Liefmans Goudenband

Brewed by Liefmans (Moortgat)
Style: Sour Ale
Oudenaarde, Belgium

33 cl ’05 vintage bottle. Pours a deep impressive foggy-translucent mahogany with a solid, fine head that sticks around a good while. Wow. This comes off all subtle then it really works its charms - super smooth creamy mouthfilling feel, unique, hints of cherry-like sourness and delicate spiciness darting to and fro in the mouth. Refined but enticing tart fruitI aroma - I am soon back to the garage for a second as the sexy, appealing drinkability of this ale is remarkable. To say ’Belgian beer approaches wine’ underestimates beer and yet this beer evokes such a reference. Yet this beer is incomparable really, to toss in still another paradox. Ageing may balance it out still more, rolling off some youthful sweetness in the taste giving full expression to the cellar-like aromas and exqusite tart fruit. The unlabelled tissue-wrapped bottle is certainly meant for hiding away anywhere cool and musty until fate calls upon it. All said, a Flemish well worth it.

Rich dark brown amber ale colour. Light brown whips in the head. Finally a chance to try this brew!!!! Stewedfruit aroma figs raisins. Musty aroma... acidic sharp flavour subtle and muted fine bitters. Very Earthy. Tart and sweet.

Darkbrown color, lightbrown foamy head, ....oops,....a sour one, my bottle had no label but a folypaper around it. special only fore liqurshop sale. Complex aroma with, caramel, chocolate, coffee, nuts, and citrus, raisin, alcohol, strange combination but overall quit good. not my style

750 mL bottle. Pours mahagony, slightly muddy with small chunks, and a small fizzy head that dissipates rather quickly. Aroma is caramel malt (cookie, biscuit) and sour fruits (cherries, berries), sugar and yeast (earth). Malty sweet yeast start to the flavor, medium acidity and bitterness that slightly burns and tingles the tongue, sour and tart berry lingering flavor. Medium bodied and fizzy, slightly syrupy palate.

pours amber with a bright red tint. smells like champagne and raisins and a fine ladies butt. tatse like rasins, and dry wine. it’s also a little roasty and bitter not my favorite sour but not bad at all.

Nose of spice, licorice, vanilla, raisins, and lemon. Pours a dark ruby brown with bright ruby highlights. The average off white frothy head is mostly diminishing with no lace. The brew tastes primarily tart. The acidic level is as high as I’ve sampled. The medium body is bubbly and sticky. Not my favorite style by far.

Retasted 21/08/2008. Shared with Fritha. Magic beer. That sweet fruity balsamic note is perfectly balanced with the deliciously subtle toasted brown ale. The more I taste this beer over the years (and it’s brothers and sisters), the more it and the brewery stand up in my all-time favourites.
Tasted 24/03/2006. 330ml bottle from Regional Wines and Spirits, Wellington. Murky red, with bright brake-light like tints. Light-medium tan head: thickish, at first, then thinning quickly. Oily looking. Nose hints of cherries, marzipan, toast, sweet balsamic vinegar and, later, a red wine oakiness. Flavour is sour and quite dry (much less sweet than the kriek). Quite tingly, peppery, hopping. Quite sour through the middle. Very tannic in the long, dry, finish, quite reminiscent of a cabernet-sauvignon. Light-medium weight, low carbonation. Powdery, tannic, residue leaves a lingering, complex, peppery flavour, with none of the sourness remaining. A great ale, especially for autumn evening contemplation.

2004: Cork taste and staleness detract form the beer. It has the shortest cork I have ever seen. Mildly sour with notes of cork, wood, caramelied sugar, banana, and yeast. After drinking Cuvee de Tomme silver foil, this is hard to get used to. Very nice appearance with a lingering foam that leaves a lasting coat on the entire glass.