Style: Flemish red ale
Brewery: SOSAB
Origin: Belgium
Size: 33cl
Alcohol: 5.2%
Price: 30kr
Systembolaget: 13243
The brewery is located in the southern parts of Flanders and has been brewing for 15 years. SOSAB stands for Science Of Sour Ale Brewing, and they only produce sour Flemish beers. All their beer is aged in 10 large oak barrels called feeders, where microorganisms provide the conditions for the sour character of these beers, along with imparting oak and wood character. The fruity, acidic character of this beer led me to pair it with brie, but a lot of people preferred it with the feta cheese salad I had prepared for the Lindemans Tarot Noir.
This was dark ruby to burnt amber in colour with a thin head that dissipated quickly. The classic Flemish red ale notes were there in the aroma, with oak, red wine vinegar, blackcurrant, lingonberry and yeast all combining to create an intense sensation. The taste was surprisingly mild for the style, without that usual acidic kick you would expect for the style. The cherry, cranberry and oak all came through upon sipping, with a thick body coating the palate. The aftertaste was rather short but left the mouth cleansed and with a touch of acidity at the back of the throat.
It must be said, this isn’t my first pick of beer styles that I enjoy, but I thought that this was one of the best Flemish red ales I’ve ever had. The slightly reduced vinegar notes helped create a more rounded aroma and taste and made it much more enjoyable. Usually I would say that I would only take a sample of a beer like this, but I could easily drink a whole bottle of this myself. An exceptional beer that took me by surprise. Delicious!