an ok beer. However, I was hoping for more sourness. Would not buy again. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Bottle. Pours a light tan color with huge head that almost overflows. Smells of fruit, apricots and spice. Pretty sour notes and not overly boozy. Very well balanced. Delicious all around

Hazy pale golden, subtle off white head. Distinct Brett nose. Sour an bitter. Long finish. Fluffy mouthfeel. Fairly good yet something is lacking. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone
Earlier Rating: 1/21/2012 Total Score: 4.1
pours hazy golden, bubbly off white head. spicy wild yeast, woody, esters, and tangerine on the nose. lighter bodied, yeast, spice, herbal and really distinctive. no alcohol detected. a bit of sourness on the finish. perfectly balanced. a must try.

Orange-gold with lovely, tufted, white head / Delicate, earthy nose of orchard fruit and brett / Medium body, mildly tart and resinous, hint of sweetness, with great balance and lightly bitter finish / Perfumed flavors of orange, apple, pear, lemon, honey, stone, straw, and barnyard / Great stuff.

750 ml bottle
This bottle was a treat to celebrate settling in. Had I known how good it was I might have purchased a second bottle. It seems to have some aging potential but I don’t know how long it would last. Regardless of whether it is 35 degrees of 85 degrees this style is perfect for any occasion.

Aroma / Appearance - The golden carbonated body is coupled with a soft flowery head. The impression is almost like a glass of ginger ale topped by Cool Whip. Lemons, wild yeast, and a crisp bone dry bite gnaw at the senses very effectively.

Flavor / Palate - Yeasty apple crisps, lemon crisp, and then a transition to cotton candy precede a dry sharp finish. It is not vinegary so much as the feeling from a good bottle of champagne paired with sourdough bread. All around this is a goto beer.