Zoetzuur Flemish Reserve Ale

From a caged corked 750 ml. bottle with no bottling/freshness date, but with what looks like a lot number on the cork, ZZ54, sampled at a cellar temperature in a snifter. Poured a cloudy reddish brown with a creamy, frothy off-white head that settled into a thin sudsy lacing, small amount of laced sticking. Aromas of musty bready yeast, woody vanilla, a tart cherry fruitiness, clove and earthy spices. Good, steady, carbonation and a crisp, dry, tart, creamy smooth medium bodied mouthfeel. A woody and yeasty taste, a pronounced barrel woodiness, creamy vanilla, musky, tart cherries and green grapes, lightly sour, a subtle caramel maltiness, a soft spicy bite towards the end, the alcohol provides some warmth in the back of palate, and a dry yeasty, malty finish. Not the best Flanders Red Ale I’ve tried, but still, a pleasant after dinner sipper on a cold midwest night.

750 mil bottle. Dark copper color with a really nice lasting cramy head. NIce lacing too. Aromas were nice tart and sour. The flavor was not as sour as I had expected. Some dried fruit in there and sweet darkness like molassas mixed with some sour. Pretty good.

Another horrible brew from this fucking brewery. What a waste of 10 damn dollars. "Brewmaster’s Collection" and :"Special Reserve" These words should never be allowed to be put on a beer this bad simply as a marketing tool to sell piss in a bottle. These brewers should be lined up and made to drink this swill.

Bottle shared with a bunch of folks at DougShoemaker’s Decemberfest 2006 - courtesy of IPFreely. One of my favourite styles, so I was really happy to try it. Pours a hazy reddish-orange with an off-white head. Tart, musty aroma with some vinegar and funkiness - me like! Flavour is tart and dry, with some sour cherry and wood notes. It’s no Rodenbach Grand Cru, but it’s still mighty fine.

Bottle shared with the gang at Decemberfest 2006 -- courtesy of HogTownHarry. Pours a clear copper-red with a large lasting off-white head. Aroma’s almost Geuze-like -- nice sweet and sour smell. Flavour of citrus, tart cherry, sweet malt, spices, wood and more. Medium bodied. Not as complex as some Sour Ales but it’s very good and quite easy to drink.

Bottle (750ml). at Decemberfest 2006 - my bottle. Poured clear copper with a large, lasting creamy head, nice thick lacing. Good aroma - malty, moderately sour, plenty of yeast, spice, and a nice oaky woodiness to it - oh man that’s nice. The taste is an interesting tightrope act - balanced between medium tartness and sweet light roast malt; there is quite a mélange of yeast, spice, coriander, herbal hops, and it finishes more bitter/sour than sweet. I found the body quite solid, with only mild carbonation but decent astringency, a touch of acidity in the finish, and it left my lips sticky afterward - I thought this was an excellent beer; perhaps a little subtle and a touch sweeter than many Flemish sours, but I think it would make a good introduction to the style for many.

Bottle shared by moejuck. Aroma of sourness with some sweetness to back it up. Not an overpowering sour. Tastes a little syrup. A little funky with some oranginess.

750ml Bottle @ Decemberfest 2006; thanks to HogTownHarry: Remarkably similar in pour to the Saison Imperiale with a good hazy copper colour, but this one offering much improved head retention. Looked really nice in the glass as I drank. The aroma is coriander, cloves, citrus peel, plums, and alcohol. The flavour was quite sour and light in body, with discernible oranges, lemons, coriander, and cloves to taste. Not my every day beer, but good for a Flemish Sour Ale.