Flander's Abbey Ale | French Broad Brewing Co.

3.58/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

3.7/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Brewvival 2011.

Pours a hazy orange-amber with a thin white head. Aromas of bready malt and perhaps a bit of apple. Tastes pretty similar, much like a Belgian Pale Ale with perhaps just a little bit of tartness. Light-bodied with fairly crisp carbonation and a dry finish. Moderately drinkable, but I guess I was hoping for a nice vinegary Flanders Red Ale, so I was pretty disappointed. Oh well.

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3.72/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a couple growlers of this on my last trip through town. I had been anxious to try it since I heard it was back. The pour was nice, a deep russet orange color with a good amount of haziness to it. Lots of carbonation rippling up toward the top. There was a nice sized head, maybe an inch high that stayed around for a couple minutes before settling down into a thin veil across the top. Some nice side glass lace was also easily apparent.

The aroma was a nice mix of bready malts and some nice hints of peach and banana from the yeast. As it warmed there was a slight bit of spicy hint that came through from it now, with the banana still becoming the dominant aroma here. The flavor picked up right where that left off. A nice light bodied feel with a good carbonation profile, this was a nice tight little ale. The bready malt flavor was the dominant tone, with a nice fruity vibe kicking through it. This was easily a nice sessionable ale, low abv and some nice flavors made it a clear choice as a good drinker.

Overall not half bad. I am not the biggest fan of the style, but that was fine as it more then held its own overall. I would love to try this one on tap, probably more then decent.

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4.05/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks go out to mikesgroove for sending this one my way.
The beer had a bit of haze and was a light orange/amber colour topped by a ring of soapy bubbles and a fine lacing. There was some spotty stickage and although there wasn't much of a head generated from the pour, the bit that was present stayed around for a long time. Toasty malt aroma with some bread and earthy apple skins. Light bitterness that stayed in the background. Mild malty sweetness with a hint of caramel and brown sugar. Fruity towards the finish, a combination of pear and apple. Light bodied and a bit on the dry side, moderate carbonation. Nice texture for a lighter bodied beer. Very drinkable with a pleasant mix of malt and fruit.

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4.28/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A nice golden brew with a decent white head. A very nice yeasty Belgian session brew in terms of aroma and flavor. Soft maltiness abounds. Light bodied and very easy drinking.

On tap at Barley's Taproom in Asheville on 6/19/04. Would love to have again the next time I'm in the area... Wish their beers were available in bottles so I could bring some back to the DC area for a more detailed review...

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