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Jason Johnson's picture

Cuvée Des Jacobins

April, 2016
Judges Rating: 
92
Aroma: 
23 / 24
Appearance: 
6 / 6
Flavor: 
38 / 40
Mouthfeel: 
7 / 10
Overall Impression: 
18 / 20

This beer pours a light brown with reddish hues, very good clarity and a manila-colored head with moderately good retention. The aroma is quite complex. Initially, I get a hint of bready, biscuity malt, followed by a bit of cedar, a hint of oak and the slightest bit of aged, sour funk. I also get a cherry fruitiness that's close to lingonberries. The flavor is acidic and sharp, but not so much that it causes you pucker -- it just makes you start to salivate. There are beady and toasty malts that give way to the softer and tart fruits, and there is very little hop bitterness and no discernible hop flavor. The best way I can describe this beer's flavor is that it’s a bit oaky, a bit cedar-y and old, barnyard-like funky. It’s actually extremely pleasant. The mouthfeel is light with a lot of carbonation. The beer lacks much in the way of creamy textures, possibly due to the sharp acidity. Still, aside from being slightly lighter in body than expected, it’s quite the experience and a very unique Flanders Red.