Thoughts on Beer

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?