Category Archives: Belgian Pale Ale

Farm Table: Patersbier – Beau’s All Natural Brewing

by Mike

From Beau’s All Natural Brewing in Vankleek Hill Ontario comes their “Farm Table: Patersbier”.  The beer pours a mildly cloudy golden colour with a white head.  The aroma consists of grainy malts, yeast, earth and citrus.  The flavour is of bready and grainy malts, yeast, citrusy lemon, herbal and leafy hops and mild bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 4.7% and an IBU of 22.  This session ale has quite a bit of flavour and is nice to see as so many really don’t.

Commercial Description:  Beau’s Farm Table Series are sessionable beers inspired by tradition and brewed true to a classic style. Patersbier is a refreshing Belgian-style ale, both bright and cloudy at once. This subtly sweet and floral beer makes a great companion to a spring afternoon in the backyard; or for a summer evening as the sun sets and the ninth inning wraps up.

Food Pairing as per brewery:  Hot & sour soup with chicken and tofu; chicken braised with Patersbier, grain mustard & herbs with spaetzle; Nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice); bloomy rind brie-style cheeses.

 

Belgian Pale Ale – Old Abbey Ales

by Mike

From Old Abbey Ales in Abbotsford comes their “Belgian Pale Ale” part of their Innovation Series.  The beer pours a copper colour with an off white head.  The aroma consists of barnyard funk, tropical fruits, spices and floral hops.  The flavour is of barnyard funk, tropical fruits, citrus rind, blood orange, cinnamon, vanilla, earth, mild bitterness with a mild sweet finish.  The alcohol content comes in at 6.4% with an IBU of 33.  While the first thing you would expect from a Belgian Pale Ale is not Brettanomyces this beer does a great job of surprising you with tasty flavours.

Commercial Description:  Cinnamon spice combines with blood orange, papaya and a hint of vanilla.  The use of Brettanomyces Bruxellensis as a secondary yeast means the beer has a note of barnyard funk.

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Spencer Trappist Ale – The Spencer Brewery

by Mike

North America has its first Official Trappist Brewery in Spencer Massachusetts.  “Spencer Trappist Ale” was brewed by The Spencer Brewery at the St Joseph’s Abbey.  The beer pours a cloudy orange with a white head and some sediment.  The aroma consists of fruit, yeast, sweetness and some malts notes.  The flavour is of yeast, pepper, fruit and some good caramel notes.  The alcohol content comes in at 6.5%.  While not one of the most exciting Trappist ales it is still quite tasty and supports a great cause.

Commercial Description:  Our recipe was inspired by the traditional refectory ales known as patersbier (“fathers’ beer” in Flemish). These sessionable beers are brewed by the monks for their dinner table and are typically only available at the monastery. Spencer is a full-bodied, golden-hued ale with fruity accents, a dry finish and light hop bitterness. The beer is unfiltered and unpasteurized, preserving live yeast that naturally carbonates the beer in the bottle and keg, and contributes to the beer flavor and aroma.

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Matilda 2015 – Goose Island Beer Company

by Mike

From Goose Island Beer Company out of Chicago Illinois comes their “Matilda” 2015 a Belgian Style Pale Ale barrel aged with Brettanomyces. Matilda pours a golden colour with a white head. The aroma consists of big fruit notes like lemon, yeast, caramel and some floral hops. The flavour is of very juicy fruit notes of lemon and oranges, yeast, coriander, spices, grassy, citrus rind, mild bitterness with a hint of funk in the finish. The beer has an alcohol content of 7% and an IBU Of 26. This is a really good beer!

Commercial Description:  Inspired by great Trappist ales, our complex Belgian Style Pale Ale is fermented with the wild yeast Brettanomyces. Matilda pours a golden sunrise color with dried fruit and clove aromas, a spicy yeast flavor, and a satisfying dry finish.
According to legend, a grateful Countess Matilda founded a monastery where, over centuries, monks have been brewing ale unique in character. While in Belgium, we were inspired by the story and the monks’ beer. We returned to Chicago and brewed our homage – a Belgian Style Pale Ale named Matilda.

