Liefmans Goudenband

The smell of cherries introduces this beer to the nose. It is a dark copper in color with no head and no lacing. The taste is tart like sour cherries. The tartness sticks on the palate long after the flavor fades.

Bottle: Inviting mahogany tones with ruby highlights glint out from the glass along with a fast fading bubbly tan head. The aroma was complex but dissapointingly aloof, consisting of dried herbs (rosemary, thyme), cola, emerging caramel notes, and an underlying shiraz pepperiness. None of this really sought attention though. On the palate its true identity was revealed. Very gentle acidity with some initial burnt toffee notes that are followed quickly by cherry- or plum-like juicy tones and a nice earthy mustiness. Sadly this was at first acompanied by some slight mettalic hints. However, as it breathed caramel flavours emerged mid-palate. Beautifully low carbonated, though I would be interested to try this from a cask or even totally uncarbonated. A well crafted beer with great life and presence in the mouth. Wonderful.

I quite concur with the previous comments, as these seem to be based on the older Goudenbands. Up untill a year ago this was, by far, one of my personal favourites. Yet the 2004 and 2005 brews seem have changed to a standard Belgian dark Abbey style, with only the faintest hint of the previously distinctive sour, wine and port overtones. Will this be permanent? I certainly hope not.

750ml - cork says 2003 - Aroma is sour port wine, dark cherry, and Belgian yeast. Pours brown with a small off white head that leaves a ring and decent lacing. Flavor is less tart than the aroma. Cherry, carmel malt, and vanilla. Palate is smooth and clean with a touch of tartness. Very tasty stuff.

1987 vintage. A misty sweet wine aroma. Dark brown in color. Bitter caramel taste with an ending similar to the tang in sweet tarts.

1987 Vintage. Poured a brown color with a thin white head that fully diminished. There was a slightly musty wine aroma which may be mostly due to being 18 years old. Very light with a rather sweet flavor.

Cork says 1998--I wasn’t expecting this to be quite such a vintage ale, and I’ll want to try a mroe recent vintage. Brown color, little head after the pour but there was a good pop on the bottle. Lots of floaties--I actually filtered half of the bottle through a strainer because the level was beyond my tolerance. Vintage character, with raisins and dates, smooth but not thick, and a little bit flat. Slighty sour, low yeast character, low level of fresh fruit, with most of it overcome by vintage character and the high maltiness. Good vintage beer but not as great as a fresh Flemish sour. I was surprised by the high alcohol content.

Poured hazy amber brown with a fluffy light brown head. Aromas of cherry and vanilla with some dark fruit. Yeasty goodness! Medium bodied, starts off sweet but finishes with a slight sour note. A bit sweeter than expected, but may do well with age.