Flanders Red Blend #1 - Cherry - Tasting Notes

I blended up 10 gal of Flanders Red using half each of 18 month and 12 month old beer last July.  I split the 10 gal 2 ways:  one was bottled immediately (see tasting notes here) and the other was aged for an additional 6 month on 10 lbs of pitted sour cherries.  I bottled it a couple months ago and have been sampling one every couple weeks.  I think they've matured nicely in the bottle and are ready for a tasting.

It's very exciting to finally "complete" a beer that I've working on over 2 years.  I'd been excited about the concept of brewing my own sour beers using fresh fruit for quite a bit longer than that even.  I was happy to find that this beer doesn't disappoint.

This is a very nice beer served chilled but I find that the flavors pop quite a bit more when it's served at cellar temperatures.  That is how I've served it for this tasting.

Tasting Notes:

• Aroma:
• There is a bold cherry aroma to the beer - not hard to believe that 10 lbs of cherries went into this.  A bit further in the background there is an earthy character from the Brett in the blend.  These two aspects of the aroma work well in harmony.  Not really picking up anything I'd call "malt aroma" coming through.
• Appearance:
• Bold red color - definitely more red than the plain half.  Pours with a very thin layer of pink head that dissipates to nothing almost immediately.  The beer is a bit hazy but not completely opaque (lots of pulp at the bottom of the bottle - tough to avoid getting some in the pour)
• Flavor:
• It is a very sour beer.  The cherries pushed it another layer beyond the plain half I would say.  The sourness melds nicely with the strong cherry flavor.  There is a caramel flavor from the malt hiding in the background and a bready flavor that comes through in the finish very nicely.  It is a complex set of flavors.  No alcohol comes through in the flavor.  Also not really getting any vinegar out of this beer (not that I'd mind if there was a bit).
• Mouthfeel:
• It is a light bodied beer.  The acidity hits the back of the palate - very crisp (quite refreshing when chilled).  The cherries give the sense of a sweetness but it's really very dry.
• Overall:
• I think the beer and the large amount of cherries get along very well.  The beer is bold enough to make it's presence felt and play an effective supporting role to the star of the show.  The cherries come through in way that makes you well aware that you're drinking a cherry beer which is exactly what I'd hoped for.  It's a complex beer and I'm very pleased with it. 

I have a lot more Flanders Red aging - will plan on starting on Batch #2 this summer.