Tag Archives: belgium

Steve’s Beer Advent Calendar Day 11 – Chimay – Red

by steveeh

From Belgium I have the Chimay Strong Ale.

It pours a cloudy baked cake brown that allows very little light through.  The carbonation is noticeable but lazy with bubbles almost meandering to the top to join the very white head of medium bubbles.

The nose has banana, clove and a fruity ester.

The flavours again show banana and a an acrid mineral quality which actually mellows the banana nicely.  The carbonation is sharp on the tongue and very noticeable because of the very light body.

Commercial Description:

The Chimay Red is the oldest of the Chimays. Its coppery color and sweet, fruity taste make it a particularly tasty dark ale.

Steve’s Beer Advent Calendar Day 8 – Houblon Chouffe – Brasserie d’Achouffe

by steveeh

From Belgiums Brasserie d’Achouffe we have Houblon Chouffe.

This beer pours a slightly hazy … honestly it’s the colour of sour mandarin orange gummy candy. The head is fluffy, snowy white like a good powder day on the ski hill.

The nose has sour mandarin as well. A slight hay smell and fresh grass are quite inviting.

The hop bitterness really leads the flavours. Sour mandarin comes behind and there are nice floral notes of earl grey tea. The carbonation is noticeable on the tongue but not pushy.

Commercial description:

“The gnomes of Fairyland may be little, but they have big, very big, personalities. HOUBLON CHOUFFE matches their impish spirits. All gnomes, with their innate good taste, are in full agreement about HOUBLON CHOUFFE, which is flavoured by three different types of hops. This India Pale Ale is appreciated for its pronounced bitterness combined with the fruity tones of traditional Achouffe beers: it softens the strongest of characters.”

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.

Pumpkin Lambicus – Timmermans

by Mike

From Timmermans in Belgium comes their “Pumpkin Lambicus” a pumpkin lambic.  I don’t rush out for pumpkin beers like I used to but when I saw a pumpkin sour I had to check it out.  The beer pours an orange colour with a tan head.  The aroma consists of a lambic funk, sweetness, mild pumpkin and a hint of bready malts.  The flavour is of fruit, pumpkin and pumpkin spices, lambic funk and some cinnamon.  The alcohol content comes in at 4%.  I was not expecting much with this beer but I was curious.  I was happy to see that this was actually quite good and I would not hesitate to pick it up again.

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C-DOS Cuvée Delphine On Steroids aka Pablo Eiscobar – De Struise Brouwers

by Mike

Some times you get a chance to try out some very interesting and rare beers and this is one of those.  From De Struise Brouwers in Belgium comes their “C-DOS (Cuvée Delphine On Steroids aka Pablo Eiscobar” a Double Eisbocked version of Cuvée Delphine.  This version was brewed in 2010 and aged for 5 years in Arran Lochranza barrels.  The beer pours a very deep brown colour with no head or carbonation and some sediment.  The aroma consists of bourbon, chocolate, treacle, licorice, dark fruit, oak and lots of booze.  The flavour is alcohol up front and lots of it with bourbon, oak, chocolate, treacle, licorice, dark fruits, some nuts, peat and cherries.  The alcohol content comes in at an insane 41% and is very very thick!  This beer drinks like a bourbon but this is no surprise as the beer comes in at the same alcohol content as a bourbon.  If you do not like spirits then this beer is a total miss for you but if you do and you find a bottle then it is something you need to try.  But this will cost you a serious pretty penny.

Bottled on 11/08/2015
lot number CDOS 0002/2015

Drank 10/13/2016

Here is a link to the base beer description: Click Here

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