Tag Archives: belgium

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Belgian Strong Pale Ale, Belgium, Brewer, Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV

Duvel

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Brewery: Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8.5%
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale

Brewer Description: (from website) Duvel is a natural beer with a subtle bitterness, a refined flavour and a distinctive hop character. The unique brewing process, which takes 90 days, guarantees a pure character, delicate effervescence and a pleasant sweet taste of alcohol.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.78
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 330ml bottle dated best before November 2015 and poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: The beer poured a slightly hazy golden straw yellow colour with maybe just under a two finger creamy white head that dissipated slowly leaving nice stringy lacing.
Aroma: Main aromas of citrus lemon and banana with slight funk followed by some lighter grassy and flowery smells.
Taste: Starts with bitter, tart and slightly sour citrus lemon, pear and apple followed by banana and honey sweetness.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with high carbonation and a dry finish.
Overall: Overall this was not a bad beer. But if I was to compare to others in this style, off the top of my head I do prefer both Delirium Tremens and La Chouffe before Duvel and unfortunately for Duvel, both of them are as widely available in Hong Kong.

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5 - Excellent (must buy), Beer Reviews, Belgian Dubbel, Belgium, S.A. Bières de Chimay

Chimay Première (Red)

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Brewery: S.A. Bières de Chimay
Country: Belgium
ABV: 7%
Style: Dubbel
Other Notes: Trappist beer. Ale is brewed at Scourmont Abbey

Brewer Description: (from bottle) The <> logo certifies that this ale is brewed in a Trappist Abbey and that the majority of sales income is intended for social aid. Chimay Red will win you over with its fruity taste accompanied by a slight bitterness.

My rating: 5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.64
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.5

Intro: This was a 330ml bottle that was dated best before end of 2018 and poured into a Chimay goblet.
Appearance: It pours a very hazy brown colour with a very nice thick cream coloured two finger head that dissipates very slowly but when it does, leaves a nice curtain lacing.
Aroma: Aromas are fruity, mainly of dark fruits like plum, cherry, and fig. There is also some pear, apple and candied sugar and a hint of nuttiness.
Taste: Fruity cherry and plum upfront with hints of banana and pear. There’s also some light malt caramel and bready sweetness followed by a nice light bitter finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth creamy and slightly sticky.
Overall: Admittedly, I used to think that this was just ok but I’ve grown to enjoy this beer the more I drink it. When I first tried it maybe ten years ago, Chimay Blue was far and away better and so I mostly bought that. However, clearly my taste changed and the last few years Chimay Red became one of my staple beers.

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4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Belgium, Brasserie d'Achouffe

d’Achouffe Mc Chouffe

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Brewery: Brasserie d’Achouffe
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Brewer Description: (from website) Mc CHOUFFE is an unfiltered brown beer which is refermented both in the bottle and in barrels. Its fruity bouquet conceals a hint of bitterness.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.57
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.4

Intro: A 330ml bottle dated best before September 2016 poured into a Chimay goblet.
Appearance: It poured a medium to dark brown with a slight reddish tint. One finger creamy tanned head with nice looking bubbles that dissipated slowly leaving nice stringy lacing.
Aroma: Main aromas of dark fruits of fig and raisins along with some pear and grapes. As it warms, the grape smell became really prominent.
Taste: Strong tastes of dark candied fruits, plum, fig, grapes and raisins with hints of caramel and brown sugar.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium to high carbonation.
Overall: Overall, this was very good. Both the smell and flavours actually improve as it gets warmer. It is not too sweet and I especially enjoyed the dark fruit flavours. This is so close to being a must buy beer for me.

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3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Belgian Tripel, Belgium, Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle

Westmalle Tripel

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Brewery: Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle
Country: Belgium
ABV: 9.5%
Style: Tripel
Other Notes: As per the website, the larger 75cl bottles mature differently to the 33cl bottles. They say that in the larger bottles, the fruit flavours are softer, riper and there’s also a hint of vanilla.

Brewer Description: (from Westmalle website) Westmalle Tripel is a clear, golden yellow Trappist beer that undergoes a secondary fermentation in the bottle (9,5% alcohol). It is a complex beer with a fruity aroma and a nice nuanced hop scent. It is soft and creamy in the mouth, with a bitter touch carried by the fruity aroma. An exceptional beer, with a great deal of finesse and elegance. And with a splendid long aftertaste.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.68
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: The 33cl bottle had a best before date of 23rd July 2016 and was poured into a Chimay goblet.
Appearance: It poured a hazy golden straw colour with a white head that dissipates fairly quickly leaving thin soapy like lacing.
Aroma: There were aromas of bready malts, caramelised banana, candied sugar, slight bubblegum ending with lemon sour?
Taste: Tastes of sweet bready malts, orange, pear maybe some lingering banana ending with some slight alcohol.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with nice carbonation. Creamy and also somewhat sticky.
Overall: This was a decent tripel. The best thing about it was its look especially the thin soapy lacing. The taste itself was decent, but nothing too special either.

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2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), Beer Reviews, Belgian Tripel, Belgium, S.A. Bières de Chimay

Chimay Triple (White)

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Brewery: S.A. Bières de Chimay
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Style: Tripel
Other Notes: Trappist beer. Ale is brewed at Scourmont Abbey

Brewer Description: (from bottle) The <> logo certifies that this ale is brewed in a Trappist Abbey and that the majority of sales income is intended for social aid. Chimay Triple stands out thanks to its flavours of hops and fresh yeast.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.2
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.27

Intro: 330ml bottle dated best before end of 2017 and poured into a Chimay goblet.
Appearance: It poured a hazy copper colour with a two finger cream head that has good retention leaving a thick curtain lacing.
Aroma: Initial aromas of apple, pear and bready malts followed by a sweet banana and honey finish.
Taste: Surprisingly strong alcohol taste, but also sweet candied sugar, banana, bread malts and some light apple and pear flavours.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium carbonation and a creamy feel.
Overall: I’m a big fan of Chimay, but this was not one of the better tripel beers. Ultimately I thought that it was too boozy and everything just kind of got lost behind that.

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