Review: Monk’s Cafe Flemish Sour4
fact sheet
- Style: Oud Bruin
- Serving: Bottle
- Volume: 11.2oz
- ABV: 5.50%
Monk’s Cafe, located on 16th and Spruce in Philadelphia, PA, is home to some incredible Belgian beers. One I’ve had plenty of times is their Flemish Sour Red Ale, brewed by Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V. in Belgium. While I’ve had the Flemish Sour on draft before, I’ve got an 11.2 oz bottle with me today.
Poured into my tulip glass, the appearance here matched what I’ve seen from the draft. A full mahogany body, dashed with some violet hues, resting below a one inch creamy beige head. The carbonation is evident on this one, as I’m expecting in a Sour Ale.
The nose is full of lactic sour notes, leaning more towards the cherry-side of the fruit spectrum. Though, some raspberries, and red strawberry licorice come through behind the overwhelming cherry profile. A final dash of processed sugar cubes round out this sweet and sour nose.
Following suit to the nose, the mouth is deliciously sweet with a hint of sourness. In fact, it’s not overly sour like I’ve experienced in some others. The initial sour note is extremely well-balanced and doesn’t last too long that it would be too much. The sour is up-front and reminds me of cherry Now and Laters. The mouth feels light-bodied and has excellent carbonation providing great flavor distribution throughout your palate. The finish is somewhat dry and stale, which I think is a great balance to the mainly sour and sweet body.
From all of the Sour Ale’s I’ve tried before, Monk’s Cafe Flemish Sour ranks up there as one of the better ones. I think some people can be turned off by a “sour” beer, and depending upon which they try, they may get a vision of nothing but overly sourness as the style. The Flemish Sour proves this doesn’t have to be the case with a mildly sour body and a great lasting finish to be enjoyed.
Rating
out of 100
Title photo from: Flickr
Shane Holland is the Editor-in-Chief for Passion Beer.
He is a self-proclaimed craft beer geek and an all around lovable dork. He loves homebrewing, everything Philadelphia, traveling and enjoying the pleasures of life.
Horray! I am soooo very glad you reviewed this beer, it’s probably one of my favorites. I’ve only just recently gotten into sours (my first was at Triumph Brewing Company, and I haven’t had one that matched it since), and this beer is one that I regularly grab at Craft Ale House now.
Indeed, this one is great. It is absolutely one of the better one’s I’ve tried and you’re right, it’s usually on at Craft Ale House, which is great! The price is right and the flavor profile is outstanding.
Oh, and thanks for the Duchesse De Bourgogne suggestion, I’ve added it to the site list! I’ve again had a “sample” of this at Craft Ale House. I remember it being more tart and sour than that of the Monk’s Flemish, and it is quite pricey. I’ll have to grab a full draft and review it!
I tried this at Monk’s while I was in Philly–LOVED it. I brought two bottles home with me!
The **best** sour cherry ale I have ever tasted. Some of the other sour beers that I have tasted seem to be flavored sour, but this beer does not suffer that illusion. Incredibly refreshing and delicious.