Red Bonnet, Original

6% Alc/Vol. Bottle and Keg Conditioned. 12-24 months old at release. Nano batch brewed, 220- 660 litres from one or more barriques, blended.. Vegan. Label art: Donna Demente. Core range.

Flanders Red ales are a classic style of sour ale, traditionally brewed in the Flemish speaking province of West Flanders. It is a regional curiosity that has survived the pressures of modern tastes. Red Bonnet has a beautiful ruby hue from a complex grain bill, and from aging in a Waitaki pinot noir barrel. The unique multiple yeast strains impart a lactic sourness, and  hop bitterness is replaced by a mouth puckering tartness. It has an intense fruity aroma with hints of vanilla and  tannin. This beer has been aged for one to two years  in oak, and has then been blended with a younger batch, prior to bottling. The character of this beer will become more complex and sour over time. Unlike some of the Belgian originals, our beer is not pasteurised, nor back sweetened.  Perfect for cellar aging.

Food pairing: Lunch AND dinner, but only if you’re in Belgium. Jono Galuszka says the ideal food matching, is fish and chips. Proper bread and butter. Witloof, and other strong temperate climate vegetables.  Mussels, soft and/or strong cheese, meat dishes ie. Stoofvlees, fruit desserts, chocolate, caramel and toffee, jenever.