Duchesse De Bourgogne is a Traditional Flanders Red Ale, which is a very strange and distinct style from the Flanders area of Belgium. They are known for their sharp, sour, fruity and tart flavors which are created from a special yeast. They are traditionally aged in oak casks.

Many people may try this beer and think it has gone bad or that something is wrong with it. Bringing the beer up to your nose you can smell the strong scent of red wine vinegar, and sour cherries. The taste is slightly puckering, with tart fruit and again vinegar.

This is how the beer is supposed to taste… and granted that it is a bit strange and a bit of an ‘acquired taste’ it didn’t take long for me to love it.

Duchesse De Bourgogne is aged in oak casks for 18 months which brings about some very interesting and complex aspects to this beer. You can almost pick up burnt brown sugar and vanilla, but the vinegar and sour fruit is definitely on the fore front. This is a beer to be slowly appreciated at warm (cellar) temperatures. I wouldn’t expect everyone to like this, in fact I can imagine some people finding it down right bad, but in small doses I love it.

8.5/10