Brouwerij Verhaeghe Duchesse de Bourgogne
What the brewers say
“Belgian top-fermented reddish-brown ale, a blend of 8- and 18-month-old beers following the careful maturation in oak casks.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Sharp acetic acid aroma with cherry notes, balanced with a slight malty sweetness and hint of caramel. High acetic sourness with a slight fruity note that reminds me of a sangria. Sour lactic note. As it warms up, there is less fruit and more sour. Complex acid aromas.”
Flavor: “Flavors of blackberries and cur- rants with lots of cherry and, perhaps, apple. Moderate-high malty sweetness with a hint of acetic astringency. Slight carbonic bite. Creamy body and a sweet finish. Very sweet with some lactic sour. Low carbonation with a rich medium body. As it warms, the perception of sourness increases.”
Overall: “A very approachable beer, perhaps a little on the sweet side. Would be excellent as a dessert beer paired with ice cream. This is a fun ‘learner’ sour with plenty of candy-sweet caramel and a solid carbonation that almost cuts the sugar. Woody notes add a touch of welcome astringency.”
