Panil Barriquée (Sour)

Holy cow. Sour yeasty nose, dark mahagony color. Cherry body, raisin and prune sweetnes. Biting sourness deep in the throat. Some earthy, woody notes and a drying effect. Complex - extremely complex - but smooth at the same time. Balance is just fantastic. Go out of your way to get this beer.

Mild vinegar, barnyard wet hay funkiness, caramel, and light fruit in the aroma. Hazy reddish brown, almost no head. Moderate acidity in the flavor, not nearly as sweet as others in the style, funky and earthy, I even get a little hop flavor in the finish. Medium body, the biggest flaw in this beer is the low carbonation level, dry finish. Complex and highly drinkable, although just a small notch below Rodenbach Grand Cru.

(750ml bottle, 2005 vintage) Pours a murky reddish-brown body with a spare white head. Nose of cherry and oak. Flavor of oak barrel, sour cherries, and earthiness with a dry finish. The oak over powers rather than complementing this flemish sour, thus weakening the flavor of the wild yeast and bacteria.

The second of the Flemish sour portion of the "let’s piss off Clark" tasting

Dark brown, with perhaps a little bit of red, the ring of lace was pearly white.
Aromas was a lot more woody with a cherry sweetness, the balsamic character was more subtle than a Rodenbach grand cru.
Strange, even though the acidity seemed less present in the nose, it was there big time in the taste. The smoothness of the cask aging showed up nicely in the finish. As good a Flanders Red as you’ll find anywhere, and hands down the best Beer to come out Italy that I’ve ever had.

There I was, rearranging my beers in my cellar when I knocked one off a shelf. It fell to the concrete floor about 3 feet. My life instantly passed before my eyes. It was if time stood still. While holding my breath, I waited for the shattering of glass. No glass. Whew, did I dodge a bullet. Then I hear the pssst of a leaking cap. Oh crap, what beer did I knock off. Of course it had to be this one. At least I didn’t shatter the bottle and it was drinkable! I’ve been in the mood for a Flemish Sour anyway. Poured a deeper and cloudy reddish/brown color with a large (could it be because it fell 3 ft) tan head. Aromas of sour cherries, oak, very light vanilla, and light yeast. Tastes of nice sour and tart cherries, light oak, and all around vinous. Nice tart finish.

Vinegar predominates the nose...and some tart fruitiness as well. Flavor was also vinegar, sour cherry, yeast, cognac, oak, and alcohol. Very interesting brew. As a beer lover here in the States, I found myself all a-titter over this sour, wood-aged ale!

Bottle at The Map Room. Sour ales are not my thing but this is one of the better sours I have had. Pours a rich medium amber with a thin head. Sour and tart berries dominate with wood and vanilla accents in the background. Not overly sweet and finishes crisp.

Very strange drink. Bottled in 05. Aroma is much vinegar and oak. Ugly beer, no head, and a reddish brown color. Flavor is vinegar, yeast, sour fruit. Different and very enjoyable.