Hi,
Belgian "sour" beers are popular thes days !
For this joyful observation this small article.

First, a tasting of the "Duvel Moortgat brewed" Liefmans Goudenband.
Observing the paper wrap, we see that Liefmans is now part of Duvel Moortgat NV.
This means that all wort is brewed at Breendonk, and the yeasting-lagering done at the Liefmans plant.
This gives the beer those typical Oud Bruin lactic flavours.
Tasting that beer, let's say two years ago, was a complete disappointment, because the lactic sourness was hardly noticeable. A bad evolution indeed.
But see, tasting the 'Duvel Moortgat brewed' Goudenband was a more than satisfying experience.
Lactic sourness has found its way back to Liefmans Goudenband.
People, this beer is what I used to remember: Pleasant lactic, and again having those great qualities like they should.
It is clear that Duvel Moortgat NV has done a most terrific job !!! 

More terrific jobs and sourness!
The latest Tour de Gueuze produced this outstanding Horal's Oude Geuze Mega Blend.
As the name already reveals, this indeed is a mega blend of different lambics, a collaborative effort of 8 lambic brewers and blenders, all members of HORAL.
Tasting this Oude Gueuze gave remarkable mellow flavours. A masterly blending by Frank Boon from bry. Boon.

Another smooth and quite mild Oude Gueuze is this Doesjel from bry. Drie Fonteinen.
Doesjel is kinda dialect for slumbering.
This beer is a blend of 1, 2 and 3 year old lambic. Fermented and lagered in oak vessels.
In this bottle the young yeast is brought to sleep ('ingedoesjeld') so the original lambic flavors are preserved. Hence the name Doesjel. In fact, the Gueuze has practically no carbonation.
Brewed with 60% barley, 40% wheat, last years hop.
As you can see, the beer has virtually no head. the lazy wild yeasts to blame really :)
But, it gives a really soft, non-agressive smooth beer to enjoy with pleasure.

More sourness is coming from Westflanders. To be precise, from Roeselare.
Bry. Palm has done a wonderful effort to offer this outstanding Vin de Céréale.
Details: New: Vin de Céréale - 10 vol% - Bry. Rodenbach - Palm Breweries
At 10 vol%, a most remarkable "unblended" strong foederbier.
I can only encourage bry. Palm to commercialize another batch of these beauties ASAP !

More sourness, this time coming from the 'Proef'brewery at Lochristi. Totentrekker, a lactic Oud Bruin.
See initial message:  New: Totentrekker - De 'Proef'
Again, we remark that soft, smooth acidity. Nothing aggressive at all. The lactic acidity has been dosed just the right way.
Great brew !

This picture shows the experimental Cosmos Porter, brewed by De Dolle Brouwers brewmaster Kris Herteleer, and this specially for the recent Zythos Beer Fest 2009.
See: THE Revelation @ ZBF 09 - Cosmos Porter - 7 vol% - De Dolle Brouwers
Actually great to see that this beer has won the Zythos Beer Fest Consumers Trophy.

It's clear, beer lovers are into sourness again !

More sourness in next article...

Cheers,
Filip

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