Cuvée Freddy - Sofie Edition
Picobrouwerij Alvinne

 

“Special edition dedicated to Sofie.”
“Flemish blonde sour ale aged in oak barrels for several months.”

Bright saturated reddish gold, micro carb streamers along the sides of the glass. Arcs of delicate lacing in the glass, loose surface skim.

Citric aroma, orange and lemon zest, acidity behind it. A touch herbal.
Very unique flavor, lemon, orange, with a tropical edge. Unusual lychee or jackfruit notes. Medium bodied with effervescent carb and a bone dry finish. Really crisp and refreshing with unique tropical notes.

Not a Flanders Red by any stretch, but a really unique wild ale.

Squat, brown 11.2oz bottle. Cap is stamped with 'OKT 2021' and 'LOT: 848'.
Cloudy, deep gold with an orange tint colored body. Slim finger of white head, which bubbles away to scattered islands and a ring. No lacing.
Aroma is tart and fruity, with cherry and apricot. Has a added depth of oak barrel. There is the wild yeast component also.
Taste is sweet and tart, with fruit flavors of cherry, apricot, and green apple. Has a good balance with the Belgian yeast, which introduces some grassy and leather sensations. The oak is in the background but always there.
Medium mouth feel. Has some tannins, which makes for a mild puckering and dryness at the end. Good carbonation.
Has a taste profile that goes from sweet to a tart and then to a mild puckering and tart dryness. Displays the fruit, the yeast, and the oak barrel.

 

Poured from fridge temp. Pours a beautiful dark orange with generous amount of tan head. Laces the glass and leaves it's trace. Nose is classic Flanders red with woody notes. Getting some tasty cherries, lemon, figs, almonds, and lactose. Taste is awesome. Slight sourness, but heavy on the floral and oak notes. Nice sweet ripe fruit - cherries and maybe blackberries and grapes. Some vanilla and nuts for sure. A sweetness lingers on the palate. Mouthfeel is medium bodied. Overall, this is a fantastic Flanders style ale that I will be tracking down again.

 

 

this tastes like an almost entirely different beer than i remember the base freddy being. its hard to find much information about what the sofie edition actually is, but it seems like an extended barrel ageing and perhaps a different blend altogether, as this has a lighter color and far less of the harsh vinegar sourness that defined the normal freddy for me. still a huge fruity complexion with raisin and cherry to it, but a lot of mellow oak tempering the bacterial acidity, and a regal maturity that i didnt find in the original to this degree. its also not quite as sweet either, which allows more of the nuance of the grain and the yeasts to show through, and it makes the beer far more drinkable. its a bit flat to me, more carbonation would serve it well, but the flavor is fantastic, tons of wine and even cognac notes to it, and a fine richness, minerality, and acidic sting to finish. complex beer, patiently made, and to me at least, a big upgrade over the original, which for my money is one of the less impressive beers in the incredible alvinne range of beers. this stuff is wonderful!

Clear, pale amber color with a finger of near-white head.

Red wine, oak, a touch of cream and a traditional Flanders Red aroma of tart, sour, vinegary goodness.

Lighter tasting than I expected. Really none of that Flanders bite that I love. The same elements as the nose are in there, but it's light, refined and summery. There's a little tang and tartness in there, and then the oak definitely lingers.

Relatively light bodied without much sticking out in the feel.

The label says it's a Flemish Blonde, and I guess that's an apt description. A refreshing, easy drinking Flanders that will leave some wanting more body and depth of taste, but could be a good introductory sour or something for a hot summer afternoon.

Lot 751 and Apr 2020 listed on the cap, which I'm taking as a best-by date.

 

 

 

Tasty and drinkable, but I do not get any burgundy barrel.

Really enjoyed this one. Nice balance; sour, but not overly so. Nice hint of funk but not distracting. The oak and fruit flavors combine well. Wishing I had bought more than just the one bottle. Will repeat.

 

 

 

$6.50 from the local German market
L: Pours gold to amber gold with no head. Slightly hazy. Very small bubbles line the glass.
S: sour funk, earth,
T: Sour, oak, tart fruits. great texture, sour upfront, not overly dry as some sours can be, almost refreshing for a sour.
O: Very happy with this, especially for the price.