Category Archives: Belgium

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Belgium, Brouwerij Huyghe

Delirium Noël

Thursday, 24 December 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij Huyghe
Country: Belgium
ABV: 10%
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Other Notes: Triple fermentation

Brewer Description: (from website) A strong presence of alcohol, very spicy, slightly bitter. The aftertaste is sweet, spicy and slightly bitter.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.15
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before end date of October 2017 poured into a Chimay goblet glass.
Appearance: It poured a dark amber colour with a two finger fluffy beige head that dissipated slowly and settled to a very nice thin fluffy layer with some nice lacing.
Aroma: Sweet plum, grape, raisin and candied sugar with hints of banana and clove as well as cherries.
Taste: Cherries, raspberries, raisin, plum and prunes. As it warms, the alcohol presence gets stronger and more noticeable but never overpowering. In addition, caramel and toffee appears as it warms.
Mouthfeel: Dry, medium bodied with mid to high carbonation.
Overall: Very enjoyable although I do prefer Nocturnum a bit more. I also do not know what makes this a Christmas beer as I don’t get much of the spices usually associated with Christmas.

1 - Poor (never again), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck N.V., Flanders Oud Bruin

Bacchus Vlaams Oud Bruin

Wednesday, 23 December 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck N.V.
Country: Belgium
ABV: 4.5%
Style: Belgian Flanders Oud Bruin
Other Notes:

Brewer Description: (from wrapping) A typical Flemish beer with a pleasant wine-like taste and a rich past. This dark brown beer, which is matured in oak casks, has a slightly acid aftertaste.

My rating: 1
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.44
My ratebeer.com rating: 2.9

Intro: A 375ml wrapped bottle with a best before date of 25th November 2016 and poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear dark brown colour with a less than one finger tanned head that dissipated quickly but leaves some nice stringy lacing.
Aroma: Mainly tart cherries with some grape, apple juice and vinegary elements.
Taste: Taste is similar to the aromas with tart cherry sourness and grape bubblegum sweetness with hints of apple juice and brown sugar.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied, with mid to high carbonation.
Overall: This was better than the Kriekenbier version that I tried before. However, unfortunately, according to the wrapping, it seems they add Stevia to the beer. I don’t use sugar substitute sweeteners in anything ever, and I don’t see why I need to start doing so in beers.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Rodenbach N.V., Flanders Red Ale

Rodenbach

Tuesday, 29 September 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij Rodenbach N.V.
Country: Belgium
ABV: 5.2%
Style: Flanders Red Ale
Other Notes: Aged in oak vats with 3/4 young beer and 1/4 beer matured two years in oak.

Brewer Description: (from website) Rodenbach is the unique “Flanders Red-Brown Beer”, recognised as a traditional local product. Mixed main fermentation and maturation in oak casks (“foeders”) give it the same sweet-sour flavour and complex fruitiness as wine. Rodenbach consists of 3/4 young beer and 1/4 beer matured two years in oak. Rodenbach is highly refreshing and appetising: the perfect aperitif!

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

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of 3rd October 2015 and poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: Poured a dark reddish brown colour with a thin tanned head (although on my second bottle, an extremely aggressive pour gave me a one finger head) that leaves plenty of stringy lacing.
Aroma: Nice strong tart cherry and grape aromas with hints of vinegar and oak.
Taste: Tart cherry with hints of vinegar and grape bubblegum.
Mouthfeel: Dry, light to medium bodied with medium carbonation.
Overall: The most basic of the Rodenbach line, this was very good. It was very refreshing, nice on the palate and easy to drink.

5 - Excellent (must buy), Beer Reviews, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Belgium, Brouwerij Het Anker

Het Anker Gouden Carolus Cuvée Van De Keizer Blauw (Blue)

Sunday, 13 September 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij Het Anker
Country: Belgium
ABV: 11%
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Other Notes: Exclusively Belgian hops.

Brewer Description: (from website) Every year on the 24th of February, we celebrate the birth of Charles Quint. Therefore we brew a special beer in limited edition called Cuvée van de Keizer (‘Grand Cru of the Emperor’).

This exceptional beer is a special version of the Gouden Carolus Classic, with an enriched taste pallet and mysterious aromas added. The caramelised malts and its 11% Alc. Vol. give the Cuvée van de Keizer the warm roundness of wine together with the refreshing taste of beer.

It is imperially crowned with a cork so it can be preserved for a long period of time at a constant cellar temperature of 12° C (54°F). An imperial beer to cherish and enjoy in moderation.

My rating: 5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.56
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.5

Intro: A 750ml corked and caged bottle. 2014 vintage with a best before date of 29th April 2024. Poured into a Chimay goblet.
Appearance: The beer poured a dark brown colour with a slightly less than one finger tan head which quickly settles to a nice thin creamy layer leaving spotty lacing.
Aroma: Strong aromas of caramel and toffee, also lots of dark fruits, plum, raisin, prunes, dates, fig with hints of butter.
Taste: On the sweet side with dark fruits dominating especially plum, raisin, fig and prunes. Caramel and toffee are in the background and hints of banana and bubblegum sweetness at the finish.
Mouthfeel: Smooth and creamy, light warmness, medium bodied, light carbonation.
Overall: A very good beer that is a must buy for me. Even at 11%, you don’t taste the alcohol. Great for a late night sipper. I’m going to age a few bottles and see what happens!

1 - Poor (never again), Beer Reviews, Belgian Pale Ale, Belgium, Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck N.V.

Kasteel Hoppy

Friday, 4 September 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck N.V.
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6.5%
Style: Belgian Pale Ale

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Top fermented beer, contains barley malt.

My rating: 1
My beeradvocate.com rating: 1.92
My ratebeer.com rating: 1.9

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of November 2015 and poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: The beer poured a clear golden colour with a one finger white head that dissipated quickly leaving a very thin soapy layer and some spotty lacing.
Aroma: Starts with caramel malt and fruity orange, lemon before turning grassy, pine and a metallic iron finish.
Taste: Metallic iron overpowers everything else. Other than that though, there is some light caramel malt sweetness at the beginning and then lots of floral and herbal bitterness that lasts long into the aftertaste.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium carbonation.
Overall: Ughhh, I like hops. But this… It started off all well and good with a nice pour. It actually looked tasty. But then it all went downhill with the aroma first and then even further with the taste. I just really did not enjoy the taste at all. This one was not for me. I don’t even want to categorise this under Belgian Pale Ale…

words of another dreamy traveller