Alexander

The beer pours a deep ruby red, with a half-inch thick, brownish-pink head sitting atop that disappeared quickly. There is a little bit of haze -- it’s clear but not brilliantly clear. The aroma is heavy with tart cherries, which is to be expected for the style. I do pick up a moderate amount of supporting malt aroma, a very low malt vinegar aroma and very mild woodiness. All in all, the aroma is very pleasant and inviting. The flavor closely mirrors the aroma, but you can add into the mix a refreshing tartness that really hammers home the tart cherry profile. The malt is mildly sweet with a hint of caramel, and it is there solely to support the fruitiness and sourness. There is a low level of bitterness that helps to bring balance to the sour and sweet components. The mouthfeel is solidly in the medium range, with a moderate level of carbonation. It’s not too effervescent, but yet holds enough carbonation to help clean the palate. There is not a lot of creamy texture to the beer, but there doesn’t need to be. I do get a very low tannic astringency that becomes more apparent as the beer warms, which is not uncommon or inappropriate for the style. In the end, I was very happy to be served this beer and hope to be able to have more of it. To say this is a very solid Fruit Lambic is an understatement of how good I think it is. This beer blew me away -- all of its flavor components are spot-on, the balance is intricate and the experience of the beer as a whole was great.