Reinaert Flemish Wild Ale is  triple fermented wild ale using saccharomyces and brettanomyces yeast strains. This beer was brewed by De Proef Brouwerij, an experimental brewery from the village of Lochristi in Belgium (near Gent). De Proef Brouwerij is known for its innovative products and collaborations, including collaborations with Allagash and Tom Arthur. Reinaert Flemish Wild Ale was the April 2003 selection for Michael Jackson’s Rare Beer Club.

Tasting notes were made on March 31, 2010.

Appearance: Pours a  fizzy clear pale golden yellow with good head retention.

Aroma: horsey, brett, belgian yeast, caramel; smells like a wild version of a Belgian Strong Pale Ale.

Taste: Initial sweet note, mint, bitter caramel;  alcohol; dry, lingering, bitter finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium. Significant carbonation. Smooth.

Drinkability: Quite drinkable, especially for such a high alcohol percentage. More pleasant and complex upon warming.

This beer does not hold back on the alcohol at 9%.  So far I have had mixed feelings about high alcohol Flanders reds and wild ales. This beer is doing a lot better on that front because it is going for a different experience – more reminiscent of a Belgian Triple or Strong Pale Ale. The brettanomyces add a nice touch to this style.

We found this beer in 11.2 oz. bottles at a reasonable price. If wild ales come to age we should expect more affordable year-round releases. This would be a particularly welcome development in the United States where, unlike in Belgium, the market for such beers is dominated by expensive seasonal releases.