Softcore Mutation - Flanders Red
Maplewood Brewery & Distillery

a very tasty flanders red, woody and wild and complex, more dynamic than a lot of domestic examples of the style, i was super impressed with this, and realize i have had way too little beer from maplewood. deep ruby to mahogany colored ale, with a short but dense and lasting little khaki head on it, a little more life to this than a lot of these have. the aroma is awesome, dried fruit from cherries to dates, with fresh and puckery red raspberry and cranberry as well, perhaps even slightly medicinal red currant character with the tartness this has. i get red roses, red wine vinegar, and port, warming ancient oak, soft vanilla and black tea, and some bready malt support, funky and mature too, wow. i love the floral character in the taste, almost a rooibos tea thing, along with fig, raspberry, and some citrusy bacterial sharpness. red wine and oak, leather and wet tobacco, good malt flavors but pretty light in body overall with the acidity. light wild funkiness on the back end and as it warms too, complex from the yeast side and not too sour to drink on. more fruity than most, off dry, well carbonated, seems long aged with a hearty wood depth about it. really well executed overall, this is delicious and distinct, will be on the hunt for more from these guys after this one!