Category Archives: Beer Reviews

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, De Struise Brouwers, Stout - Russian Imperial

De Struise Black Damnation XIV – Talisman

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Brewery: De Struise Brouwers
Country: Belgium
ABV: 13%
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Other Notes: Bottle 769/2000, 2012 vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) A massive stout from Flanders, matured in Talisker barrels.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.15
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 750ml bottle, number 769/2000, 2012 vintage, bottled on 2nd April 2017. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a very thin brown head that disappeared almost immediately, while leaving some sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Sweet malt, chocolate, dark dried fruit, raisin, prunes, whiskey, boozy.
Taste: Lightly sweet and a touch bitter, roasted malts, chocolate, molasses, whiskey, with some light smoky, burnt sugar, and dried dark fruit notes.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Enjoyable nice sipper, but there’s less smokiness in the beer from the Talisker than I expected.

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), Beer Reviews, England, Siren Craft Brew, Sour Ale

Siren Pombango

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Brewery: Siren Craft Brew
Country: England
ABV: 8.8%
Style: Sour Ale
Other Notes: Barrel aged grapefruit & mango sour

Brewer Description: (from can) A rare treat from our barrel store, only previously available at very special events! Pombango is a bourbon barrel aged Pompelmocello, blended with mango purée and fresh Pompelmocello. The resulting beer is cocktail-esque, vibrant with tropical fruits and refreshing sourness.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.36
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.1

Intro: A 440ml can, with a best before date of 19th August 2022, poured into a winebar glass.
Appearance: A nice clear dark copper orange colour with an almost two finger white head that had decent retention and left some nice lacing.
Aroma: Sweet-ish, dark fruit, raisin, brandy, bourbon, oak, with notes of mango and even lighter notes of grapefruit peel.
Taste: Similar to the aroma, sweet and sour, dark fruit, raisin, grapes, brandy, bourbon, oak, mango, grapefruit, a little syrupy.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: I’m a little unsure about this one as I’m on and off with each sip. I think in the end, it has this sweet syrupy note, like raisins doused in sugar syrup, that I found to be too much, probably from the barrel. Maybe if it was more sour, I would have enjoyed it more.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, England, IPA - Sour, Siren Craft Brew

Siren DDH Pompelmocello

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Brewery: Siren Craft Brew
Country: England
ABV: 7.4%
Style: IPA – Sour
Other Notes: Juicy grapefruit Sour IPA

Brewer Description: (from can) An exclusive double dry hopped version of Pompelmocello. This beer is brimming with Simcoe and Talus, our favourite hops for driving pithy grapefruit notes. Grapefruit juice and zest accentuate the hoppy aromas, while a sensation of vibrant sourness, inherent sweetness and subtle bitterness all combine for a taste sensation.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.04
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 440ml can, with a best before date of 18th August 2022, poured into a winebar glass.
Appearance: A nice clear golden orange colour with an almost two finger white head that had good retention and left some nice lacing.
Aroma: Light sour, tart and tangy notes, grapefruit pith, citrus zesty, with notes of lychee.
Taste: Sweet and sour, juicy, candied grapefruit, grapefruit zest and pith, lemon zest, grass, pine, passion fruit, lychee.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: An enjoyable easy to drink sour IPA, with lots of juicy grapefruit aroma and flavours.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Brasserie Le Détour, Farmhouse Saison, France

Le Détour Saison Festival

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Brewery: Brasserie Le Détour
Country: France
ABV: 6%
Style: Farmhouse Saison

Brewer Description: (from bottle) A beer brewed for the 2021 BXL Beer Fest. Our take on the classic saison style aged in Chardonnay barrels. Diastaticus will prevail!

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.91
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 750ml bottle, with a best before date of August 2023. From the 2021 BXL BeerFest beer pack. Poured into a Holy Mountain tulip glass.
Appearance: A very nice clear golden blonde colour with an almost two finger white head that had decent retention and left lots of nice lacing.
Aroma: Brett, clove, banana bread, light Chardonnay, with floral notes.
Taste: Light funk, brett, white grape, apple, pear, a touch floral, with an interesting citrus lime peel bitter finish.
Mouthfeel: Crisp, light bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: An enjoyable and very easy drinking Saison.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Black Project Spontaneous & Wild Ales, Sour Ale, USA

Black Project Alkali

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Brewery: Black Project Spontaneous & Wild Ales
Country: USA
ABV: 7.3%
Style: Sour Ale

Brewer Description: (from can) Dry-hopped Sour Ale with white grapes and peach.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.09
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 473ml can, canned on 20th July 2021, poured into a winebar glass.
Appearance: A cloudy deep orange colour with slight pinkish notes, and a one finger white head that had decent retention, but settled to a ring around the glass while leaving some nice lacing.
Aroma: Sweet fruity, peach, muscat grape, passion fruit and mango.
Taste: Lightly sour, white grape, peach, with hints of grapefruit peel for a light bitter finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium to light bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Not too complex, but the aroma and flavours work well together, and it’s easy to drink.