How is it that I’ve never opined on Liefman’s Goudenband before? I’m sure I don’t know. I’ve been drinking the beer since the late eighties or early nineties (I can’t recall), but was inspired to try it after watching Michael Jackson’s Beer Hunter Series Episode The Burgundies of Belgium, in which Mr. Jackson introduces viewers to, among other things, Rosa Merckx, the first female brewmaster at Liefman’s, and Liefman’s Goudenband Ale. Many fine dishes made with beer are featured here, including Lapin Fonteyne a la Biere, a rabbit dish made with Liefman’s Goudenband. It’s a beer as suitable to cooking as it is to drinking.

If you’ve never seen the Beer Hunter series, I can’t encourage you enough to do so. The same sentiment goes for Liefman’s Goudenband (Flemish for Gold Band), a beer no self-respecting beer lover should miss. Madame Rosa is retired from Liefman’s for the most part, but still plays a role at the brewery. Liefman’s claims her favorite beer is the Goudenband, and it’s easy to see why. It’s certainly one of my favorites as well.

Liefman’s says of the brewery’s history on their website:

The story of Liefmans began in the 17th century, when Jacobus Liefmans set up business as a brewer in Oudenaarde. The building on Aalststraat, on the banks of the River Schelde, has now been standing for more than 300 years.

I hadn’t really thought about Liefman’s Goudenband in a while, but when I saw it at Stout’s Growlers I was reminded of my fondness for the beer and picked up a bottle. I’m glad I did, as it became a focus point for a few birthday beers in mid-March. It was, indeed, the highlight of the night.

From the brewery website:

Made in open vats with beer of mixed fermentation, it is left to mature for four to 12 months in the cellar. Mature beer is then fortified with younger beer, so the fermentation process starts up again.

Liefmans Goudenband is a beer for storing, and just keeps improving over the years like a fine wine. Even after ten years, this dark red beer tastes as fresh as ever.

Liefmans Goudenband has an alcohol content of 8% by volume and I paid a very reasonable $9.99 for my 750 ML bottle at Stout’s.

Liefmans Goudenband pours to a dark brown color with a thick creamy tan head and a delightful nose of funky yeast and soft dark malt. Taking a sip, the beer is creamy smooth and nutty malty at first in the palate, then dark fruity and very tart with black cherry fruit, dry almond, cherry cola, black currants, Granny Smith apples and a gentle hint of woody oak. The beer finishes very tart and sour, and is eminently quenchable. It’s amazingly complex and easy to drink despite the elevated alcohol content.

In my humble opinion, this is one of the best beers in the world. There’s something new on the palate in every sip, and I’m going to buy more to hang onto for a while. Michael Jackson and Madame Rosa both sing the praises of Liefman’s Goudenband, and who am I to argue? It’s a beer I need to visit more often than I do, and you should too.

Update 8/3/2017: I was delighted to see this on tap at Taco Mac. I've never enjoyed Liefman's Goudenband on tap before, so I shelled out the $10.25 for an 11-ounce glass. The delightful notes of dry almond and dark fruit were as amazing as usual. This is not a beer to be missed.



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