Liefmans Goudenband

2000 bottle - dark amber with significant floaties - only a mild sourness in the nose, along with plum, raisin, cherry and vinous notes - some apparent oxidation in the aroma - a mild sourness in the flavor - red wine flavors, along with a mild honey sweetness - a tiny bit of brett-like funk/cheesiness, but the sweetness is actually a bit more prevalent - pretty good, but I was expecting more sourness - probably a good intro to the style for the uninitiated.

Bottled 2002 – Red-brown body, with a small but beautiful head; Only very little sourness left in the nose, where you also find a very little raspberry and cherry if you look close. Iron and salt is still very apparent together with a mix of pineapple and yoghurt, further on peanuts and almonds appear. After a long time in the glass it becomes more fruity, but not really sour; The body is almost non existing, very soft and a little creamy/oily; The sourness appears in the finish which is still great and very long, again with clear notes of iron and salt, but also quite a lot of oxidation. This beer has changed a lot in only 4 years, I find it much better when young!

Thanks to hopdog for this ’92 version. Dickinsonbeer provided an ’03 version but I passed on most of it and worked with this one. Appears a mild brown with a small white head that refuses to fade. Smell is of sour cherries, mild oak, and toffee. Taste is of malty caramel, toffee, and some oak. Mouthfeel is smooth with mild tartness.

Tasted a ’03 and a ’92 bottle side by side. The ’92 was oxidized and past its prime so I’ll write the notes up on the ’03 vintage. Poured a deeper ruby-red color with a smaller sized head. Aromas and tastes of cherries, light citrus, fruity, some caramel and a little vinous. The sourness was on the tame side.

Sampled two of these side by side. Hopdog provided the 2003, Dickinsonbeer provided the 1992. Pours a red amber with with no head. The 2003 had lots of small floaties. For the flavor and aroma I’m going off the 2003 since the 1992 bottle was kind of tame. Aroma of tart cherries, light sourness, the older version had more of woodyness coming through (maybe from the cork?). Flavor was tart sourness a little sweet and malty with some vanilla.

Pours a reddish-brown with a small, quickly fading, off-white head. The aroma is very vinous with vinegar, toffee, cherries and notes of oak. Flavor starts sweet, with cherries, grapes and toffee. The sourness comes in about midway though before a nice malty, caramel finish. Mouthfeel is light and smooth with soft carbonation. A fantastic Oud Bruin.

Robe rouge très claire surmontée d’une mousse beige persistente. Arômes de cerises et d’agrumes. Saveurs de cerises, d’agrumes, de liège et de sucre.

Sampled from magnum bottle. Pours murky mahogany with a tjin, scattered white head. Aroma is quite complex: earthy and vinous with cherries and subtle hops spice. Flavor is balanced. Quite sour, fruity and earthy with a rich malt backbone. Medium-full body and well-carbonated. Unique, enjoyable and a must try.