Category Archives: Brewer

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Alvinne, Wild Ale

Alvinne Wild West Barrel 58

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Brewery: Brouwerij Alvinne
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6%
Style: American Wild Ale
Other Notes: 2016 vintage. Alvinne limited edition, single cask, 400 bottles. French Oak from Pineau de Charentes

Brewer Description: (from bottle in Dutch) Barrel 58 is een uniek project waar we enkel zelfgeplukte bessen toevoegen aan Wild West rechtstreeks op het eiken vat. Passie, toewijding en kennis… Barrel 58 5 maand gerijpt op een Pineau de Charentes barrel. Sleedoorn (Moen), braambessen (Gavere), bosbessen (Vlaamse Ardennen).

(translated to English) Barrel 58 is a unique project where we only add self-picked berries to Wild West directly on the oak barrel. Passion, dedication and knowledge… Barrel 58 matured for 5 months on a Pineau de Charentes barrel. Blackthorn (Moen), blackberries (Gavere), blueberries (Flemish Ardennes).

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.39
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.3

Intro: A 500ml bottle, 2016 vintage, with a best before date of December 2021. Poured into an Alvinne teku glass.
Appearance: A lightly hazy rusty orange brown colour with a one finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly and settled to a thin layer.
Aroma: Tart, sour, mixed berries, vinous, oak, with a splash of vinegar and acetone.
Taste: Sour, tart, mixed berries, vinous, grape, oak, and lemon.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Very nice and balanced with great complexity and enjoyable berry notes.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Alvinne, Wild Ale

Alvinne Cuvée Sofie Kriek Framboos

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Brewery: Brouwerij Alvinne
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Style: American Wild Ale
Other Notes: 2017 vintage. Alvinne limited edition, single cask, 350 bottles. 2012 French Oak from Gevrey-Chambertin

Brewer Description: (from bottle in Dutch) 65% Schaarbeekse krieken, 35% frambozen. 5 maand gerijpt op een Bourgognevat. Frambozen geteeld en geplukt door leerlingen van SBSO ‘T Vurstjen, Evergem. Schaarbeekse krieken uit Neerbeek-Brakel.

(translated to English) 65% Schaerbeek cherries, 35% raspberries. Aged for 5 months in a Burgundy barrel. Raspberries grown and picked by students of SBSO ‘T Vurstjen, Evergem. Schaerbeek cherries from Neerbeek-Brakel.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.19
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 500ml bottle, with a best before date of January 2022. Poured into an Alvinne teku glass.
Appearance: A reddish orange brown colour with a less than half finger off white head that dissipated quickly while leaving some nice lacing.
Aroma: Juicy, cherry, raspberry, oak, with notes of nail polish and vinegar.
Taste: Sour, tart, cherry, raspberry, oak, tannin, a touch vinous, and touches of vinegar.
Mouthfeel: Dry, medium bodied with moderate to soft carbonation.
Overall: An enjoyable balanced sour.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Garage Project, New Zealand, Wild Ale

Garage Project Omne Trium Perfectum – Guava, Coconut, Makrut Lime

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Brewery: Garage Project
Country: New Zealand
ABV: 5.8%
Style: American Wild Ale

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Three, it’s the magic number. OTP – a special series of sours, each batch combining a trio of unusual ingredients based on the perfect principle of three elements. This batch we’ve combined a hand-picked selection of 12-18 month oak-aged mixed fermentation beer with guava, coconut, and makrut lime to create a blend bursting with juicy, sour, tropical flavours. Omne Trium Perfectum, no more no less – for some reason things just work better in threes.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.39
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.3

Intro: A 750ml bottle with no clear bottled on or best before date. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen stemmed glass.
Appearance: A hazy yellow orange colour with a half finger white head that disappeared immediately and left no lacing.
Aroma: Tart, guava dominates, with notes of pineapple, lime and coconut.
Taste: Tart, sour, guava, lime, with hints of coconut.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: A very enjoyable and balanced sour, with lots of tropical fruit flavours.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brasserie Fantôme, Farmhouse Saison

Fantôme de Tous les D’iâpes

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Brewery: Brasserie Fantôme
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Style: Belgian Saison

Brewer Description: (from bottle in French) Tous avec les diables!

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.93
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 750ml corked and capped bottle with a best before end 2020 date. Poured into a Holy Mountain tulip glass.
Appearance: A very lightly hazy golden orange colour with a big three finger white head that gradually dissipated to a thick ring around the glass and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Citrusy orange, orange candy, carrot cake, herbal tea, gingerbread, and spices.
Taste: Sweet, orange zest, marmalade, tangy, biscuit malt, gingerbread, herbal tea, and spice.
Mouthfeel: Dry, light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Interesting aroma and flavours. Maybe sweeter than I prefer, but still drinkable.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Farmhouse Saison, The Lost Abbey, USA

Lost Abbey Carnevale

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Brewery: The Lost Abbey
Country: USA
ABV: 8%
Style: Belgian Saison
Other Notes: Brett Saison

Brewer Description: (from bottle) For centuries Venetians lightened the dark of winter with an elaborate upending of social order. In donning a disguise for Carnevale, for one night a pauper could become a prince, a learned man a fool, a proper lady a passionate lover… and no one would be wiser. This beer is our tribute to that grand celebration of the unexpected. A saison-style blonde ale with American hops and… well, that’s all you really need to know. Now put on your mask, raise your glass, and toast to the magic of a winter’s night mystery. Lo Carnevale!

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.83
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A corked and caged 1 pint 9.4 fl. oz. bottle, vintage 2018. Poured into a Holy Mountain tulip glass.
Appearance: A hazy golden orange colour with a big three finger white head that had decent retention but eventually settled to a thin layer, while leaving nice lacing.
Aroma: Pear, apple, bubble gum, Belgian candi sugar, yeast, with floral and spice notes.
Taste: Sweet-ish, Belgian yeast, brett, bubble gum, pear, grapefruit, notes of spice and a touch boozy.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Sweeter and more boozy than I normally prefer, but still very drinkable.