RoadenZok
Willimantic Brewing Co.

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From:
Willimantic Brewing Co.
 
Connecticut, United States
Style:
Flanders Red Ale
ABV:
6.7%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.8 | pDev: 15%
Reviews:
7
Ratings:
17
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 11, 2015
Added:
Feb 02, 2006
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
Brewed to reflect the Belgian style of Sour beers, this recipe contains acidulated, melanoidin, pale, aromatic, and crystal malts with a touch of Saaz hops. We blend in some tart cheery juice and Willi Wonder barrel aged sour to complete the process.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by DanE:
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Rated by DanE from Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

Apr 14, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.26 by Duffman79 from Connecticut

Mar 11, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by shigg85 from Japan

Apr 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by jaxon53 from Connecticut

Jun 18, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by endlesnumberdays from Connecticut

Mar 14, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by agreenman19 from Connecticut

Mar 03, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Pahn from New York

Mar 02, 2013
 
Rated: 2.75 by davey101 from Connecticut

Mar 02, 2013
 
Rated: 2.5 by jfcaa193 from Canada (QC)

Jan 30, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by HopStoopid120 from Connecticut

Nov 15, 2011
Photo of LilBeerDoctor
Reviewed by LilBeerDoctor from New York

3.53/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Reviewed on 4/3/2010. On tap at the brewpub. Pours a clear dark amber with a thick tan head. Aroma of cherries and sweet malt. Flavor has a slight sourness with tart cherries and sweet malt. A decent sour ale -- no acidity, more of a "mild" sour, and pretty drinkable.
Dec 23, 2010
Photo of woosterbill
Reviewed by woosterbill from Kentucky

4.37/5  rDev +15%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On-tap at the brewpub into their shaker pint.

A: Clear, bight red-amber body with a thin quarter-inch head of fine off-white foam; what little head there is quickly dissipates into an island of miniscule bubbles. No lace.

S: Lots of cherry, and not too much else. Mildly tart, but no vinegar.

T: Delicious, lightly tart cherry flavors up front, followed by light vanilla, bready malt, and a dry, lightly sour finish. Complex and absolutely delicious - far more so than either of the Rodenbachs, IMO.

M: All the carbonation that didn't form a head shows up here, with a veritable explosion of soft, lively effervescence that does an excellent job cutting through the slightly sticky, sour body. Very nice.

D: This definitely doesn't suffer from the overly vinegary or sour issues that sometimes plague Flanders Reds (e.g. Rodenbach Grand Cru and Ommegange Rouge, respectively, as much as I enjoyed both). I could actually go for a bit more tartness here, but overall this is an extremely drinkable beer.

Notes: Thanks to my wife for suggesting we go to Willibrew for lunch today (after I took her to the outlet mall, of course). I was excited to try this beer, and it surpassed all my expectations. This is a Flanders Red that I could drink all day long - it really is that delicious. I hope it's still around in a week so I can pick up a growler or two to share.

Cheers!
Mar 22, 2010
Photo of Gambrinus1184
Reviewed by Gambrinus1184 from Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Served on-tap in a rocks glass as part of my beer flight at Willimantic Brewing Co.

A: Poured a ruddy and muddled reddish amber color with a good amount of cloudiness. Slight yeast deposits and sediment appear in the light.

S: Smells of tangy and tart berries and citrus fruits. Slightly funky wheat and yeast aromas also.

T: A rather tart, sour blend of red berries, plum, cherry and apple. Some solid caramel malt flavors come through with a sweet, sort of sticky finish. No real bitterness to this one.

M: Mouthfeel is slightly sticky sweet and puckering. Doesn't get too tart, but the mouthfeel might cloy up after a bit.

D: Sort of like a Berliner weissbier in the ilk of DFH Festina Peche. A very likable ale that will probably find a niche amongst fans of tart, fruitier ale and lambic drinkers.
Mar 21, 2010
Photo of Deuane
Reviewed by Deuane from Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Maybe not retired as much as it is infrequent. I had this one in February 09 on the way to EBF in Boston.

A-Brilliant reddish copper with a medium light tan head that reduced to a thin cap and left a nice coating lace.

S-Sweet biscuit malt with a touch of oak and a light sour cherry twang.

T-Light sour twang (apple/cherry) overlaying a sweet biscuit malt base. Not overly complex but tasty nonetheless.

M-Medium body, quite smooth with a touch of astringency and mildly lasting sourness.

D-Relatively simple and easy to drink. Slightly sour with enough zing to make it interesting.
Jul 17, 2009
Photo of Nutleybeer
Reviewed by Nutleybeer from New Jersey

3.57/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
I give this brewpub a lot of credit, I can't think of another place that is or has served a sour ale on tap.

When I ordered it, the bartender brought me over a sample first...I gather a lot of people don't know really what they are ordering when they ask for a pint of this. They must see the "cherry" in the description and think it is a fruity beer, which it is not.

An acquired taste to be sure...I have tried sour ales in the past, this one was strong on the sour side. Not sweet at all, but a very light hint of the cherry flavor.

A good sipping drink...not sure how many of these I could order in a night. I am not sure what foods go well with a sour ale, but I probably should have held off until after my lunch to try it.

Overall, good for the style...
Mar 25, 2007
Photo of BACTAdam
Reviewed by BACTAdam from New Jersey

4.07/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Wow! What a brew! This one is quite sour with a very nice cherry taste but not extremely over-powering. I did find it difficult to drink more than one of these. The great thing about this beer though is that it's not all about the cherry. It has a tinge of hops and its tartness will have you pucker more than a few times. Nice work from a solid brewpub.
Jan 17, 2007
Photo of sinstaineddemon
Reviewed by sinstaineddemon from Connecticut

4.24/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
A - this brew arrives a dark crimson color with a half finger of beige head, too dark to note any carbonation

S - as i note the appearance i can already smell the cherries from a few feet away, a sour yeasty aroma compliments the sour cherry aroma that wafted my way already

T - wow is the word that comes to mind, a shap sour tartness up front is immediately followed with the rich taste of REAL cherries, not that cough syrup cherry like other beers, but a real cherry taste like cherry pie filling that my mother makes

M - smooth, but sour like one reviewer said, not for the uninitiated

D - high for those who appreciate sour beers, many may find too sour or sweet, not me, this alone was worh the trip to Willimantic
Jun 17, 2006
RoadenZok from Willimantic Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 17 ratings