Duchesse de Bourgogne

This 6.0% Flemish sour ale is a blend of 8 and 18 month old top-fermented ales matured in oak casks. It is from the Brouwerij Verhaeghe Vichte of Belgium. 

The beer pours a medium-dark brown with hints of orange. There is a quickly disappearing head of very light brown foam. The aroma is tart, sour, apple vinegar, lightly woody and fruity. The taste is sweet and sour, caramel, brown sugar, along with apple vinegar tart and sour, throwing off fruit notes of sour cherries and tart apples. There is a bit of oaky woodiness adding dryness in the background. There is a bit of a vinous quality. This is exquisite, perhaps the best sour beer in the world?