Category Archives: Belgium

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Brochus, Farmhouse Saison

Brochus Edelsaison

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Brewery: Brouwerij Brochus
Country: Belgium
ABV: 5.7%
Style: Belgian Saison
Other Notes: Bottle 1522 of 2893. Malts – 14% Unmalted wheat, 43% Pilsner malt & 43% Munich malt. Hops – 100% Saaz

Brewer Description: (from website) The name of the beer (Noble saison) is derived from the exclusive use of Czech noble hops. Traditionally Saaz is used as an aroma hop. This beer also employs Saaz for its delicate bitterness. The interaction with the saisonyeast is sublime. Munich adds to the body of the beer and its color. A dash of unmalted wheat delivers freshness and slight turbidity.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.63
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.5

Intro: A 750ml bottle, bottled on 28th November 2016, with a best before date of 28th November 2019. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: Exploded out of the bottle as soon as the cap moved, with rather uncontrollable gushing as quite a bit went on to the table cloth. It was a lightly hazy golden copper colour with a three finger white head that had decent retention while leaving behind some lacing.
Aroma: Clove, banana, bubblegum, Belgian yeast, wood with hints of pepper spice.
Taste: Belgian yeast, light clove, banana, honey, bubblegum, grass and light pepper spice.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with high carbonation.
Overall: It’s basically got everything I expect from a saison other than the explosion of beer which left much of it on the table.

5 - Excellent (must buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen, Lambic - Unblended

3 Fonteinen Zenne y Frontera Solera

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Brewery: Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen
Country: Belgium
ABV: 7%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Unblended)
Other Notes: Lambic blend aged on Oloroso & Pedro Ximénez sherry casks

Brewer Description: (from bottle) With the first version of Zenne y Frontera, 9 Oloroso barrels and 3 PX barrels were filled with young lambic. After one year of oak maturation, the characteristics of the finest of sherries and the 40 year old casks integrated with the 3 Fonteinen lambic. Only half of the volume of all casks was blended and bottled and the barrels were filled again with young lambic – our interpretation of the “solera” method. For this second edition, again only half of all barrels was blended and bottled. After another 17 months of bottle maturation, the average age of this naturally refined traditional lambic beer is more than 45 months. This batch is limited to 3000 bottles.

My rating: 5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.8
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.6

Intro: A 750ml bottle, batch 2, bottled on 26th March 2016 and a best before date of 26th October 2026. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen funnel and decanter, decanted for 60 to 90 minutes and poured into a 3 Fonteinen Zenne glass.
Appearance: A mostly clear golden orange colour with a minimal white head and sparse to no lacing.
Aroma: Earthy funk, barnyard, hay, oak, nutty, sherry, peach and lemon.
Taste: Complex flavours. Funky, earthy, barnyard, sour, lemon, grape, apricot, sherry and oak with a hint of vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Wow, such complexity and goodness from a beer. Amazing and well balanced. Now I really want to try this side by side with the sherries and even batch 1, if at all possible.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brasserie Cantillon, Lambic - Fruit

Cantillon Cinsault

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Brewery: Brasserie Cantillon
Country: Belgium
ABV: Unknown (n/a)
Style: Belgian Lambic (Fruit)
Other Notes: Cinsault grapes, 2017 vintage

Brewer Description: Not much information I can find, but as far as I can gather, Fruit Lambic made with Cinsault grapes.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.29
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A 750ml bottle at the brewery, 2017 vintage. Poured into a Cantillon taster glass.
Appearance: A clear ruby purple red colour, with a one finger pinkish head that dissipated fairly quickly and left sparse to no lacing.
Aroma: Lightly tart, red wine, grape and strawberries.
Taste: Lightly sour and tart, lots of red wine qualities, grape, strawberry and mixed berries.
Mouthfeel: Medium to light bodied with low carbonation.
Overall: As close to red wine as I’ve ever tried in a beer. Good aromas and flavour.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij ‘t Verzet, Flanders Oud Bruin

Verzet Oud Bruin Fût de Moeder 10th Anniversary Moeder Lambic

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Brewery: Brouwerij ‘t Verzet
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6%
Style: Belgian Flanders Oud Bruin
Other Notes: 10th Anniversary Moeder Lambic

Brewer Description: (from Moeder Lambic menu) 10th Anniversary Moeder Lambic Original.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.53
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.4

Intro: A 750ml bottle at Moeder Lambic Fontainas, with a best before date of 19th November 2026. Poured into a Verzet tulip glass after much frustration with the cork!
Appearance: A clear dark amber colour with a one finger off white head that dissipated quickly, while leaving only sparse to no lacing.
Aroma: Amazing plum, coke, vinous, oak, vinegar, sherry and caramel.
Taste: Tart, lightly sour, plum, grape candy, vinous, raisin, balsamic, vinegar, oak and acidity.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Wow, just wonderful with great aroma and taste. A great Oud Bruin.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Gueuzerie Tilquin, Lambic - Gueuze

Tilquin Gueuze – Draft Version

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Brewery: Gueuzerie Tilquin
Country: Belgium
ABV: 4.8%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Gueuze)
Other Notes: Draft version

Brewer Description: (from website) The Gueuze Tilquin – draft version (4,8% alc/vol) is a spontaneous fermentation beer obtained from the blending of a low alcohol lambic (called Meerts or March beer) with 1 and 2 years old lambics matured in oak barrels. Unfiltered and unpasteurized, it is re-fermented in stainless steel kegs or in Keykegs for a minimum period of 3 months. The lambics used were fermented and matured in our own oak barrels at the blendery. They are made from worts brewed by Boon, Lindemans, Girardin and Cantillon. The taste is tart, dry and refreshing. The nose is fresh and lemony. An ideal light gueuze for terraces in the summer and for discovering the beers of spontaneous fermentation.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.44
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.3

Intro: A 250ml draft pour into a Tilquin gueuze glass at Moeder Lambic Fontainas.
Appearance: A lightly hazy orange colour with a just over one finger creamy white head that had decent retention and left nice curtain lacing.
Aroma: Strong barnyard funk, lemon peel, light vinegar and chalk.
Taste: Lightly sour, tart, green apple, lemon peel, funk and oak.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with moderate to low carbonation.
Overall: Very nice, complex and easy drinking.