Beer Review: Lindemans Framboise

Reviewing Lindemans Framboise from Brouwerij Lindemans.
Score: 86

2011 vintage bottle served in a champagne flute.

Appearance: Purple-red, almost red wine-like, colored body with two fingers of strawberry-pink colored bubbly head. Average lacing. 3.5/5

Smell: Sweet raspberry and sugar candy. 3.5/5

Taste: Candied raspberries. There is a light lingering sugary raspberry sweetness. Light tartness. Very one dimensional, but very refreshing. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Light-medium bodied with high carbonation. Finish is mostly crisp, with a light lingering sugary-sweetness. 4/5

Overall: Not very complex, especially in comparison to the stouts that I usually drink, but quite refreshing. For a one dimensional beer, it does its one dimension (raspberry candy aroma/flavor) well. Most importantly, this beer paired great with Colleen's new year's eve chocolate cake (see food pairings, below)! I do not like most sours, gueze, lambics, etc., but I did enjoy this one. I would probably have this one again.

Recommendation: Beer geeks should try this staple framboise at some point. Casual beer drinkers and people who "do not like beer" will absolutely love this beer (which does not taste like beer -- the people I shared it with thought it was champagne).

Pairings: Colleen's mocha chocolate cake with semi-sweet ganache filling and chocolate mousse frosting.

Cost: $6.49 for a 12 oz bottle or $10.99 for a 750 ml bottle.