a small bottle, caged and corked, purchased from the brewery, and drunk at Dad’s place while home on holiday. Aroma: not especially sour, but the funk is there. Appearance: semi-opaque dark amber, orange-tinged lacing. Palate: medium-bodied and tart, quite lively carbonation; finish is long, complex and well-balanced, rather chewy. Taste: sour flavour is predominant though understated, some sweet notes. Fresh yeast, rice wine, a lick of old belt. Great palate on this one, feels like having eaten something nutritious.

A small bottle from the tasting room in Liege, drunk at Dad’s place while home on holiday. Aroma: fresh and grassy, very inviting. Appearance: semi-opaque amber, big fluffy head dissipates to one finger off-white foam. Palate: full-bodied and slick, lively carbonation; finish is slightly tart. Taste: pretty heavily sweet, almonds, vanilla, a hit of sherbet. Quite tasty but a bit too sweet for me.

A small bottle from the tasting room in Maastricht, drunk at Dad’s place while home on holiday. Aroma: malty, some soya sauce. Appearance: semi-opaque oxtail soup, no head to speak of. Palate: full-bodied and oily on the tongue, soft carbonation; finish is long, sticky, boozy. Taste: heavily sweet, rock candy, caramel, more malt, some soya sauce. I like the booze, but overwhelmed by the sweetness.

A small bottle from the tasting room in Rotterdam, drunk at Dad’s place while home on holiday: barrel-aged in Aultmore. Aroma: great: sherry, chocolate liqueurs, coffee. Appearance: opaque cola, no head to speak of. Palate: full-bodied and oily on the tongue, soft carbonation; finish is long lasting, well-roasted. Taste: lightly sweet with plenty of malt-loaf; more chocolate and coffee. Lacks complexity, but big alcohol kick makes this a winner for me.

A small bottle, corked and capped, purchased from Beautiful Beers, for which many thanks, drunk at Dad’s place while home on holiday. Aroma: sour, cherry predominates. Appearance: clear Ribena, minimal lightest of light pink lacing. Palate: medium-bodied and rather tart on the tongue, though not eye-wateringly so; softish carbonation. Finish is long and lingering, fruity and extremely complex and well-balanced. Taste: lightly sweet with some sour and astringent notes. Raspberries take centre stage with a bit of lambic funk and a dry bite. This is great, craftsmanship of the highest order.

A small bottle, corked and capped, purchased from Beautiful Beers, for which many thanks, drunk at Dad’s place while home on holiday. Aroma: interesting: barnyard funk, a bit of cherry. Appearance: opaque claret cough medicine, head disappears in a jiffy. Palate: medium-bodied and tart, softish carbonation; finish is long and lingering, very dry. Taste: very complex and well-balanced, cherries, cider vinegar, a lick of old belt. Dry, very refined, good gear.

NL/BEL excursion day 8: a small bottle, caged and corked, purchased from the brewery, and drunk in the courtyard of A. de J. ‘Generation Europe’ in Brussels. Aroma: complex and inviting, 70s era homebrew meets canned plums. Appearance: clear bronze, no head to speak of. Palate: light-bodied and tart, average carbonation; long and complex finish, ending on a dry note. Taste: lightly sweet with understated sour notes, very well balanced. Background flavour of fresh yeast. Not so funky, but I really liked the sherry-like kick.

NL/BEL excursion day 8: a small bottle, caged and corked, purchased from the brewery, and drunk in the courtyard of A. de J. ‘Generation Europe’ in Brussels. Aroma: it smells just like vin de table. Appearance: clear Ribena, had dissipates in a jiffy. Palate: light-bodied and tart, rather soft carbonation; finish is pretty dry. Taste: lightly sweet, the sour flavour remains in the background; well-balanced. Pretty strong cherry flavour, a not unpleasant taste of fresh yeast in the background. I really enjoyed this one, I felt it was nutritious and doing me good.