Verhaeghe Duchesse De Bourgogne

Brewed by Verhaeghe
Style: Sour Ale
Vichte, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium

March 2003: Lovely dark burgundy (duh!), medium quick-dying head, little lacing. Strong but simple sour cherry/vinegar nose. Very very acidic from the get-go, I almost choked. Strong sour-apple flavor with caramel underpinnings, hints of wood. Finishes sweeter than I'd expect given the strong acid front. I really liked it, but it's not easy to drink and finishes too quickly. Still, a nice example of an amazing style.7/4/8/3/15

March 2004. Flemish Sour Tasting with MartinT & Rastacouere Part 1 #2. Stunning fresh caramel nose; very sweet upfront, sourness shows up softly at the finish; light vinegariness filling the roof of the mouth and nostrils is actually quite pleasant. Much better than a year ago.

BB 31/03/05. Aroma of cherry? or berry? Dark ruby color with halogen back light. Virtually no head. Starts sweet, then there is some sour, followed by an earthy oakiness. Medium mouthfeel that thins as the sour comes out. The sour may have matured away somewhat, as it is not so sour as I recall. As is, it is very pleasant and drinkable. An interesting and tasty drink. It has acquired some aspects of a red wine.

tart, invigorating. constantly surprising with many fruits emerging towards the bottom of the glass. looks a treat

Very dark brown and amber color. A medium sized white head. The aroma is leather and lemons. The taste is sweeter than I had imagined. Notes of lemons with sugar and some honey. Also notes of cola and a finish with cinnamon. Very nice summer beer. Best by March 26, 2006.

Strong malt vinegar aroma. Deep amber-brown colour. Short lasting fizzy head that recedes to cover with no lacing. Strong sweet vinegar beginning which sours through the taste to end in a rather sour fruitiness. It’s very sweet but equally acidic to balance. Hint of alcohol in the finish. Lasting acidity in aftertaste. Many complex flavours to keep the mouth interested. Body is medium with smooth mouthfeel and engaging carbonation on the tongue. Somewhat under-carbonated, perhaps. This is definitely an interesting beer and well worth trying. Bottle.
Does not age well.

Reddish/brown hue with a frothy off-white head and okay lacing. Major sour cherry and oak aroma with hints of dates, ginger, and balsamic vinegar. Sour fruity taste with a wonderful undertone of oak. Minor bittering agent, light saltiness, and fleshy fruit tones found nearly hidden on the aftertaste. The acidic nature of the beer lingers well after the finish. Medium-bodied with a lively and crisp mouthfeel. What an outstanding flemish sour (almost kriek like). Refreshing yet complex for most palates. Which I had brought more.(Couldn't believe I found this in Gainesville FLA) P.S. Nice Hugo painting used for label.

Deep red, sharp vinigar lambic like, but with full body sourness. I thought this bottle had turned but seeing other comments maybe not. Would not wzant more than 1 bottle at a time...

tk2 Bottle at jens, brought back from belgium ... brown ... light balsamic vinegar ... no where as much as i remember .... deep fruits ... very light sourness ... ok but oddly i was hoping for a bit more sour.

From somewhere in the dark she kisses you with lips still moist with the soft whisper of oak aged balsamic vinegar. The tapestry above your head, embroidered with dusty silk in Bruges for young Mary, daughter of the Duke of Burgundy, envelopes you in the dust of long rotted fruit. You embrace in the folds, both sweaty now, your pores exuding vapours of bitter chocolate and coffee. Your passion is sharp, sweet, honeyed, sweaty and so deep you can hear the boom of the guns over the fields of Flanders only a heart beat away. After you come, all that remains is a wrinkled memory of blood on your lips.