3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Belgium, De Struise Brouwers, Stout - Russian Imperial

De Struise Black Albert Costa Rica Espresso

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Brewery: De Struise Brouwers
Country: Belgium
ABV: 13%
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Other Notes: Belgian Espresso stout. Vintage 2015

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Experience de Tarrazu coffee in our Black Albert. Grown in the rich volcanic soils of Costa Rica’s famed Tarrazu region, these first choice Arabica coffee cherries are ripened evenly at 1,400 to 1,600 meters, hand-picked, sun dried and then dark roasted on Struise premises for a unique taste. It will surprise you with a flavor that hints of cacao and grapefruit and an aroma of aged wood and dark chocolate. Its intensity fills the palate, then fades cheerfully. Discover why we now roast our own coffee beans.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.9
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 750ml bottle, bottled on 17th November 2016. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with no head and no lacing.
Aroma: Roasty, coffee, chocolate, caramel, plum, dark fruit, licorice, boozy, and light smoky notes.
Taste: Roasted malts, chocolate, caramel, coffee, moderately sweet, dark fruit, plum, raisins, licorice, candi sugar, and a strong boozy finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: The booziness comes through quite strong in the aroma and taste, and maybe a bit too much. I was also hoping for more or stronger coffee notes. It’s interesting, but I easily prefer the original version of Black Albert more.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brasserie Fantôme, Farmhouse Saison

Fantôme Saison Simcoe Unic Brewing

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Brewery: Brasserie Fantôme
Country: Belgium
ABV: 7.5%
Style: Belgian Saison
Other Notes: Belgian Ale brewed with spices

Brewer Description: Not much information I could find, but I assume this is Fantôme Saison hopped with Simcoe.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.84
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 750ml corked and capped bottle, bottle 215 of 650, with a best before date of end of 2022. Poured into a Holy Mountain tulip glass.
Appearance: Slow gushing upon popping the cork, it was a hazy amber orange colour, with an over two finger lively off white head that had good retention, that settled to a thick fluffy cap, and left some nice lacing.
Aroma: Grapefruit, citrus peel, grassy, saison yeast, orange, spicy, with slight barnyard notes.
Taste: Moderately sweet, orange, candied orange, saison yeast, clove, grass, honey, pepper spicy, lemon peel, lightly bitter finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium to light bodied with moderate to high carbonation.
Overall: Interesting flavours but it was perhaps just a tad bit sweet for me to enjoy it more.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Oud Beersel, Lambic - Fruit

Oud Beersel Green Walnut

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Brewery: Brouwerij Oud Beersel
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6.5%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Fruit)
Other Notes: Bottled 4 years before best before date

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Green Walnut. Beer of spontaneous fermentation, aged on oak barrels, referments in the bottle.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.98
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 750ml corked and caged bottle, 2018 vintage, with a best before date of 7th June 2022. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen gueuze glass.
Appearance: A hazy golden orange colour, with an almost two finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly, but settled to a thin cap, while leaving sparse lacing.
Aroma: Seemed a bit weak, but there’s oak, hay, barnyard, herbs, and citrus rind notes.
Taste: Sour, tart, barnyard, funky, citrus rind, lightly bitter, white wine, and light berry notes.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate to soft but spritzy carbonation.
Overall: Any walnut flavour or aroma was not clear to me, but the overall result was enjoyable with good citrus and berry flavours complementing the sour, funky and bitter notes.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Hong Kong, Stout - Imperial, Young Master Brewery

Young Master Hak Mo Sheung Double Chocolate

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Brewery: Young Master Brewery
Country: Hong Kong
ABV: 10.5%
Style: American Imperial Stout
Other Notes: 45 IBUs. Intense, chocolatey, cellar worthy

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Double chocolate Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.24
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 330ml bottle, 2020 release, with a best before date of 1st July 2025. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Dark brown to black in colour with a one finger mocha brown head that dissipated fairly quickly, while leaving only sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Chocolate, bourbon, dried dark fruit, vanilla, oak, with notes of roasted malts.
Taste: Rich milk chocolate, cocoa, bourbon, dark fruit, vanilla, oak, boozy.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: An enjoyable Imperial Stout with lots of rich chocolate and bourbon notes.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Oud Beersel, Lambic - Fruit

Oud Beersel Schaarbeekse Oude Kriek

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Brewery: Brouwerij Oud Beersel
Country: Belgium
ABV: 7%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Fruit)
Other Notes: Bottled 20 years before best before date

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Schaarbeekse Oude Kriek. Beer of spontaneous fermentation, aged on oak barrels, referments in the bottle.

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

Intro: A 750ml corked and caged bottle, 2020 vintage, with a best before date of 15th April 2040. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen stemmed glass.
Appearance: A slightly hazy deep ruby red with a purple tint, and a big three finger pinkish head that dissipated fairly quickly, while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Citrusy lemon zest, cherry, tart, with slight marzipan notes.
Taste: Lightly sweet and sour, tart, cherry, almond, marzipan, oak, lemon zest and lime.
Mouthfeel: Medium to light bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Very easy to drink with great aroma and flavours. Despite having a best before of 20 years, I preferred this fresh.

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