De Wallen

De Wallen is a "Barrel Aged Sour Framboise". It's brewed by Toronto, Ontario's Amsterdam Brewery. Having just read a novel set in De Wallen, Amsterdam's notorious Red Light District, when I saw this stuff on the shelf at my favourite liquor store, I jumped to buy it. It contains a solid 6.5% alcohol and comes in a 330mL bottle. According to the label, "Souring a beer is a risky endeavor, much like venturing into the red-light district of Amsterdam.

It's a cloudy, copper brew with definite reddish leanings. It has a very tart and yeasty sour cherry aroma. I think this stuff would make a nice introduction to sour beers--it's definitely tart, but it's not too sour. There are considerable fruit notes--raspberry, certainly, but also cherry--and a short finish.

This is a very nice take on the framboise. It's well worth your time.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.