Category Archives: Beer Reviews

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

Tilquin Oude Airelle Sauvage À l’ancienne

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Brewery: Gueuzerie Tilquin
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6.5%
Style: Lambic – Fruit
Other Notes: 2021-2022

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Beer of spontaneous fermentation, the Old Airelle Sauvage Tilquin is made from the fermentation of 125g of lingonberries by liter of lambic. Unfiltered and unpasteurized, this beer is refermented in the bottle.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.38
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A 750ml corked and caged bottle, with a neck label of 2021-2022, and a best before date of 17th June 2032. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A hazy orangey-red colour with a two finger white head that had good retention and left lots of nice lacing.
Aroma: Tart, musty, dusty, funky, mixed red berries, oak, with notes of green apple.
Taste: Tart, mixed red berries, lemon juice, oak, green apple, and funk.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: I’m not familiar with lingonberries, but there is balanced fruity red berry aroma and flavours with good funky notes, and a great mouthfeel.

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

De Struise Black Damnation III – Black Mess

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Brewery: De Struise Brouwers
Country: Belgium
ABV: 13%
Style: Stout – Russian Imperial
Other Notes: 72 IBUs

Brewer Description: (from bottle) A Belgian Royal Stout from Flanders aged for 2 yrs in peated whisky barrels.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.23
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 330ml bottle, bottled on 14th January 2021, with a best before date of +5 years, poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a thin tanned head that dissipated to a ring around the glass while leaving some spotty lacing.
Aroma: Light roast, chocolate, black coffee, wood, whisky, with notes of dried dark fruit, raisin, fig, and maybe just a splash of peat.
Taste: Light to moderate sweet malty, whisky, dried dark fruit, raisin, prunes, light roast, chocolate, coffee, with some light bitterness on the backend.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: An enjoyable sipper with balanced aromas and flavours, but for being aged 2 years in peated whisky barrels, there is a distinct lack of any peat.

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

De Struise Black Damnation I – Blackberry Albert

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Brewery: De Struise Brouwers
Country: Belgium
ABV: 13%
Style: Stout – Russian Imperial
Other Notes: 72 IBUs

Brewer Description: (from bottle) A Belgian Royal Stout ale from Flanders matured on black currants & Red Port barrels.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.46
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.4

Intro: A 330ml bottle, bottled on 9th November 2022, with a best before date of +5 years, poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a thin beige head that had pretty good retention and dissipated to a ring around the glass while leaving small spotty lacing.
Aroma: Light roasty, chocolate, sweet berries, blackberries, woody, nutty, with light caramel notes.
Taste: Sweet malty, light roast, berry sweetness, blackberries, blueberries, chocolate, coffee, boozy, a touch nutty, and some bitter notes.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: A very enjoyable sipper with restrained sweetness, and balanced aromas and flavours.

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

De Struise Black Damnation X – Double Wood

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Brewery: De Struise Brouwers
Country: Belgium
ABV: 15%
Style: Stout – Russian Imperial
Other Notes: 72 IBUs

Brewer Description: (from bottle) A Belgian Royal Stout from Flanders aged for 2 yrs in Balvenie whisky barrels.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.25
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 330ml bottle, bottled on 4th May 2021, with a best before date of +5 years, poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a thin beige head that dissipated into a ring around the glass, while leaving tiny spotty lacing.
Aroma: Roasted malts, chocolate, coffee grounds, dark fruit, raisin, fig, whisky, light notes of caramel and vanilla, and a touch nutty.
Taste: Caramel malt, roasty, chocolate, black coffee, whisky, dark fruit, plum, fig, wood, and some lingering char on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Despite the high ABV%, it wasn’t noticeable and it was just an enjoyable sipper with great aromas and flavours.

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

Cantillon Racine

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Brewery: Brasserie Cantillon
Country: Belgium
ABV: 7%
Style: Lambic – Fruit

Brewer Description: (from bottle) A collaboration between Radikon & Cantillon. A blend with the pomace of Chardonnay, Tokay, Sauvignon Blanc grapes and 2 year old lambic.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.13
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 750ml corked and capped bottle, 2022 vintage, bottled on 7th February 2022. Poured into a Cantillon ballon glass.
Appearance: A slightly hazy golden straw yellow colour, with a thin half finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly, while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Fruity, tart, grape skin, rose apple, pear, lemon zest, with funky notes.
Taste: Sour, tart, fruity, grape skin, rose apple, pear, lemon zest, with light mineral notes and funk.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Definitely some interesting flavours coming through, but I think not one of my favourites among the Cantillon grape lambics.