Beer Man: Sweet-tart cherries make Barbe Ruby a tasty treat
Beer Man is a weekly profile of beers from across the country and around the world.
This week: Verhaeghe Barbe Ruby
Brouwerij Verhaeghe, Vichte, Belgium
Verhaeghe makes some of the world’s best beers, with its Vichtenaar and Duchesse de Bourgogne fantastically excellent sweet-sour beers.
Barbe Ruby continues the brewery’s fine craftsmanship and is one of the few fruit beers I’ve had that literally has the flavor of eating the actual fruit.
The color of the beer was ruby and the red highlights glowed in the light. It had a pinkish head that didn’t last long, but the beer was finely carbonated.
The dark cherry flavor of the 7.7% ABV beer was spot on. The fresh fruit aroma and flavor were front and center, with sweetness followed by a slight tartness and a hint of bitterness. There also was a bit of molasses and almond flavor in the background.
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The medium mouthfeel — not thin, not heavy — was juicy and made me want to keep swishing the liquid around in my mouth before swallowing.
I have no problem ranking Barbe Ruby above Rodenbach offerings, mostly because I prefer the extra touch of sweetness in Verhaeghe products. I do enjoy Rodenbach beers, whose offerings tend to be less sweet and more dry, a profile that some drinkers may enjoy more.
Verhaeghe also makes four other beers in its Barbe series: Barbe d’Or, a 7.5% ABV Belgian blonde ale; Barbe Noel, a 7.2% ABV blonde ale; Barbe Black, a 9% ABV Belgian stout; and Barbe Rufa, an 8% ABV strong wheat ale.
It also has introduced a holiday Flemish Sours four-pack that features one bottle each of Vichtenaar, Barbe Ruby, Duchesse de Bourgogne and Echt Kriekenbier. That’s a package I’d like to see under my Christmas tree.
I should note that none of the Verhaeghe beers are like the typical sour beers being produced by many American breweries. Instead of being blasted with vinegar flavor and not much else, the sour in Verhaeghe products is balanced with the other flavors.
Verhaeghe is imported by D&V International of Jupiter, Fla.; its Beer Finder link is here.
Many beers are available only regionally. Check the brewer's website, which often contains information on product availability by mail. Contact Todd Haefer at [email protected]. To read previous Beer Man columns, click here.