RITUAL MADNESS ~ INDIE ALE HOUSE

Ritual Madness, a Flanders Dark Red Ale,  is another offering in Indie Ale House’s Fates and Furies Series. It is a traditional Belgian Flanders barrelled on grape must in red wine barrels. The final product was blended to achieve the final product. Sampled on drought the beer poured a clear dark coppery-red cola colour with a small off-white head. The nose has some complexity with notes of tart berries, wood, leather, musty and lactic notes. The flavour is a balance of sour, tart fruitiness and rich malts. Notes of cherries, and dark fruit, wood, and wine are also evident. The finish has a lingering tanginess. The body is medium to full, the carbonation was slightly soft and the alcohol is well hidden. A beautiful example of the style!
8% from Toronto, Ontario 20 IBU
Key Ingredients: Flanders Yeast, Belgian Malts, Wine Barrels

Photo Courtesy Of Indie Ale House

OUD BRUIN ~ EXCHANGE BREWERY

I think this new Brewery from Niagara on the Lake may be one to watch out for. I have really enjoyed both Belgian style offerings I have had thus far. The Oud Bruin is a Flanders style Brown ale, aged in red wine barrels. Sampled on draught it poured an opaque rich mahogany colour with a thin cream head. The nose had lots of red wine with black currants, balsamic vinegar, barrel oakiness, rich malts and sourness. The taste fills your mouth with complex flavours: red wine and touch of sweet balsamic, dark fruits, sherry, and rich sourness. The sourness is not overpowering and lends some complexity to the brew. The beer was made with Chilean malts and fermented in pearl Morrisette red wine barrels for five months with Brett and lactobacillus. The carbonation is quite soft and the body is on the cusp of medium and full. An impressive first sour from this brewery, in fact one of the best domestic examples of this style. Bravo Exchange.

6.5% from Niagara on the Lake 27 IBU