Flat Earth Rode Haring Flanders Red Ale

Brewed by Flat Earth Brewing Company
Style: Sour Ale/Wild Ale
St. Paul, Minnesota USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip, Tumbler

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Sampled March 2009
A steady pour into my 25cl tulip glass produces an almost three-finger thick, amber tinged, light tan colored head. The beer has a dark cherry color to it that shows a brilliantly clear, copper tinged, red stained hue when held up to the light. The aroma smells of fruit, musty earth, toasty malt and a touch of sourness. The sourness seems to accentuate a cherry like aromatic as well as a touch of cranberry and some other tart berry notes. This has a bit of a malt backbone to it, though perhaps not quite as much as one migh expect in the style, that reminds me of a touch of biscuit notes, a hint of caramelized malt and perhaps even a hint of walnuts. The tartness here is fairly light, but does seem to have a hint of acetic character to it along with the slightly more noticeable lactic character. A touch of musty, earthy aromas hint at a Brettanomyces presence, but this doesn’t have a full on barnyard funkiness to it. Not a bad aroma, though it does seem a touch tame.

Pretty light bodied with a fairly high level of carbonation, the combination produces a fizzy, watered down effect after the first sip. Releasing some of the carbonation helps a bit, but this remains fairly light bodied; it is not quite watery though as it does have a touch of heft to it as it rolls across the tongue. This has a light, but persistent tartness to it that tastes of lactic acidity; there is a touch of a grapefruit effect here as well as some flavors similar to tart pomegranate and perhaps a touch of other berry like notes. There is a touch of astringency in the finish that mixes with the tartness, but tastes a little plastic like.

Not bad, but somehow not all that interesting either. This has a hint of complexity to it in the aroma, but the flavor is fairly bland for a beer of this style. It definitely needs more acidity, and more, even some, funkiness would be a welcome addition.

Botella. Amber colour. Sour fruity aroma, dark fruit. Good mouthfeel. Fruity sour flavour, sweet, dark fruits. Fruity sour sweet tasty brew.

Bottle at Papsø’s - Thanks. Clear amber - white head. Dusty, yeasty, fruity, tartness, light rubber, light nutty, caramel, berries, sourish, citric notes. Nice.

Bottled. Amber coloured. Unclear. Dense beige head. Sourness, berries, spice, vague wood. Flavour of tart, spice, berries, grape, fruits, sourness and grape. medium to full bodied. Grapy and fruity sournes in the end.

Bottled. An amber beer with a thin beige head. The aroma has notes of over ripe fruits, malt, caramel, and hops. The flavor is sweet with notes of brettanomyces, malt, fruit, caramel, and red berries, leading to a lightly tart finish.

Bottle at Papsø. Clear orange coloured with a medium sized off-white head. Fruity aroma of caramel, dried fruits, oak and rum. Fruity flavour of caramel, dried fruits, oak and rum with acidic notes. Fruity finish.

Bottle at Papsø tasting. Pours amber with a off white head. The aroma has loads of raisins but also sour apples and wood. Flavour is sour with notes of apples, oak and raisins. Surprisingly good - I love oaky raisin favours.

75 cL bottle. Pours clear and deep amber with a small to no head. Aroma is fruity, wineous and mild citric. Lingering fruity. Smooth and slight citric. Ends with a smooth fruity lingering finish.

Clear red amber with a medium beige head. Sourish aroma with hints of lacto and wood and baking yeast. Flavor had sour berries, baking yeast, lacto and plastic. Finished sourish.

clear brown. small white head. strange sort of malty aroma, sort of spicy wood. flavor is slightly tart and sour, faint stale hops, very nice.

Bottle 75 cl. Courtesy of ditmier. Pours a clear amber with a beige head. Tart, medicinal aroma. Medium body, some caramel, salt, minerals and baking yeast. Ends dry more than sour. A pretty poor attempt at a Sour. 180311