Tag Archives: belgium

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), Beer Reviews, Belgian Dubbel, Belgium, Brouwerij Haacht NV

Tongerlo Brune

Wednesday, 4 May 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij Haacht NV
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6.5%
Style: Belgian Dubbel

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Abbey beer brewed with the approval of the Norbertins of Tongerlo. This beer was refermented in the bottle for a more refined aroma and a broader, richer taste palette. Contains barley malt.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.04
My ratebeer.com rating: 3

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of 7th November 2016 and poured into a Chimay goblet glass.
Appearance: It poured a reddish brown colour with a one finger beige head that had good retention and settled down to a creamy puffy layer with good lacing.
Aroma: Light plum, banana and some metal mineral-ness.
Taste: Started pretty decent with plum, brown sugar, raisin, caramel and banana. But for some reason, the finish is a little watery.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with medium carbonation.
Overall: Looks great, but the minerally aroma and the watery finish didn’t help the beer.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Belgium, Brouwerij Huyghe

Delirium Nocturnum

Thursday, 17 March 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij Huyghe
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8.5%
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Other Notes: Triple fermentation

Brewer Description: (from website) Initially, a very good mouthfeel of alcohol and softness. This is followed by an increasing bitterness, partially from the hop, but also from the roasted malt and chocolate malt. Towards the end a nice balance between bitterness, sour and sweet.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.06
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before end date of April 2016 poured into a Chimay goblet glass.
Appearance: It poured a cloudy dark brown colour with a one finger tanned head that dissipated fairly quickly to a nice thin fluffy layer leaving some nice lacing.
Aroma: Strong dark fruits of raisin, plum, prunes, grape, dates and a hint of caramel.
Taste: Much like the aroma, there is strong sweet plum, raisin and prunes at the start. Sweet candied sugar and caramel midway. Before a light bitter finish with the alcohol coming through.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and high carbonation.
Overall: This was nice and fruity but could be even better if the alcohol was hidden more.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Rodenbach N.V., Flanders Red Ale

Rodenbach Grand Cru

Tuesday, 15 March 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij Rodenbach N.V.
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6%
Style: Flanders Red Ale
Other Notes: Rodenbach Grand Cru is a blend of “young” ale (33%) and ale that has matured for two years (67%)

Brewer Description: (from website) Grand Cru by Rodenbach has on average been left for much longer in the oak casks (“foeders”) of the Roeselare “beer cathedral”, which results in a more pronounced version of the “Flanders Red-Brown Beer” style. Rodenbach Grand Cru consists of 1/3 young beer and 2/3 beer matured two years in oak. The result is a complex beer with a great deal of wood and esters, vinous and with a very long aftertaste, just like a Grand Cru wine.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.47
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.4

Intro: A corked and caged 750ml bottle with a best before date of 18th March 2016. Poured into a Cantillon ballon glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear dark amber brown colour with a thin tanned head that dissipated quickly but left nice stringy lacing.
Aroma: Tart, cherry, grape, green apple and vinegar.
Taste: Tart cherry, grape soda, grape, oak with some light caramel.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with medium to high carbonation.
Overall: A wonderfully tart and fruity beer that is well balanced.

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

De Struise Tsjeeses Reserva Port Barrel Aged

Saturday, 26 December 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: De Struise Brouwers
Country: Belgium
ABV: 10%
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale
Other Notes: 2013 Vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Belgian X-Mas Ale.

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

Intro: A 330ml bottle of 2013 vintage, bottled on July 2014 with a best before date of 15th August 2019 and poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: It poured a cloudy dark orange bronze colour with a fluffy two finger light tanned head with good retention that leaves nice spotty lacing.
Aroma: Sweet and fruity plum, apple, grape, fig and red wine with hints of caramel and vanilla.
Taste: Sweet apples, orange, port, grapes with oak woody notes and caramel malts.
Mouthfeel: Very rich, medium bodied with medium but strong prickly carbonation.
Overall: I wish I had the original non barrel aged version of this to compare to. However, this Port BA version is very good. Even at 10% the alcohol is well hidden and being Port BA I was a bit worried that it would be too sweet but its actually at a good level. A great barrel aged Belgian Strong Pale Ale that I would get again next year!

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgian Quadrupel, Belgium, Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale

Friday, 25 December 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV
Country: Belgium
ABV: 10%
Style: Belgian Quadrupel

Brewer Description: (from website) St.Bernardus Christmas Ale is a dark seasonal brewed in the classic ‘Quadrupel’ style of Belgium’s best Abbey Ales. (10,0 % ABV) Similar to all the beers from our brewery, it greets the drinker with the signature aroma of the St.Bernardus house yeast strain (in use since 1946!) Rivaling the complexity of the St.Bernardus Abt 12, St,Bernardus Christmas Ale offers a spicy, mint-like flavour profile exuding the tastes of warming alcohol, fermented molasses, apricots, licorice and marzipan that are highlighted by the perfect balance of brewing sugars.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.17
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of 30th July 2018, poured into a Chimay goblet glass.
Appearance: It poured a dark brown colour with a two finger creamy puffy beige head that dissipated slowly to a nice half finger puffy cap that gives nice curtain like lacing.
Aroma: Nice dark fruit cherry, plum, prunes and raisin with hints of apple, banana and spice pepper.
Taste: Much like the aromas, there’s candied sugar, apricot, cherry, fig, plum and hints of banana. Caramel and toffee comes out as it warms. The alcohol is there but does not affect the taste and is slightly stronger when warm.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium bodied with mid to high carbonation.
Overall: Not quite Abt 12 but it is still a great beer from this Trappist brewery that I would buy again next year.

words of another dreamy traveller