8.4

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5

Got in a trade with larryi86. 750 ml bottle into tulip glass, bottled in 7/2019. Pours fairly hazy deep reddish orange/copper/amber color with a 2 finger fairly dense and fluffy light khaki head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big sour/tart/tangy red/black cherry, cranberry, raspberry, strawberry, raisin, plum, fig, peach, pear, apricot, lemon, lime, orange, red/green apple, red currant, red grape/wine, toasted oak, hay, straw, grass, caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, and biscuit; with lighter notes of peppercorn, leathery/musty/lacto funk, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, wine barrels, and dark/bready malt notes; with big strength. Taste of huge sour/tart/tangy red/black cherry, cranberry, raspberry, strawberry, raisin, plum, fig, peach, pear, apricot, lemon, lime, orange, red/green apple, red currant, red grape/wine, toasted oak, hay, straw, grass, caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, and biscuit; with lighter notes of peppercorn, leathery/musty/lacto funk, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness. Light-moderate lactic tart/sourness, Brett tang, and yeast/oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of sour/tart/tangy red/black cherry, cranberry, raspberry, strawberry, raisin, plum, fig, peach, pear, apricot, lemon, lime, orange, red/green apple, red currant, red grape/wine, toasted oak, hay, straw, grass, caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, biscuit, peppercorn, leathery/musty/lacto funk, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, wine barrels, and dark/bready malt flavors; with an awesome malt, sour, tart, tangy, spiciness balance; with no pucker/astringent flavors after the finish. Fairly crisp finishing. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering sour/tart/tangy/spiciness and carbonation. Medium-plus carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy, and acidic/tangy/tannic balanced mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 7%. Overall this is a fantastic Flanders red ale. All around fantastic complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, wine barrels, and dark/bready malt flavors; very smooth, easy, and fairly crisp to drink with the mellowly acidic/tangy/tannic/drying finish. Great soft feel and not overly lactic/tannic. Fantastic balance of well rounded Brett/Bacteria complexity, wine barrel presence/integration, and dark/bready malts against acidity. Mild residual sweetness with crisp acidic/tangy/tannic dryness. A highly enjoyable offering, and outstanding spot on style example.