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Flemm

BentSpoke Brewing Co
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🌍 Australia · Flanders Red Ale · One of 8 Flanders Red Ales in hopIQ

A Flanders red ale first brewed by Richard Watkins more than fifteen years ago and now the lead beer of the Budding Cells barrel label. Barrels are filled each autumn with a lightly hopped red ale set to a low pH, then left to the house culture of wild yeast and bacteria; each release blends one- and two-year-old barrel beer with a smaller share of fresh beer. Toffee malt, plum and raisin sit against lactic and acetic acidity, with a barnyard note from the wild yeast.

ABV
6%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter22 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
deep amber15
See all Flanders Red Ale alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Crisp and dry.

A direct pour that closes clean — trim and sharp, working together to keep things moving.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Flanders Red Ale.
Hop character
earthy
Malt character
malty
caramel
Fermentation & yeast
sour
tart
funky
yeasty
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Flemm

Appearance

Deep ruby-garnet hue with translucent clarity, revealing the beer's age and complexity. The head is modest but persistent, with fine Schaumkleiden that cling to the glass. Carbonation is restrained, appropriate for a barrel-aged farmhouse ale.

deep rubytranslucentfine lacinglow carbonation

Aroma

The nose opens with dried plum and raisin, underpinned by toffee Malz character and a subtle caramel sweetness. Wild yeast and bacteria contribute distinct barnyard and earthy notes—leather, hay, and a faint vinous complexity. Hop character recedes, allowing the funky, fermented profile to dominate.

plum, raisintoffee Malzbarnyard funkearthy, vinous

Taste

Bright lactic and acetic acidity frames the palate, cutting through toffee Malz and dark stone fruit. Mid-palate reveals layered earthiness and subtle yeasty richness, with a restrained 22 IBU providing gentle structure rather than bitterness. The low pH sharpens perception without harshness.

tart, sourdark fruitfunky aciditymalty backbone

Finish

The finish is dry and lingering, with acidity and earthy funk persisting well. A faint caramel sweetness fades into a clean, mouth-cleansing conclusion.

dry, lingeringacidic aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
78
Finish
81
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Flemm

Serve at 8–11°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Flemm

About Flanders Red Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Flanders Red Ale?

Flanders Red Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Flanders Red Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same sour, tart, funky character as Flemm will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Flanders Red Ales in hopIQ

Explore all Flanders Red Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse Australia beers →

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