Well i have to start with the truth and admit that i bought this beer under a mistaken assumption. I was prowling the new 1st choice liquore shop, and saw this beer. On the front it has "Bier de Flandre" so i thought that i might be buying a Flanders Red ale. The rest of the writing didn't give any clues, so i sunk $12 into a guess. Yes $12. i figured it was worth it for a beer style i had never tasted.
Anyway, just opened it, after finding a correct corkscrew and struggling with the steel cork holder. On pouring it's a nice golden yellow colour, with a strong compact head. I could immediately smell the winey taste common to high alcohol beers, which is when i went searching and discovered it's 8.5%.
First taste showed the common winey taste, but nowhere near as stong as i thought from the smell. The bitterness was sharp up front, but complex, tasting to me like a variety of hops has been used in this beer. There is very little residual bitterness though. The beer is slightly sweet, tasting slightly under attenuated. The winey flavour dissapears after a few sips, as does the sweet taste.
I'd say it's a very nicely balanced beer, reminiscent of a Leffe Blonde (to my uneducated tastes) but nowehere near as "in your face"; more subtly and suitable to non hardcore beer fanatics.
Anyway, just opened it, after finding a correct corkscrew and struggling with the steel cork holder. On pouring it's a nice golden yellow colour, with a strong compact head. I could immediately smell the winey taste common to high alcohol beers, which is when i went searching and discovered it's 8.5%.
First taste showed the common winey taste, but nowhere near as stong as i thought from the smell. The bitterness was sharp up front, but complex, tasting to me like a variety of hops has been used in this beer. There is very little residual bitterness though. The beer is slightly sweet, tasting slightly under attenuated. The winey flavour dissapears after a few sips, as does the sweet taste.
I'd say it's a very nicely balanced beer, reminiscent of a Leffe Blonde (to my uneducated tastes) but nowehere near as "in your face"; more subtly and suitable to non hardcore beer fanatics.