If Monks Had Cafes...

Finals are over, a year of grad school is complete. What better way to relax and de-stress than with a fine ale, no?

Monk's Cafe Flemish Red Ale, known elsewhere in the world as Bios Vlaamse Bourgogne, comes to us from the last operating brewery in Meetjesland, Belgium, the Brouwerij Van Steenberge, brewer of such well-known ales as Gulden Draak and Augustijn.

The Flemish Red ale is a Flanders farmhouse style which originated in the 19th century, when farmers would brew beer on the side to supplement their produce and meat. The majority of the beer was drunk within the home — since most everyone brewed their own beer, there was little outside market to be exploited. Since wheat was readily available, it was a common ingredient in these ales. Herbs and spices were routinely added for extra flavor.

This particular ale itself is a beautiful, reddish-brown hue. Citrus, vanilla, and pear notes on the nose give way to a mild acid astringency. The initial flavors are reminiscent of dry cider, with apple, pear, vanilla, cinnamon, and clove, with a creamy mouthfeel. There is an acidic twang in the aftertaste, but the beer is not nearly as sour as one would expect from a Flemish farmhouse ale. It is absolutely one of the most delicious ales I've tasted, and its relatively low alcohol content make it enjoyable at any time. Pair it with a fruity dessert like fruit tarts, fruit cheesecakes, and puddings, or with summer salads with oranges or strawberries.