Thoughts on Beer

New Glarus Raspberry Tart

From our trip to New Glarus Brewing Co., I brought back a couple of the special beers, including the Raspberry Tart.  I had the Wisconsin Belgian Red at the brewery, and if this was anything like that, I would be in for a treat.

Initially, the raspberry smell is very intense.  With the first taste, it overwhelms you with raspberry flavor.  It tastes a bit sour then finishes with a strong, sweet raspberry flavor.  It was like a blend between a beer and raspberry wine.

It was a great beer!  If only they distributed around here…

Have you had the Raspberry Tart?  What was your experience?

Lindemans Faro Lambic

Last night, I had the chance to sample Lindemans Faro Lambic. Compared to the Lindemans Cuvee Rene Gueuze, this Lambic has a nice sweet attribute, due to the addition of candy sugar to the finished beer.

The beer smelled sweet with a hint of a sour, lemony scent. With the first taste, it started tart, and then, toward the back of the tongue it turned into a sweet flavor.  It left a taste of molasses or brown sugar in my mouth.  I loved the sour and sweet dynamic of the beer, much more than the overpowering sour flavor of the Cuvee Rene Gueuze.

I have no doubt I will purchase the Faro again.  Have you tried the Faro?  What was your experience?

New Glarus Enigma

Continuing with the current sour beer trend, along with my trip to New Glarus Brewing, I picked up a four pack of Enigma, from the Unplugged series.

Technically, it is a sour brown ale, similar to the Monk’s Cafe Flemish Sour Ale.  It started with a tart flavor, and finished sour.  It leaves a slight caramel flavor aftertaste.

It was a great sour beer with limited availability, so get yours soon!

Have you tried Enigma?  What was your impression?

Lindemans Cuvee Rene Gueuze

The next sour beer I tried was the Lindemans Cuvee Rene Gueuze.  A gueuze is a blend of a new lambic (around 1 year old), and an old lambic (2-3 years old).

At first, it smelled of a combination of citrus and horse hair or a horse blanket, the way a wild yeast tends to smell.  With the first taste, it is pretty sour, lemony, and is very carbonated.  The gueuze started tart and ended tart.  It’s a great beer, especially if you like sour beer.

Have you tried the Lindemans Cuvee Rene Gueuze?

Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Ale

Toward the end of the summer, I start to crave a nice, tart beer.  To start this off, I had a Monk’s Cafe Flemish Sour Ale.  It is a Belgian sour ale made in Belgium for the Monk’s Cafe in Philadelphia, and has nationwide distribution.

At first scent, it smells very fruity.  With a taste, it starts slightly sour then finishes sweet with a sweet aftertaste.  It’s a great beer to start getting into sour beers because of its sweet and sour taste.  It finishes very refreshing.  It is a great slightly sour beer, and is one of my favorites.

Have you tried Monk’s Cafe Flemish Sour Ale?  What did you think?  What’s your favorite sour ale?