Monk's Café Flemish Sour Ale | Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.
Brewed by:
Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.
Belgium
vansteenberge.com
Style: Flanders Oud Bruin
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.50%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Brewed for Monk's Café in Philadelphia, but also available for retail purchase elsewhere. Oud Bruin in style; a traditional blend of young and old beers.
Added by nomad on 06-19-2003
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers
Ratings: 2,995 | Reviews: 1,158
3.78/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.3/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
3.72/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.84/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.89/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.06/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Taste: complex, tangy dark fruit, some sour, tart, berries, bread, drinkable. Same with the nose. Deep reddish mahogany hue, semi clear, delicate head. Medium body.
164 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Taste: complex, tangy dark fruit, some sour, tart, berries, bread, drinkable. Same with the nose. Deep reddish mahogany hue, semi clear, delicate head. Medium body.
164 characters
3.13/5 rDev -18.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
A: Pours with a (very) frothy, off-white, one finger head (that recedes quickly) and a deep mahogany body, slight lacing.
S: Subtle malt notes and aromas of balsamic vinaigrette with an understated savory aroma accenting it.
T: Very fruit forward, with an emphasis on grape and cherry and a slight malt backbone. It is tart, but I wouldn't really call it sour.
M: Under-carbonated, with a slightly silky, medium body.
O: It's enjoyable, but definitely unremarkable. It would likely please at a party as an accessible alternative to more traditional beer. But in the realm of Flemish sour ales, it's not even in the top five I would say.
638 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
A: Pours with a (very) frothy, off-white, one finger head (that recedes quickly) and a deep mahogany body, slight lacing.
S: Subtle malt notes and aromas of balsamic vinaigrette with an understated savory aroma accenting it.
T: Very fruit forward, with an emphasis on grape and cherry and a slight malt backbone. It is tart, but I wouldn't really call it sour.
M: Under-carbonated, with a slightly silky, medium body.
O: It's enjoyable, but definitely unremarkable. It would likely please at a party as an accessible alternative to more traditional beer. But in the realm of Flemish sour ales, it's not even in the top five I would say.
638 characters
1.68/5 rDev -56.5%
look: 1.75 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
Good golly this taste wretched. I can see why this is not a popular beer style. Cheers! D- (60-64) score range
110 characters
look: 1.75 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
Good golly this taste wretched. I can see why this is not a popular beer style. Cheers! D- (60-64) score range
110 characters
4.2/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
3.85/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from 11.2 fluid ounce bottle into glass. Stamped on label is '30CQ 13:57'.
Ruby brown colored body. Light tan bubbly head. Good coverage of lacing.
Aroma of tart cherries and bready malt.
Rather a mix of tart dark fruit taste - cherry, raisin, plum and green apple. Some pale malt too. No oak or vinous aspects, no funk. Tart and just mildly sour. Sweetness is restrained. Palate cleansing at end of drink profile, rather dry.
Light mouth feel, with good carbonation. Easy to drink. I can understand the 4+ ratings, as this is a very pleasant beer to drink, but it lacks complexity. I would certainly drink this beer again, especially in a restaurant setting with proper food pairings.
An unchallenging, but pleasant and refreshing to drink, mildly sour old ale.
769 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from 11.2 fluid ounce bottle into glass. Stamped on label is '30CQ 13:57'.
Ruby brown colored body. Light tan bubbly head. Good coverage of lacing.
Aroma of tart cherries and bready malt.
Rather a mix of tart dark fruit taste - cherry, raisin, plum and green apple. Some pale malt too. No oak or vinous aspects, no funk. Tart and just mildly sour. Sweetness is restrained. Palate cleansing at end of drink profile, rather dry.
Light mouth feel, with good carbonation. Easy to drink. I can understand the 4+ ratings, as this is a very pleasant beer to drink, but it lacks complexity. I would certainly drink this beer again, especially in a restaurant setting with proper food pairings.
An unchallenging, but pleasant and refreshing to drink, mildly sour old ale.
769 characters
4.56/5 rDev +18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A great top 5 sour to my palette
32 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A great top 5 sour to my palette
32 characters
3.5/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This is a nice enough beer and I would be happy to drink it by the gallon with some friends and food. A little on the sweet side but with good developed flavor of sour cherries, some oak and mildly sour. Not the best but a fun little Flanders.
243 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This is a nice enough beer and I would be happy to drink it by the gallon with some friends and food. A little on the sweet side but with good developed flavor of sour cherries, some oak and mildly sour. Not the best but a fun little Flanders.
243 characters
4.38/5 rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.41/5 rDev +14.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.36/5 rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Look- Dark brown color, zero clarity. When poured, 1/3 inch of head, white in color.
Smell- Very sweet, almost candy-like smell. Zero hop smell. Essences of berries and cherry
Taste- Muted sour taste; cherry and raisin are prevalent when it first hits the mouth. Same fruit after taste; no hop taste. Rich undertone, extremely approachable.
Feel- High carbonation, nice fruity finish. Palate sensation is heightened by the tinge of sour flavor followed by fruit taste.
Overall- Phenomenal beer; would drink again.
517 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Look- Dark brown color, zero clarity. When poured, 1/3 inch of head, white in color.
Smell- Very sweet, almost candy-like smell. Zero hop smell. Essences of berries and cherry
Taste- Muted sour taste; cherry and raisin are prevalent when it first hits the mouth. Same fruit after taste; no hop taste. Rich undertone, extremely approachable.
Feel- High carbonation, nice fruity finish. Palate sensation is heightened by the tinge of sour flavor followed by fruit taste.
Overall- Phenomenal beer; would drink again.
517 characters
4.14/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.51/5 rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
First thing - this beer smells wonderful! Sweet and tart, fruity. The pour is also great. The head is fluffy in the way that egg whites are when stirred into a cloud - only in this case tan. Flavor is also sweet/tart. Very appealing. It's not as sour as most sour ales I've tried - but that doesn't count against it in this case. I find no off tastes, nothing I would consider artificial or medicinal.
This is a very good beer - tasty and refreshing. If it were just a couple more percent ABV, it would be close to perfect for me.
531 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
First thing - this beer smells wonderful! Sweet and tart, fruity. The pour is also great. The head is fluffy in the way that egg whites are when stirred into a cloud - only in this case tan. Flavor is also sweet/tart. Very appealing. It's not as sour as most sour ales I've tried - but that doesn't count against it in this case. I find no off tastes, nothing I would consider artificial or medicinal.
This is a very good beer - tasty and refreshing. If it were just a couple more percent ABV, it would be close to perfect for me.
531 characters
3.88/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.25/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.31/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
First off I am not sure what is up with my bottle but I think half of my beer was just foam. It was a chunky, foamy head that lasted a very long time. The beer is a very dark brown. The beer smells of sour cherries with mild bready malt aromas. The taste has a variety of different fruits but cherry is the strongest flavor. The sour starts off strong but fades. There is a nice carbonation to the beer
408 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
First off I am not sure what is up with my bottle but I think half of my beer was just foam. It was a chunky, foamy head that lasted a very long time. The beer is a very dark brown. The beer smells of sour cherries with mild bready malt aromas. The taste has a variety of different fruits but cherry is the strongest flavor. The sour starts off strong but fades. There is a nice carbonation to the beer
408 characters
4.53/5 rDev +17.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Tastes like a cherry blow pop. Flavor coats the mouth and stays.
64 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Tastes like a cherry blow pop. Flavor coats the mouth and stays.
64 characters
4.4/5 rDev +14%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Monk's Café Flemish Sour Ale from Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.
Beer rating:
3.86 out of
5 with
2,995 ratings
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