House Ales Abbey Normal with Brett

G.M. Gillman · Post by **G.M. Gillman** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 7:56 pm

This own-production from Volo was one of the outstanding beers offered during the recent Funk festival there. It is still on draft at the bar and I had it tonight. It has a complex vinous/sweet/lightly sour taste, with some influence evident from 6 months in oak, and surely is the type of red ale aged in those "foudres" we have all read about in Flanders.

I find it better than any iteration of Rodenbach, in fact. A perfectly poised, wine-like beer, the wine aficionados should be all over this one.

Well done, Ralph and team.

Gary

elproducto · Post by **elproducto** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 8:02 pm

Better than Rodenbach Grand Cru?

Wow, must be a hell of a beer.

G.M. Gillman · Post by **G.M. Gillman** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 8:23 pm

Obviously this is down to personal taste, but Rodenbach's beers are a little sour for me, vinegar-like sour, whereas the House Ales aged dubbel (it's about 8% ABV) had a tart flavour than didn't go too far - for me.

Gary

Peter Collins · Post by **Peter Collins** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 9:47 pm

Plus, it's called Abbey Normal.

Sadly, I cannot make my eyes point in opposite directions.