Golden-hued lager with dark fruited pungency, flowery malt amiability, and sweet yeast grid. Smooth grain finish lost in the distance.
All posts by John Fortunato
VICTORY BALTIC THUNDER PORTER
Obtuse smoked porter furnishes dryly oiled hop roast for burnt hickory-cedar singe, earthen peat smudge, soy bean drift, and black tea nuance. Sweet brown chocolate resonates beneath commencing bitterness as dried prune-fig souring and overripe black cherry tartness sneak in through bottom.
VERVIFONTAINE BLONDE
Voluptuous full-bodied billowy-headed champagne-like blonde in pudgy short-neck 11-ounce bottle leaves spider web-sized Brussels lace along glass sides. As original and inspiring as any hand-crafted bottle conditioned brew could aspire to be, its payoff is its distinctive contrast of orange peel tang and dark grain bitterness against cinnamon-nutmeg-doused malted wheat sweetness. Heavy carbonation never constricts floral essence. Filling, yet delicate on the tongue.
(VERHAEGHE) VICHTENAAR FLEMISH ALE
Busy oak-cask matured ‘red-brown ale mix’ brings surprising brandied cognac waft to snappy orange-grape tartness, expansive cider souring, and distant banana-clove respite. Sweet red apple and cherry confluence envelops dry wheat spine of lactic ruby-hued Flemish sour ale.
(VERHAEGHE) ECHT KRIEKENBIER
Swell pinkish-ruby West Flemish ‘red-brown ale’ matured in oak cask acquires delectable sour cherry tartness that sweetens by dry wood finish. Tannic grape mellowing allows vinous nature to surface as fizzy champagne flow re-enforces juicy black cherry sentiment.
(VERHAEGHE) DUCHESSE DE BOURGOGNE
Tangy white wined Flemish-styled red ale burrows vinegary acidity below illusions of hard cider, sour citrus, tart cherry, and dry prune. By mid-palate, prevalent green apple overtones invade astringent oaken finish. On tap, barleywine chill recedes to brandied cherry jubilee whisk and cranberry-grape tannin sequel.
VERGINA LAGER
Bubbly white-headed golden-bodied sour-candied lager with frisky carbonation. When fizz settles, sullen crystal malt finish just ain’t enough.
VELTINS TRADITION PILSNER
In unique wide-bodied green bottle, traditional pale-yellowed German pils stifled by diffident sour malt aromatics, unmemorable soft-watered barley-hop essence, and bland citric-quince nip. Musky maize acridity counters sinewy corn sugaring. Only amateurs need apply.
VELDENSTEINER WEISBIER
Cloudy Bavarian wheat beer with sinewy yeast and assuring banana-clove salvo integrates butterscotch sweetness with white ale-like orange-lemon-grape tartness. Fluttering cornmeal presence imbues crisp carbolic fizz.
VELDENSTEINER PREMIUM PILS
Shallow light-bodied pale-toned fluffy-headed Bavarian pilsner brings sour bread plainness to dank grain flank and skunked malt pungency. Thin wheat sweetness falls off at washed out finish as carbonation flattens.
VELDENSTEINER LAGER
Easy drinkin’ off-dry ‘Original Bavarian’ lager gradually loses sugared cornmeal sweetness. Light grain-hopped astringency depletes mild citric spicing; finishing weak and cloy.
VAPEUR EN FOLIE ALE
Sinewy yeast clumps speckle dry oak-aged(?) indulgence. Musty flowery yeast sweetness turns to sour candy as damp earthiness recedes corky gueuze-like tannic tartness. Moldy peach, tangy nectarine, sour apple, and white grape esters confront pasty plantain illusion as lemony hops secure peppery hibiscus smidgen.