Category Archives: Beer Reviews

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen, Lambic - Fruit

3 Fonteinen Druif Sylvaner (Harth+Harth)

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Brewery: Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8.1%
Style: Lambic – Fruit
Other Notes: Blend°42, Season 22/23. Number of bottles – 1315

Brewer Description: (from bottle) For this Druif, we macerated Sylvaner grapes from Harth+Harth, for more than four months on an oak barrel. We used two- and three-year lambikken only, rendering the weighted average age of this blend to more than 26 months. The final fruit intensity clocks at more than 584 grams of grapes per litre. Almost 80% of the cereals for the five brews were sourced with our local farmers.

A few years ago, we started working with the most progressive low-intervention winemakers around Europe. Harth+Harth is a family-owned Demeter-certified organic winery from Saulheim in the German wine region of Rheinhessen.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.25

Intro: A 750ml corked and caged bottle, blend°42, season 22/23, bottled on 9th February 2023. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A very nice clear golden colour with a half finger white head that had pretty good retention, while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Grape must, grape skin, peach, crisp green apple, oak, with light funk.
Taste: Sour, tart, vinous, grape skin, grape pomace, apple, oak, musty, funk, and a splash of lime.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft to moderate carbonation.
Overall: Good aroma and flavours make it enjoyable and easy drinking.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Brew York, England, Stout - Milk / Sweet Imperial

Brew York Empress Tonkoko BA Heaven Hill

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Brewery: Brew York
Country: England
ABV: 10.6%
Style: Stout – Milk / Sweet Imperial
Other Notes: State of Mind Edition 2024. Heaven Hill BA, Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Coconut & Cacao Imperial Milk Stout

Brewer Description: (from can) Brewed and released just once a year, each Barrel Aged Empress Tonkoko release spends at least 12 months in a unique selection of barrels. Heaven Hill Bourbon was selected to add a caramel sweetness, subtle rye spice, and rich oak to add depth to an already deeply decadent beer.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.16

Intro: A 330ml can, 2024 State of Mind Edition (not sure what this means), with a best before date of 27th November 2026. Poured into whatever glass I could find at the hotel.
Appearance: Black in colour with a one finger beige head that had good retention, and left some nice lacing.
Aroma: Dessert, coconut flakes, vanilla, caramel, tonka beans, nutty, toasted almonds, dark chocolate.
Taste: Light roast, chocolate, caramel, vanilla, coconut, bourbon, tonka, nutty, boozy, and a light spiciness on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: An enjoyable sipper with a very nice aroma.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Belgium, De Struise Brouwers, Winter Warmer

De Struise Tsjeeses Reserva Bourbon Barrel Aged

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Brewery: De Struise Brouwers
Country: Belgium
ABV: 10%
Style: Winter Warmer
Other Notes: 2014 Vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Belgian X-Mas Ale, bourbon barrel aged.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 330ml bottle, 2014 vintage, bottled on 9th November 2016. Poured into whatever glass I could find at the hotel.
Appearance: A cloudy copper brown colour, with a thin half finger tanned head, that dissipated fairly quickly, while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Sweet, candi sugar, plum, raisin, toffee, caramel, toasted bread, chocolate, oak, and bourbon.
Taste: Moderately sweet, plum, raisin, candi sugar, toffee, bourbon, oak, and a touch boozy and spicy on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Good aroma and interesting flavours. I preferred the Port BA version more than this Bourbon BA version, but it could very well be that I let this one age for too long.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgian Strong Pale Ale, Belgium, De Dolle Brouwers

De Dolle Stille Nacht Reserva 2021

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Brewery: De Dolle Brouwers
Country: Belgium
ABV: 12%
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale
Other Notes: 2021 vintage

Brewer Description: As far as I could work out for the 2021, Stille Nacht aged for 2 years in barrels that once held red wine.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.13

Intro: A 330ml bottle, 2021 vintage, bottled in June 2023. Poured into whatever glass I could find at the hotel.
Appearance: A hazy golden dark orange colour, with a thin white head that dissipated quickly, while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Boozy, brandy soaked pineapple, apple juice, orange zest, oak, vanilla, with a brandy finish.
Taste: Sweet, orange, marmalade, pineapple, apricot, vinous, oak, vanilla, brandy.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: An enjoyable sipper with an especially wonderful aroma and strong barrel character.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Lambic - Fruit, Pellicle Vergistingen

Pellicle Collision: Gelber Muskateller

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Brewery: Pellicle Vergistingen
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Style: Lambic – Fruit
Other Notes: 2024 vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) This beer is a blend of 1 & 2 year old lambics and our very first self brewed beer from 2,5 years old. It was macerated on Gelber Muskateller grapes from Nahe, Germany and blended with 30% of wine made from the same grapes. Aged on ex-Bordeaux barrels.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.49

Intro: A 750ml corked and capped bottle, with a best before date of May 2027. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A mostly clear golden colour with a one finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly to a ring around the glass, while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Lightly tart, yellow stone fruit, peach, apricot, sweet fleshy white wine grapes, citrus orange notes, with some vinous notes.
Taste: Sour, tart, white wine grapes, yellow stone fruit, apricot, nectarines, citrusy, orange peel, a touch of honey, and light vinous notes with a slight funk on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with soft to moderate carbonation.
Overall: Great aroma and flavours, and just drinks really well.