About
Brewery Verhaeghe Vichte is a small family-owned Brewery in the southwest of the province of West Flanders, Belgium. The history of the brewery dates back to 1885. Brewery Verhaeghe Vichte was founded as a brewery-malterie by Paul Verhaeghe. Most of the Belgian breweries of this time organised their sales in the immediate vicinity of the brewery. In this sense we can say that the Verhaeghe brewery already showed a great commercial activity in the previous period to the great war. Through a railway line linking Vichte with Brussels, the Verhaeghe brewery was able to sell a significant part of its production on the Brussels market. At the outbreak of the first world war, Paul Verhaeghe responded to the call of the Belgian Government to resist the German occupation economically by stopping the production. The refusal of brewing during the war was responded in turn by the Germans by the dismantling of the brewery. After four years of inactivity, the brewery had lost all its customers in Brussels and was put in front of the investment of a whole new production equipment. In the post war period the brewery remained bind regionally and adapted to new trends in the market. The first brews of beer of low fermentation by the brewery date from this period. The brewery was focused also on the improvement of the quality of its existing beers.

At the present time the Verhaeghe brewery feels itself confirmed in its earlier choice : a little less, but better. Not only in Belgium, but also far outside the Belgian borders, the consumer prefers more and more beers of high quality with a unique identity. The commercial success of the "Duchess of Burgundy" beer,is the best proof : The Duchess of Burgundy is a red brown of West Flanders, matured in oak casks and is brewed according to an ancient method that is geographically linked with the southwest of the province of West Flanders.
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5.8/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 5 Texture 4 Overall 5
Thanks to Darkover for the trade. I am still a little new to Flemish Sour Ales, Rodenbach Alexander being the only other one I have tried so far. From what I understand both are good examples of the style. That being the case I am fairly certain this is not a style I am a big fan of. Pours a dark amber/brown with a thick multi-colored head (beige with light brown splotches), with thin lacing. Aroma is alternatingly fruity and sour. The flavor actually reminded me of some Ohio Buckeye Brown that I tried not too long ago that had gone way past the "best by" date. Tart and vinegary flavor is tangy throughout. The finish is like an oaky Merlot. I was able to drink most of this in small doses, but I just can't appreciate the style.
Tried from Can on 06 May 2003 at 19:20

6.1/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
Red brown color, slightly hazy. Aroma of cask wood, oak, tart cherry, bit cork. Taste is weak cherry, oak, old taste. Decent flemish sour ale, but more old and not as fruity as fresh ones.
Tried from Cask on 03 May 2003 at 14:44

3.2/10 — Appearance 4 Aroma 2 Flavor 4 Texture 4 Overall 3
German pilsner like. Skunky smell, a bit like Grolsch Special Malt. Caramel malt in the aroma i guess. Watery taste, not much to say about this anymore. Not my kind of beer.
Tried on 02 May 2003 at 05:38

6.9/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 6 Texture 8 Overall 6.5
Bottled. Reddish brown. Balsamic cherry aroma. Light bodied and lightly syrupy, but with balanced sweetness. Refreshing and uncomplicated.
Tried from Bottle on 06 Apr 2003 at 12:13

6.5/10 — Appearance 4 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 4 Overall 7
Vineous/vinegar and lemon notes. Burgundy red/brown with a beautiful color gradient, not that much head. Fruity (lemon and strawberries) and almonds. Full taste, but quick finish.
Tried on 22 Mar 2003 at 13:30

6.6/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
Well-named, as its burgundy colour would indicate. Mix of woody lactic notes, tomato, pomegranate, apple skins and acetic notes. Sweet maltiness in the palate, alongside icing sugar, caramel apples, and a light acetic note which spoils an otherwise clean lactic undertone. Sweet & sour, quite drinkable, but I do find the acetic notes to be rather off-putting. You have to love acetic acid (vinegar) to love this beer. If you don’t, it’ll go down the drain.
Tried on 09 Feb 2003 at 21:12

6.8/10 — Appearance 4 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
Vinous, slightly vingary sourness. Appearance like cola: Red brown, quickly dying head and heavy carbonation. Sweet fruityness (grapes) on a sour background. Thinbodied, some fizzyness but mostly refreshing. Style should probably be flemish sour ale. Rated bottle was a bit past its expiration date.
Tried from Bottle on 15 Jan 2003 at 11:53

7/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 6 Overall 7
Sour beer but not overly done. Pleasant to drink and generally a good beer.
Tried on 21 Dec 2002 at 09:22

9.4/10 — Appearance 10 Aroma 9 Flavor 10 Texture 8 Overall 9.5
This is the best beer I''ve ever tasted. It is deep read with a fantastic head. The aroma is a little sour and sharp like the wild fermented aroma of a gueze. The flavor is soft and rounded at first with a good sweetness and great malt blend. It ends of in a sharp aftertaste just like a gueze. I drink this beer every time I get the chance - try it - if You get the chance.
Tried on 17 Nov 2002 at 16:39

7.1/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Fresh: Rich ruby colour. Acetic, lactic aroma with cherry candies. Oaky, fat, tangy, voluptuous. Port-like accents. Slightly candyish finish, with a hint of acetic acid.

Aged, Vichte Vera, rated November 22/08
Light brown. Hazy. Rich, almost malt vinegar nose. Wood and sweet fruits on the palate, only a little bit of sourness. Strange stuff, but this is also really old stuff so the fruit is muted and the weirdness accentuated. I rated this aged version 7-3-7-3-14 = 3.4
Tried from Can on 25 Aug 2002 at 16:28