Angelina '17
Brewery Vivant

 

 

 

 

cinnamon. some wine barrelling very nice.

One of Sarah's favorites.

 

2016 Vintage
Kinda murky crimson, nice head for a sour
Smells like bourbon, a bit of lactic and acetic aromas
A little bit of caramelized malt, bourbon, lactic and acetic acid
A little bit on the thin side
Think I held on to this too long

$ 12.17 (Including tax)/500 mL bottle ($ 0.720/oz) at Riverside Liquors, Grand Rapids, MI.
Bottle in cooler at store, stored in my reefer at 42 degrees, served at 57 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Aroma – Vinous, acetic acid.
Head – Small (Maximum two cm, aggressive pour), tan, medium density, fizzy, rapidly disappears leaving only a one mm ring fed by effervescence and a thin partial layer.
Lacing – None.
Body – Deep red, clear, effervescent.
Flavor – Oak, slightly tart, some vinous notes. As it warms, some volatile organics add some harshness. No hops, no malt, no alcohol, no diacetyl.
Palate – Medium, watery, lively carbonation.
Impression: Overall, a tasty sour. The oak is predominant with the sour characteristics taking a lesser role in the flavor profile.
Appearance 4, Aroma 4.25, Flavor 4.25, Palate 4.25, Overall 4.25.

Review 1400!!!!

A: medium brown in color with a small white head.

S: tart with brown sugar, and dark fruit with lots of acid.

T: tart and acidic with raspberry, brown sugar, and wood.

M: medium light in body, with plenty of carbonation, and a dry puckering finish.

O:overall pretty darn tasty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I picked up a bottle of Brewery Vivant's Angelina for $11.99 at The Lager Mill. I'm always down to try a new beer from Vivant and this one sounds like it might be pretty good, so lets see how it goes. This will be my 2200th different beer I;ve had, 2016 Vintage. Poured from a brown 500ml bottle into a teku.

A- The label looks nice, it's pretty typical for this series and it's just a little eye catching. It poured a red/brown color that took on some ruby and crimson hues when held to the light and it had three fingers wroth of fizzy, slightly creamy light tan head that died down to a thin ring that stayed till the end and it left a little bit of spotty lacing behind. This is is a good looking beer, I have no complaints.

S- The aroma starts off with a higher amount of medium sweetness with the funky yeast being the first to show up and it imparts some nice wet straw and barn yard like aromas that go right into a fruity aromas with some nice cherry and berry like aromas through that have a nice juicy aspect to it with a medium amount of sourness. Up next come the wood which imparts a nice oaky aroma that sticks out nicely and towards the end comes the malts which impart a caramel malt, caramel, sweet malt, grainy, pale malt and brown bread like aromas with a little brown sugar sweetness towards the end. This beer has a good aroma, I like the combo of fruity, funky and woody aromas.

T- The taste seems to be similar to the aroma, but it's a little more malty and it starts off with a higher amount of medium sweetness with sour and fruity flavors being the first to show up and they impart some nice cherry, berry and fruity flavors with a slightly higher amount of medium sourness. Up next comes the yeast which is a little less funky than it was in the aroma and it's followed by the wood which is also a little lighter than it was in the aroma and it's followed by the malts which show up more than they did in the aroma and this time they impart more of a grainy, pale malt and white bread flavor. On the finish the sourness lingers just for a second and it has a fruity, juicy and pretty malty aftertaste. This is a good tasting beer, but I think it would be better if the malts were lighter and it had more funky and woody flavors.

M- Fairly smooth, a little crisp, slightly sticky, not too mouth puckering, medium boded with a higher amount of medium carbonation. The mouthfeel is pretty nice, but I wish it was a little less sticky.

Overall I thought this was a good beer and it's a pretty nice example of the style, it's pretty true to style, but I think the balance is off a little and that's what makes it a little rough around the edges. This beer had nice drinkability, I think one would be a good amount for me, but I'm sure I could drink the full bottle. What I like the most about this beer is the fruity and sour aspects, they are nice and work well with this beer. What I liked the least about this beer is that the malts did int show up less in the taste and the funky and wood flavors needed to show up more. I might buy this beer again and I wouldn't turn one down. I can't say It's a musty try, but if your want a nice fruity sour with a good amount of malts to it then it's worth a try. All in all liked this beer, but I didn't love it and I think it could be just a little better with some work on the balance. It's not a favorite Vivant beer and it's solid example of the style.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On tap at Brewery Vivant

 

 

500 ml bottle into tulip glass; no bottle dating, but is a recent release. Pours clear deep ruby red/light brown color with a 1-2 finger dense light khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of big tart cherry, cranberry, raspberry, strawberry, lemon, green apple, plum, red grape, caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, and toasted oak; with lighter notes of pepper, nuttiness, leather, musty funk, vanilla, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, dark/bready malt, and oak barrel notes; with great strength. Taste of big tart cherry, cranberry, raspberry, strawberry, lemon, green apple, plum, red grape, caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, and toasted oak; with lighter notes of pepper, nuttiness, leather, musty funk, vanilla, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness. Light-moderate fruity/acidic tartness and yeast/tannic oak spiciness on the finish; with lingering notes of tart cherry, berries, lemon, green apple, plum, red grape, caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, toasted oak, light leather/funk/vinegar, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, dark/bready malt, and oak barrel flavors; with a great malt/tart/spiciness balance, and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light dryness from tannin/acidity, lightly increasing through the glass. Medium carbonation and medium-full body; with a very smooth, and moderately creamy/acidic/tannic balanced mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 8.4%. Overall this is a fantastic Flanders Oud bruin style! All around outstanding complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, dark/bready malt, and oak barrel flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the balanced acidic/tannic flavors. A highly enjoyable offering.

 

This to me is along the lines of an Oud Bruin perhaps? Poured into a tulip. Pours a slightly hazy deep red/brown with a 1" tan head which fades quickly into nice lacing.

Smells of a lemony tartness, and some notes of dark fruits, raisins, and cherry.

Tastes less tart than it smells. The flavor is dark fruits and cherry forward. There's a nice mustiness from the oak and perhaps wild yeast. Some lingering sourness at the end. The beer coats your tongue a bit, but that quickly passes and doesn't linger.

Initially I wasn't really into this beer, but as it warms and I've been getting more into it. I'd personally prefer it to be more acid forward, but it's good none the less. Sourness may develop with time?

A - Pours a dark reddish brown with a large three finger beige head. Th head recedes quickly leaving a good amount of soapy lacing.

S - Aroma is sweet and tart cherries, lemon, vinegar and oak.

T - The flavor follows the aroma with sweet cherries and tart cherries upfront followed by green apple, lemon and vinegar. There is a nice amount of oak int the finish.

M - Light body with medium carbonation. Crisp mouthfeel with a nice dry finish.

O - Really enjoyable Flanders Red(?). The combination of flavors is mouthwatering. The 8.5% ABV is extremely well hidden.