Liefmans Goudenband

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

2003 bottle...ruddy reddish brown pour that is polluted with floating substances, like the Hudson River. Medium off white head. Cardboard aroma. Earthy acidic yeastly aromas also. Raisin, plum flavors, earthy, roasted somewhat. Acidic, iron, rust. Chocomaltiness to finish. This is interesting and complex! I imagine that the aging did this well.

375mL bottle. 2003 bottle came wrapped. Pours a VERY dark ruby with tons of nasty HUGE, chunky floaties and a thin tan head. Dark fruits in the aroma, but what stands out is the yeast and vinegar. Grapes, prunes, pears and vinegar make up the bulk of the flavor with hints of oak, vanilla and cherries in the background. Like a watered-down wine. A disappointment after the Kriekbier.

Bottle 鶷ml). At Pub Italia, Ottawa. Poured in a Liefman’s goblet, poured almost completely flat, dark brown, with a bit of dark sediment. Aroma of roasted malt, brown sugar, sour cider, spices, quite a strong note of oily wood resin, and dark fruits (pear, apple, prune, raisin): solid nose! Taste was quite mild, dark malt, some mild hop bitterness, plenty of sour prune and grape, sour cider/wine always lurking in background - oakiness dominates in a medium-long, mild finish, which by the bottom of the glass also has a strong tart apple cider character about it. Slick but flat on my palate, nicely complex, if a little too mild-mannered for the style. I’d have it again.

Almost no head; deep red-brown colour. Deep cognac-like aroma. Powerful, sourish, sharp taste of dark wood, red wine, and cherry. Very, very good. An excellent Flemish sour ale!

Bottle. Sour cherry aroma. Dark reddish brown color with a tiny head. A sweet-sour cherry flavor primarily with spice tones (nutmeg, cinnamon). An old hay aftertaste which may not please everyone but I really enjoy. A good unique beer.

2003 Bottle. Sour aroma with some fruity esters in the nose. These appear to be cherry-like with some spices as well. A little bit similar to the Quelque Chose. Mostly transparent ruby/garnet color with a light tan head. HUGE HUGE HUGE yellowish chunks of crap are in this at the bottom. Mildly sour to start, turning fruitier with cherry hints. Doughy, bread-like finish with a mild sweetness. Pretty mellow and drinkable. A bit of funky barnyardiness in the end.

Dark ruby colour with a nice white head.The flavour is sweeter than I expected, there is a sour aftertaste. You can also taste the malt. A nice beer but, not really special. Maybe I will buy some more bottles to age in my basement. (corked bottle 75cl)

37.5 cl bottle, bbe 2014. Deep ruby dark red with a light brown hue, clear; weak, lacy head. Nicely entangled aromas of caramelised sugar, home made plum jam and a touch of alcohol. Gentle yet very expressive sour-sweetish, crispy taste with fresh red grapes and discrete but wonderful hop bitterness towards the end; a hint of alcohol here, too. Good body, satisfying carbonation.