“Perhaps no country embraces the use of fruit in beers more so than Belgium. Numerous traditional as well as regional specialty ales are infused with every sort of fruit imaginable. In this way, the flavor of the fruit becomes especially prominent. Red Poppy Ale is a veritable celebration of Sour Cherries in an explosion of aromas and tastes. Brewed from a brown ale base and aged in our oak barrels for over 12 months, this beer is not for the faint of heart.”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Uncaged, uncorked and pouring a slightly muddy light brown to burgundy hue. It struggles to produce any head, rapidly forming a collar with next to no lace as it peels off.

Aroma: Oooft. Super complex and multi-layered. A vigorous swirl awakens the deep-seated malt sweetness but on surface level it’s more of the tart cherry, Ribena and almost pineapple juice-like fruits. The barrels offer a clean yet musty and toasty oak whilst further fruitiness comes in the form of flambeed orange, caramelised pear and grilled lemon. Just a tempered bretty funk with some horse blanket as well. Wow.

Flavour: Ok, the sourness was clearly saving itself for the flavour profile. It’s done a complete flip and now a sharp lacto sourness takes hold upfront whilst the malt sweetness and sugary fruits creep in as the sourness wanes. The barrels play a crucial role in tying it all together with its woody, musty and vanillin oak. Getting nutty accents developing late which set up the funky, woody and fruity finish that draws out for days on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Light on, kinda dry with good pucker. No bottling date on this one (can confirm it was aged) but the Co2 still has a bit of liveliness to it. Well buried 6.5% ABV.

Overall: It truly sucks that we don’t have such easy access to The Lost Abbey in Australia anymore. This is absolutely superb. Intricate, well layered and highly quaffable.