Food pairing as per brewery:  Matilda pairs with many foods. Its spicy yeast flavors complement fresh mussels and contrast rich pork belly.
 Camembert, Washed Rind Cheeses.

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The Trinity Series – Half Pints Brewing

by Mike

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Half Pints Brewing from Winnipeg Manitoba has created a new mixed 6 pack called the “Trinity Series”.  The series includes 3 different beers called The Father (Belgian Dubbel), The Son (Belgian Pale) and the Holy Spirit (Belgian Wit).  The religious overtone of this set probably ties in with the fact that Belgium has so many Trappist Monasteries that brew beer.

The Father (Belgian Dubbel)

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The beer pours a deep copper colour with a tan head.  The aroma consists of dark fruit, earth, malts and yeast.  The flavour is of earth, dark fruits, sweet brown sugar, caramel, roasted malts, some mild bitterness and a very dry finish.  The alcohol content comes in at 7.2% and an IBU of 20.  This was my favourite of the three beer in the series as it was a pretty good representation of a style that I really enjoy.

Commercial Description:  Brewed in the Belgian Dubbel style, The Father is our first beer in the Half Pints Holy Trinity series. Brewed using divine inspiration and a combination of Vienna, Dark Crystal, and Biscuit malts, this full bodied ale is hopped with Czech Saaz and Styrian Goldings. The special yeast strain we have used creates the aroma of ripe fruit while an addition of Demerara sugar creates a dry finish which Monastic brewers say lends a “digestible” quality to the beer. Try it with Manitoba Trappist Cheese or with a simple family dinner of baked ham, scalloped potatoes, and honey glazed carrots. Serve at 8 degrees celcius in a wide mouthed chalice. Unfiltered. 20 IBUs.

The Son (Belgian Pale)

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The beer poured a cloudy amber colour with an off white head.  The aroma consists of malts, fruit and Belgian yeast.  The flavour is of banana, mild dark fruits, yeast, malts and some mild bitterness in the finish.  The alcohol content comes in at 5.2% with an IBU of 22.

Commercial Description:  Brewed with divine inspiration and a combination of pale 2-row, Vienna, and medium crystal malts, this snappy ale is finished with East Kent Goldings and Czech Saaz hops. A special blend of yeast strains creates a malty, fruity aroma with a decidedly spicy finish. Try it with the Belgian classic mussels and pomme frites or falafel, fresh pita, and roasted garlic Tzaziki. Serve at 6 C. in a wide mouthed chalice. Unfiltered. 22 IBUs.

The Holy Spirit (Belgian Wit)

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The beer pours a golden colour with a white head.  The aroma consists of yeast, wheat, citrus and a bit bready.  The flavour is of yeast, wheat, bready, citrus and a mild sweetness.  The alcohol content comes in at 4.8% with an IBU of 19.  This beer was well crafted and quite refreshing.

Commercial Description:  Brewed with divine inspiration and a combination of pale 2-row, raw wheat, and oats, this ale is steeped with a complex blend of spices including coriander, Curacao orange peels, and Kaffir lime leaves. It is hopped with Centennial and Czech Saaz for a citrus flower finish. Beneath the bright white head, the cloudy golden body holds a surprising depth of flavours with pepper, grapefruit, and a vibrant acidity. Serve at 6 C. in a tumbler. Unfiltered. 19 IBUs.

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This was a very interesting project and I was quite happy to be able to sample one of the 6 packs myself.  Keep up the good work Half Pints! I also love the fact that they had a beautiful glass made up for this series that was available for purchase at the brewery.

Commercial Description for 6 pack:  Brewed with divin inspiration, Half Pints Trinity series is a beer lover’s pilgrimage into the variety and complexity of Belgian beer.  Using a special yeast blend from two distinct Belgian monasteries we created The Father, a strong and fruity Belgian Dubbel.  We then harvested the yeast from The Father which begat The Son, a snappy Belgian Pale.  This same yeast concoction was then taken from The Son and used once again which begat The Holy Spirit, a heavenly spice Belgian Witbier.  On the Seventh day, we tested.