Flanders Red Discovery

I was going to agree with @zac16125 like a reflex, but thinking about it for a second, it's not that cut and dry. While importers gravitate to important brands for good reason, consider how many so-called standards might have become such due to their availability over here rather than the other way around. Imports are what US drinkers know. Most drinkers over here aren't even going to be in a position to be able to thoroughly compare what comes over here with all of the brands that never do. How many people in the US who talk about Kölsch have actually become extremely familiar with the product of Päffgen and Malzmühle? - And that one example is from an unusually small group of brewers to consider. Imagine how much more complicated it becomes when considering English bitter instead.

Adding to the above, import options aren't exactly fantastic right now. There's more or less only one Czech beer that just "sits on a shelf at a beer store." UK imports are not looking good. There are awesome German brands that now feel MIA. The Belgian section has lost a lot of its oddball character.

And then looking at American beers and styles with regard to what's sitting on a shelf, I still think Torpedo is as good or nicer than any other American IPA I've had. YMMV.

Keeping on topic, Rodenbach Vintage is probably as good as such beers get for me. I can't say when I've last seen that beer on the shelf though.

Having said all that, there's thankfully truth to your post as well though.

 

Funny. I used to love the sour beers when I was just getting started on my beer journey. Now I can only deal with tartness. If I taste vinegar, it’s all over with - drain pour.

 

Flanders reds are amazing. They're part of the gateway I took to get into more earthy/dirty sours.

Rodenbach Grand Cru, Cuvee Des Jacobins Rouge and Catskill Brewery's Eye of Newt are the best I've tried FWIW.

I also love Monk's Cafe, which technically is a Flanders oud bruin, but I find them and reds to be pretty similar. Tastes like cranberry sauce to me, sometimes more tart, sometimes more malty sweet.

 

I second that Petrus Aged pale for sure, but OP why not pick up a mixed pack of their other similarly made beers? You may find some others you'll like. Petrus is a favorite of mine, partly because it is priced well.

 

Yeah saw that collab with Oskar Blues, 3 oz per gallon!?
Damn mainlining that stuff Junior

 

Party pooper .

The selections don't really have to be the absolute finest for the statement to work in general (although we still do get a number of them). Second best works fine with me, especially when we're talking price and availability.

 

Some would say that the distinction is essentially a foreign invention.
Here's one take on the subject.

 

I haven’t seen it in awhile but The Bruery Oude Tart was one of my favorite American made Flanders. Also try to find Ichtegem Grand Cru and BFM Bon Chien.

 

Try Oud Bruin beers as well. I believe you will have another happy surprise!

 

Fascinating read. I'd rip Michael Jackson for adding to our beer style confusion, but he probably deserves a pass.

Thanks for the info!

 

From the Thanksgiving Beer article recently posted:
“In fact, the story goes that Rodenbach coined the term Flanders Red to differentiate itself from the Oude Bruin style.”

 

Ha, you beat me to it. I saw that this morning and was gonna add it as yet another take. There's unintentional humor in them stating: "In fact, the story goes [...]" Politicians should steal this expression for their own benefit. Upon receiving pushback for fishy facts, they can simply respond: "Everything I said is true. It's a fact that it is a story."

 

I'm finding that sours don't agree with my stomach as much as they used too, unless in moderation. Having said that, I've enjoyed all the Red & Oud Bruin's I've tried.

 

My wife and I spent our 20th and 25th anniversaries in Belgium and believe it or not, we drank a very wide variety of their beers. During the second trip there(without the kids) we drank a lot of their wild yeast/sour beers-I loved them all, but my wife drew the line at Drie Fontaine. I'm not a fan of Rodenbach, but there Grand Cru is in my top five beers of all time, and I always have some Duchesse in the beer fridge. My favorite American versions of the general style are Jolly Pumpkin La Roja and Goose Island Pepe Nero(pre InBev). I have my last bottle from 2013 still, this thread may inspire me to consume it this afternoon.

 

Perhaps you can clarify or expand on the above. Do you mean you're not a fan of their "Classic" or the brewery?
(I've only had the pleasure of being in Brussels once, but I packed a lot of drinking into that visit. )

 

Tulips sound good, but I have two Duchesse glasses and they are sm/med chalices.
To get an better idea, do a search (I use Google) for the different brands for images or whatever and see how they do it "back home".
https://www.odessabrewfest.com/sites/default/files/field/image/duchesse_de_bourgogne_-_900.jpg

No particular glass for this one:

https://www.google.com/search?q=st+...wAw&bih=657&biw=1396&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS912US912