4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgian Witbier, Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project, USA

Crooked Stave St. Bretta Late Spring Citrus Wildbier

Tuesday, 12 July 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
Country: USA
ABV: 5.5%
Style: Belgian Witbier
Other Notes: Seasonal Citrus: Tango Mandarin

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Artisan ale brewed with citrus fermented in oak foeders.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.87
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 375ml bottle bottled in April 2015, poured into a Cantillon ballon glass.
Appearance: It poured a cloudy golden colour with a huge three finger white head with good retention and leaves nice thick lacing.
Aroma: Strong tangy citrus mandarin, lemon and floral aromas with only a hint of oak and brett.
Taste: Citrus peel, orange, mandarin, flower petals, oak, pepper spice and some brett.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: This was nice and refreshing. I would prefer a bit less of the floral element, but it was not a deal breaker.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brasserie Cantillon, Lambic - Unblended

Cantillon Bruocsella Grand Cru

Tuesday, 12 July 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brasserie Cantillon
Country: Belgium
ABV: 5%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Unblended)
Other Notes: Lambic Bio 2012

Brewer Description: (from bottle) The Lambic Grand Cru Cantillon is like a cereals-based wine. It is a Lambic that has matured for three years in oak-wood casks and has been selected for its unique colour, bouquet and aroma. It has a very long shelf life. It should be served in a wine glass at a temperature of 12-15 degrees. Store in a cool cellar. Beer with taste evolution. To be drunk preferably within 20 years after the bottling date.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.36
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.2

Intro: A 750ml corked and capped bottle bottled on 21st August 2015 and poured into a wine glass.
Appearance: It poured a very slightly cloudy golden orange colour with pretty much no head at all and very sparse lacing if any.
Aroma: Leather, oak, malt vinegar, dusty, chalk and funky. Maybe a hint of apricot but not really.
Taste: Tart, sour, green apple, vinegar, lemon juice, oak and funk.
Mouthfeel: Medium to light bodied with pretty much no carbonation.
Overall: The taste was decent and better than the aroma. However with every sip, the aroma kind of gets to me. The dusty and chalky element just wasn’t my cup of tea. In addition, the complete lack of carbonation was not so good. Perhaps this particular beer is just not for me considering all the other world class Lambics that I’ve tried.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgian Dubbel, Belgium, Brouwerij Westvleteren (Sint-Sixtusabdij Westvleteren)

Trappist Westvleteren 8

Monday, 11 July 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij Westvleteren (Sint-Sixtusabdij Westvleteren)
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Style: Belgian Dubbel
Other Notes: Blue cap. Trappist beer

Brewer Description: Not much info on their website and obviously even less on the bottle.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.32
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a sell-by date that has unfortunately rubbed off. Poured into a Chimay goblet glass.
Appearance: It poured a dark brown colour with some small sediment bits despite a careful pour. There was a one finger beige head that had pretty good retention and eventually settled to a nice thin but puffy cap and nice curtain like lacing.
Aroma: Strong dark fruits of plum, prunes, raisin, fig with hints of dark cherry and toffee.
Taste: Like the aroma, there is lots of dark fruit with raisin, dark cherry and prunes dominating. There’s also some plum, fig, brown sugar and a touch of alcohol that’s not overpowering.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: It’s a very nice Dubbel. Great dark fruit flavours and very balanced. Interestingly though, after trying both many times, I am still leaning towards enjoying Westmalle Dubbel just that slight bit more.

5 - Excellent (must buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brasserie Cantillon, Lambic - Fruit

Cantillon Kriek

Sunday, 10 July 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brasserie Cantillon
Country: Belgium
ABV: 5%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Fruit)
Other Notes: Ingredients from organic agriculture

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Because of its complex flavour and its acidulous taste, the Kriek Cantillon is a unique and very thirst-quenching beer. The ingredients come from organic agriculture. Beer with evolving flavour. Keep and serve at cellar temperature (12-15 degrees). In order to fully appreciate the fruity taste of the Kriek Cantillon, it is recommended to drink it within one year after buying it. To be drunk preferably within ten years after the bottling date. Beer with krieken.

My rating: 5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.62
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.5

Intro: A 750ml corked and caged bottle bottled on 18th June 2015 (just over a year old) and poured into a Cantillon ballon glass.
Appearance: It poured a slightly hazy dark ruby red colour with a two finger dark pinkish-white head that dissipated fairly quickly and left only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Sweet and tart cherry with touches of strawberry. Lots of oak woodiness and only a hint of barnyard funk.
Taste: Sour, tart, cherry, lemon, oak and just a touch of funk.
Mouthfeel: Dry, light bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Wonderful, so refreshing and well balanced. I could drink this all day.

5 - Excellent (must buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brasserie Cantillon, Lambic - Fruit

Cantillon Rosé de Gambrinus

Friday, 8 July 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brasserie Cantillon
Country: Belgium
ABV: 5%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Fruit)
Other Notes: Raspberries (200 grams/litre)

Brewer Description: (from bottle) The Rose De Gambrinus Cantillon is obtained by macerating fresh raspberries in two years old Lambic. Its complex aromas and sour taste make this unique beer an excellent thirst-quencher. Keep at a temperature of 12-15 degrees and serve at 6-7 degrees. Beer with taste evolution. In order to fully appreciate the fruity taste of the Rose De Gambrinus, it is best to drink it within one year after the purchase. To be drunk preferably within ten years after the bottling date.

My rating: 5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.7
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.5

Intro: A 750ml capped and corked bottle bottled on 26th January 2016, poured into a Cantillon ballon glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear ruby red colour with a one finger pinkish white head that dissipated quickly and left only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Tart and juicy fresh raspberries with a hint of lemon, berry jam, oak and barnyard funk.
Taste: Sweet, sour and tart raspberries followed by lemon juice, oak woodiness and a hint of barnyard funk.
Mouthfeel: Crisp, dry, light bodied with moderate lively carbonation.
Overall: A great raspberry Lambic that I could drink all day. So refreshing with great balance.

words of another dreamy traveller

Monthly Archives: July 2016