8

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

Deliberately soured version of DDB’s classic tripel Dulle Teve, created as a one-off experiment in one single keg only, sold as long as stocks last in the brewery bar and referring to Valentine’s Day taking place tomorrow (but given the extremely low production volume, I would not even be surprised if it is already sold out by then…). Snow white, bit irregular, breaking but generally edge-retaining, shred-lacing head, clear apricot blonde robe with orangey glow and quiet sparkling. Aroma of ripe nectarine, white dessert wine, fruit yoghurt, tangelo, soggy white bread, cantaloupe, hints of prosecco, apricot, young mugwort, damp earth. Brightly fruity onset, juicy and lively even if no actual fruit was used – bursting with impressions of ripe nectarine, pear, melon and white grape, with a touch of orange underneath; smooth mouthfeel, feeling lighter than it is, with minerally and somewhat stingy carbonation effects and a supple bready and lightly biscuity malt core, all gently and elegantly soured, a mellow tartness only accentuating the grape, orange and melon fruitiness in this beer. Ends with ongoing fruitiness mitigated only lightly by a delicate floral hop bitterness and warming, calvados-like alcohol – remaining equally bright and radiant as in the beginning. Gracious, easily drinkable (even dangerously so at this strength), with a ‘friendly’ fruit-yoghurty sourness to it which has indeed lifted up the already juicy character of a fresh Dulle Teve. This experiment really deserves to be continued – and more broadly exposed!