55. Duchesse de Bourgogne

Duchesse de Bourgogne (pronounced DOO-SHAY) is brewed by Brouwerij Verhaeghe in Vichte, Belgium. The rest of the pronunciation is up to you. Matured in oak casks for 18 months, Duchesse de Bourgogne is then blended with younger 8 month old beer to complete the final delicious product. Duchesse de Bourgogne is named for Mary of Burgundy, born in Brussels in 1457, who was the sole daughter of Charles the Bold. A champion of the Flemish people, she was the Duchess of Burgundy from 1477-1482. She died at the age of 25 in a fall from a horse while falconing when her horse tripped, threw her, and then landed on top of her, breaking her back. Unlucky. She died several days later, having made a detailed will. Why did I include the part about the detailed will? It seemed an interesting and pertinent detail.

Duchesse de Bourgogne starts with a candy sweet but simultaneously sour and tart nose; it has a hazy reddish brown color and a soft white lacy head. Starting smooth and soft, Duchesse rises into sweet candy and tart notes with slight sour notes that build and then take over the flavor, continuing to linger nicely on the palate. The soft, slightly viscous mouthfeel and sharp citric bite merges with the bright feeling of the carbonation to minimize some of the heavy sweetness (sugary, not malty) found across the flavor profile; the sourness level builds nicely throughout the profile. Duchesse does get a bit sticky in the mouth as it warms and tartness starts to overwhelm the sweet candy flavors, which is a plus in our book; as well, the adhesive and band aid flavors come through more as the beer warms—again, another plus for us. All told, a delicious beer that gets better as it warms, giving the sour qualities a chance to shine.

From the Brouwerij Verhaeghe website: “‘Duchesse de Bourgogne’ is een zoet, fruitig bier met een aangename fris-zurige eikenhouten afdronk. ‘Duchesse de Bourgogne’ wordt gebrouwen met diep gebrand gerstemout en overjaarse hoppen met een laag bitterheidsgehalte. Na de hoofdgisting en de tweede lagering ondergaat het bier een derde lagering van circa 18 maanden in eikenhouten kuipen. De in het eikenhout aanwezige looistoffen geven de ‘Duchesse’ het fruitige karakter. Na deze lagering wordt de ‘Duchesse’ versneden met jonger bier van 8 maanden oud. Het resultaat is een ‘Duchesse de Bourgogne’ met een volle, zoete en licht rinzige smaak. Een robijnrood juweel van 6.2% vol. alc. dat het best geschonken wordt tussen de 8 en de 12°C. Een volmaakt bier!”

That disembodied arm is sweeeeet sweetness!

ABV: 6.2%
OG: 16° P

(8/24/2009)