4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgian Dubbel, Belgium, Brouwerij Westvleteren (Sint-Sixtusabdij Westvleteren)

Trappist Westvleteren 8

Monday, 11 July 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij Westvleteren (Sint-Sixtusabdij Westvleteren)
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Style: Belgian Dubbel
Other Notes: Blue cap. Trappist beer

Brewer Description: Not much info on their website and obviously even less on the bottle.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.32
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a sell-by date that has unfortunately rubbed off. Poured into a Chimay goblet glass.
Appearance: It poured a dark brown colour with some small sediment bits despite a careful pour. There was a one finger beige head that had pretty good retention and eventually settled to a nice thin but puffy cap and nice curtain like lacing.
Aroma: Strong dark fruits of plum, prunes, raisin, fig with hints of dark cherry and toffee.
Taste: Like the aroma, there is lots of dark fruit with raisin, dark cherry and prunes dominating. There’s also some plum, fig, brown sugar and a touch of alcohol that’s not overpowering.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: It’s a very nice Dubbel. Great dark fruit flavours and very balanced. Interestingly though, after trying both many times, I am still leaning towards enjoying Westmalle Dubbel just that slight bit more.

5 - Excellent (must buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brasserie Cantillon, Lambic - Fruit

Cantillon Kriek

Sunday, 10 July 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brasserie Cantillon
Country: Belgium
ABV: 5%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Fruit)
Other Notes: Ingredients from organic agriculture

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Because of its complex flavour and its acidulous taste, the Kriek Cantillon is a unique and very thirst-quenching beer. The ingredients come from organic agriculture. Beer with evolving flavour. Keep and serve at cellar temperature (12-15 degrees). In order to fully appreciate the fruity taste of the Kriek Cantillon, it is recommended to drink it within one year after buying it. To be drunk preferably within ten years after the bottling date. Beer with krieken.

My rating: 5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.62
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.5

Intro: A 750ml corked and caged bottle bottled on 18th June 2015 (just over a year old) and poured into a Cantillon ballon glass.
Appearance: It poured a slightly hazy dark ruby red colour with a two finger dark pinkish-white head that dissipated fairly quickly and left only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Sweet and tart cherry with touches of strawberry. Lots of oak woodiness and only a hint of barnyard funk.
Taste: Sour, tart, cherry, lemon, oak and just a touch of funk.
Mouthfeel: Dry, light bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Wonderful, so refreshing and well balanced. I could drink this all day.

5 - Excellent (must buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brasserie Cantillon, Lambic - Fruit

Cantillon Rosé de Gambrinus

Friday, 8 July 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brasserie Cantillon
Country: Belgium
ABV: 5%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Fruit)
Other Notes: Raspberries (200 grams/litre)

Brewer Description: (from bottle) The Rose De Gambrinus Cantillon is obtained by macerating fresh raspberries in two years old Lambic. Its complex aromas and sour taste make this unique beer an excellent thirst-quencher. Keep at a temperature of 12-15 degrees and serve at 6-7 degrees. Beer with taste evolution. In order to fully appreciate the fruity taste of the Rose De Gambrinus, it is best to drink it within one year after the purchase. To be drunk preferably within ten years after the bottling date.

My rating: 5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.7
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.5

Intro: A 750ml capped and corked bottle bottled on 26th January 2016, poured into a Cantillon ballon glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear ruby red colour with a one finger pinkish white head that dissipated quickly and left only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Tart and juicy fresh raspberries with a hint of lemon, berry jam, oak and barnyard funk.
Taste: Sweet, sour and tart raspberries followed by lemon juice, oak woodiness and a hint of barnyard funk.
Mouthfeel: Crisp, dry, light bodied with moderate lively carbonation.
Overall: A great raspberry Lambic that I could drink all day. So refreshing with great balance.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project, Farmhouse Saison, USA

Crooked Stave Vieille Artisanal Saison

Wednesday, 6 July 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
Country: USA
ABV: 4.2%
Style: Belgian Saison
Other Notes: Artisan ale aged in oak barrels

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Vielle meaning “Old” is an artisanal barrel-aged Saison, lightly dry hopped.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.61
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.5

Intro: A 375ml bottle bottled in April 2015 and poured into a Cantillon ballon glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear golden orange colour with a one finger white head that dissipated quickly but left some light lacing.
Aroma: Brett, barnyard funk, lemon, tart, oak and pepper spice.
Taste: Light, everything was light. Light sourness, light tart, light lemon, light pepper, light oak and light funkiness.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Despite everything in the taste being quite light, it was still nice and refreshing.

5 - Excellent (must buy), Beer Reviews, Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project, USA, Wild Ale

Crooked Stave Progenitor

Tuesday, 5 July 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
Country: USA
ABV: 6.2%
Style: American Wild Ale

Brewer Description: (from bottle) 1. Dry hopped golden sour ale. 2. Ancestral form from which others are derived.

My rating: 5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.5
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.4

Intro: A 375ml bottle bottled in May 2015 poured into a Cantillon ballon glass.
Appearance: It poured a hazy golden colour with a big three finger white head and pretty good retention that leaves a nice ring of lacing.
Aroma: Sour, tart and very fruity with citrus grapefruit, lemon rind, orange followed by tropical mango, passion fruit and peach. There’s a hint of funk.
Taste: Like the aroma, its sour and tart. Orange and grapefruit dominate with a hint of lemon, mango and funk in the background.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with moderate to high carbonation.
Overall: Thoroughly enjoyable fruity and juicy sourness makes it very easy to drink.

words of another dreamy traveller