Ölbeat 106: Vander Ghinste Cuvée des Jacobins Rouge

Brewery: Brouwerij Omer Vander Ghinste
Country: Belgium 
Style: Sour Red
Abv: 5,5 %
@RateBeer

What about the beer?

Colour is reddish brown with a large white head. Aroma has very sour berries and funky yeast. Taste starts with spiking redcurrant sourness. Sour and dry berry juice with a yeasty twist continues to beat the mouth gently. Near the finish dryness comes more in front. Aftertaste has dry and sour currant-gooseberry flavour.

Absolutely magnificent berry-rich sour ale. The original sour berry-like taste shows the meaning of natural fermentation and oak-aging. There are no shortcuts if one wants to make a deep and rich-tasting sour beer. Liquid excellence.

Ölbeat

Simple explanation/excuse: there seems to be no sensible connection between the brew and this song. The brew's name refers to Rue de Jacobins, a street in Paris. There lies the French Dominican abbey, that in the 18th century used to serve as a meeting place for the most famous revolutionary group - the Jacobins - in France. The song has nothing to do with abbeys or French revolution. However, the beer is matured in French oak barrels and French women fit the description in the song. Still far fetched? Well, it just is a positively freaky and funky beer. That's the connection.

Rick James: Super Freak (YouTube)

From the 1981 album Street Songs, the song was written by Rick James and Alonzo Miller.

Ölbeat 083: Rodenbach Grand Cru

Brewery: Brouwerij Rodenbach
Country: Belgium
Style: Sour Red
Abv: 6 %
@RateBeer

What about the beer?

Colour is bubbly dark brown with a tiny white crown. Aroma has fresh and original apple cider, sour fruits and spices. Tasty begins with heavy funky tartness and sourness. Sweet fruits come along on the way, while sour apple, good wine-like dryness and yeast flavours are in the lead. Towards the end we get some sweet bitterness. Aftertaste is complex: at the same time sugary sour and bitter dry.

Great funky sour trip: yeast and apple-wine combo dominate, but we get spices and sweetness in the same package. Excellent tasty brew even for those who prefer dry wine or cider. We will meet again.

Ölbeat

Funky and fizzy. Again I find myself thinking: "Should I save this feel-good dance tune for later?" Probably should, but what for? The next classy sour fruity and yeasty brew will surely find another classic disco track:

Michael Jackson: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (YouTube)

From the 1979 album Off The Wall, the song was written by Michael Jackson.