Category Archives: Belgian Ale

Anno 2017 – Dageraad Brewing

by Mike

From Dageraad Brewing out of Burnaby BC comes their “Anno 2017″  a Strong Golden Ale brewed with Okanagan Pear and Coriander and conditioned with Brettanomyces.  The beer pours a cloudy golden colour with a white head.  The aroma consists of pear, mild funk, yeast and floral hops.  The flavour is of pears, coriander, citrus rind, spice, yeast, mild funk and a bitterness that round it out.  The alcohol content comes in at 8.5%.  This is a great beer every year but this years addition of Brettanomyces Claussenii will ensure this beer ages amazingly well and changes over time.  This bottle conditioned beer is already tasting amazing though.

Commercial Description:  Our annual celebratory year-end beer is slightly different this year. As always, it is a strong, golden ale brewed with Okanagan pears and Indian coriander. But this year, we have added Brettanomyces claussenii, a strain of yeast that brings funky, fruity flavours to the beer and slowly develops over time in the bottle, preserving the freshness of the beer and adding layers of complexity as it ages. Anno 2017 is refermented in the bottle, so pour with care to leave the yeast sediment in the bottle.

 

Steve’s Beer Advent Calendar Day 4 – Blonde – Abdij Van St Martin

by steveeh

From Brasserie de Brunehaut for Abdij Van St Martin, Brunehaut, Belgium is their Blonde.

Pouring a cloudy, vibrant orange, there are noticeable suspended particles stationary in the beer though no visible carbonation. The head is thin, white with an orange tinge.

The nose is floral and vanilla with orange blossom. A little bit of grain at the end.

The flavours are effervescent and flit by quickly on the tongue while maintaining complexity. There is a base of lager-y, Molson-like “beer” flavour with a vanilla and honey sweetness to add balance and interest. There is a mineral bitterness to counter the sweet and the finish is of bitter orange.

Commercial description:

  • Look: A golden straw colour, with a strong foam once opened then the bubbles gently rise to the top and a good head remains.
  • Nose: Sharp, lively and nervous, fermentation with a touch reminiscent of a flowery cheese.
  • In the mouth: A round, balance and full flavour. In the mouth it is floral, elegant and direct, almost feminine. A great beer that perfectly suits cheeses with a hard crust or some fine Bries and Camemberts.
  • The aftertaste has a noble bitterness.

Zombie Repellant Ale 2 (ZRA2) – Category 12 Brewing

by Mike

From Victoria’s Category 12 Brewing comes their “Zombie Repellant Ale 2″ or ZRA2.  This beer is their answer to the Pumpkin ale as they do not seem to like them.  The beer pours a deep copper colour with a tan head.  The aroma consists of caramel, toffee, dark fruity notes, candied sugar, earth and some floral hops.  The flavour is of Belgian yeast, spices, toffee, caramel, dark fruit, citrus, candied sugar, citrus rind, resin and some leafy hops.  The alcohol content comes in at 5.8% with an IBU of 24.  This Anti-Pumpkin beer is really tasty and I will have to get some more of it.

Commercial Description:   Our 2017 ZRA 2 is a Belgian-inspired red ale with a fruit forward aroma, full body and hints of spice from both our Belgian yeast and aromatic hop selections.  In the middle of the night, when all evidence of light has faded, that’s when they come. Be vigilant, be prepared. The throngs of pumpkin beer loving hoards can’t keep you from what you really want… Zombie Repellant Ale. Our ZRA will increase your resolve to fight through the zombie hoards.  Guaranteed to contain no pumpkin.

Belgian Style Blonde Ale – Trading Post Brewing

by Mike

From Trading Post Brewing in Langley comes their “Belgian Style Blonde Ale”.  The beer pours a golden colour with an off white to tan head.  The aroma consists of Belgian yeast, banana, clove, spices and sweetness.  The flavour is of bubble gum, banana, fruity, sugary, clove and spices.  The alcohol content comes in at 7.1% with an IBU of 16.  I don’t really have a sweet tooth and this beer was a bit too sweet for me.  This is a serious desert beer.

Strathcona Gold – Strathcona Beer Company

by Mike

From Strathcona Beer Company in Vancouver comes their “Strathcona Gold” a Belgian Ale.  The beer pours an copper colour with a white head.  The aroma consists of caramel, bubblegum, fruits and yeast.  The flavour is of caramel malts, yeast, fruit, bubblegum, sugar, with some alcohol and bitterness in the flavour.  The alcohol content comes in at 6.6% with an IBU of 32.  This beer is on the the sweeter side for me but if you enjoy a beer that sits more on that side you should enjoy this one.

Commercial Description:  The Belgian Gold is a complex and powerful ale but the flavouring is still delicate, made up of fruit, spice and estery tastes. The aroma is also spicey and fruity that comes from the Tettnanger hops, part of the Czech Saaz hops family.