Mort Subite Framboise

As an avid home brewer I'm always looking for that next beer. Lately, I have been inspired by Belgian beers, including those fermented with wild "bugs". I made the mistake, however, of showing what a lambic fermentation looked like to my wife - she put her foot down and said there was no way that was coming into her house. What was I to do? I had to show her what beer possibly could be (even if it wasn't the same as my intentions) with a bit of a different fermentation. Then it hit me, framboise! I told her it was like raspberry champaign. She loved it. 

Mort Subite is a lambic, spontaneously fermented in Belgian tradition, that has been matured in oak with raspberry juice added.

Pours a reddish, pink with a light pink foamy head. The head is short lasting, not the heavy lacing that you see in other Belgian styles. Brilliantly clear from years of aging. The aroma is strong, sweet raspberries - I guess that is what you might expect, but it's almost over the top. Not a lot of malt in aroma.

The taste is of raspberries, not surprising, but lacking a lot else. There is a slight tang from the long aged lambic base beer giving balance to the sweet raspberry. The high carbonation, and light body give a thin mouthfeel.

Overall, I liked it for what it was. It was very fruity, very raspberry-y, very light, but also, very refreshing. I was expecting something sweeter then it was from what I had read, so being a bit more tart then expected was a nice surprise, though a bit more tang from the lambic would be nice.

3.5/5

Wells Banana Bread Beer

Ok. To be honest I was given this beer and was a bit afraid. It sat in the fridge longer than most beer and I kept looking and wondering. Well, I manage up the courage (which wasn't actually much and I was looking for something different) and poured it - very surprised, and in a good way.

The aroma is dominated by banana with spicy notes. Some sweetness and maltiness.

The flavor is malty, with the banana becoming subdued. It has a firm bitterness and is fairly balanced with some hops and spice. The finish is crisp and dry.

A fairly thin mouthfeel but with the dryness it is still refreshing.

Overall I was impressed. Maybe it was the fact it wasn't terrible, but more likely it was because it actually was well made. Granted, this is not the type of beer for everyone, but those who are looking for something different, give it a try.

3.5/5

Duchy Originals from Waitrose - Old Ruby Ale 1905

Duchy Originals was set up in 1990 by Charles, Prince of Wales and is a brand of organic foods sold mainly in the UK. Fortunately for me they do export some products and a kind friend picked my up the fine bottle of Organic Ruby Ale.

Pours clear copper/ruby red. Light carbonation, in tradition with British ales, only gives a slight, off white head. The aroma is slight with notes of malt and caramel and hints of fruit and orange.

The flavor is rather mild and clean with a good balance of malt and bitterness. Some fruity esters and slight yeast tang. Notes of pear and cherries and an earthy hop flavor.

Mouthfeel is medium to med-light. Light British style carbonation creates a silkiness on the palette.

Overall impressions is a quality ale. Well made and clean ale with balance of flavors and esters making it very drinkable. This is a good introductory ale for those North Americans looking to experience British ale.

4/5

Once Upon a Dark and Stormy Night...

It was a Dark and Stormy Night - no really, there's thunder outside and everything. I'm kidding, but there is Dark and Stormy Night by Picaroons Traditional Ale of Fredericton, NB, Canada on the table. Picaroons has produced this this deep reddish-brown ale that is a hybrid between a German dunkel and an English ale. It has a head that is off-white and slightly mocha with a light aroma of roasted barley with sweet, butterscotch notes. This ale has a slightly creamy texture and is lightly carbonated. The taste is wheat and roasted barley with a light, sweet caramel flavor.

This is a very easy drinking ale with a balanced flavor and light body.

My rating: 3.5/5