Druivenbier
Brouwerij Paeleman

Reviewed from notes taken months back. Enormous thanks to Francois for cracking this old bottle of a vintage I do not recall. Had a heck of a layer of dust on it though.

A - Poured into a standard tulip a light brownish amber hue, almost garnet thanks to the purplish/reddish colouring on the fringes of the beer. Thin white head faded VERY quickly to leave a spotty halo.

S - Aromas of musty basement, very funky fruit. I do get a bit of strawberry and almost port wine like nose, just with lots of funk. Nice vinegar notes too.

T - Taste is really, really pleasant. Juicy grapes, light berries, funk, deep earthiness along with more of the musty basement qualities. Very tasty and certainly tastes..well..old. Surprised that this doesnt have a corked taste too given that I believe this is over 10 years old.

M - Mouthfeel is lightly carbonated. The crisp flashes of bubbles that may have been present when this beer was fresh have long since gone.

O - Overall, this beer was certainly a treat. Really enjoy the musty fruit thing going on. Another great old, rare bottle from Francois.

Serving Type: Bottle

 

 

750ml shared by callmemickey. Thanks again Ryan for this rare treat.

Pours a dark amber, almost brown color with purplish hues and a one finger light beige head that slowly settles into a thin ring. Spotty lacing left behind.

Funky, musty aroma with lots of earthy oak and vinous dark fruit. I was really surprised by how funky the nose is. Not in a sour/wild ale way but really damp, leathery and earthy countering the sweet fruit notes. Underneath there is a decent amount of grape and other berries.

Medium bodied with soft carbonation and a stronger fruit presence than expected. Also, nowhere near as funky as the aroma suggested with subtle earthiness and leather notes. Very vinous with lots of grape, currant and other dark berries as well as some subtle malt and dry oak. This beer has developed a lot of complexity and has held up surprisingly well. Lots of amazing funk in the nose and still plenty of fruit in the palate. Thanks again Ryan!

 

brewed 2003, best by 2011/12 (mark is in the middle of the two on the label)

pours a pinkish red with a bright white fizzy head. fairly clear with only a slight haze

very grape forward with hints of strawberry and raspberry. bits of melon. a very light funk beneath.

starts out very juicy with a bit of spice. the grape really begins to then emerge. grape flavor is like that of fresh grape skins. beyond that is a mix of strawberry, dark earthy funk, old basement, and oak. finishes with a slight sweet bitterness. not quite sour but a hint.

light and easy with a great moderate carbonation. near perfect carbonation. light dryness.

this was quite the find. not sure how long it's been on the store shelf but time has treated this well.

It pours a purplish-ruby with a big fizzy pink head. It looks magnificent. The grapes are very evident in the winey aroma, but so is the grain. Also, there is a musty and sour vinegar quality to the aroma. The grapes jump out at you and give off some tartness. There is a slight off cork/musty flavor, but it is barely detectable. There is a bit too much carbonation initially, but it improves after it sits out for a while. It finishes like a dry wine. Very different and very good.