SMISJE SPECIAAL

Seeing today is Halloween it seems only right to open something that fits the bill, a pumpkin beer pherhaps? Well for me there is only one and yes it's from my favourite brewery Smisje (now Smiske) sadly though it's one that Johan no longer brews (fingers crossed for a revival)

Older bottle on left (will I open it?)  Recent bottle on right 

Smisje Speciaal pours a very cloudy, caramel colour with a large bubbly off white head that slowly falls to leave behind a constant, creamy, finger width covering.

Aroma is simply wonderful, first you get spices (clove, nutmeg) then lots of fruits (pears, bananas) along with herbs then a sweet, almost caramel / toffee roundness. Do I get pumpkin? well there is an earthy / musky edge to it......could that be the magical ingredient?

                                                                            

Taste.......YES! You can detect pumpkin - that sweet, earthy, musty note, again spices fill you taste buds (almost black pepper) sweet malts carry the flavour along with a light citrus edge that provides the perfect balance. Alcohol is detected on the finish (this beer is 10.5% ABV) but not burning just a nice glow, it really is amazing just how drinkable this beer is.

Smisje continue to excite me and their retired beers continue to amaze me.


http://www.smisje.be/

PATRASCHE

Next up a beer brewed by De Proefbrouwerij for brouwerij de Arend in Hoboken, Patrasche is named after the dog in the story "A Dog of Flanders"

Pours a dark nut brown with a slight red hue, topped with large, creamy tan coloured head that slowly fades, leaving behind a lasting centimetre covering.

Pleasant aroma of sweet roasted malts, brown sugar, dried fruits, hints of liquorice and faint chocolate notes. Taste is sweet and fruity with roasted malts, dark fruits, caramel, raisin also a slight oak bitterness in the finish.

An easy drinking beer, good but at the same time middle of the road.  

DEUS (BRUT DES FLANDERS)

Last week was a time for celebration in our household, so this called for a special bottle. What do we open to toast this special occasion.....Champagne - no way, Belgian beer is our passion so it had to be DeuS, a beer that
can easily be classed as a Champage beer (even the bottle follows suit)

Tightly holding the cork whilst carefully and slowly twisting the bottle no more than two turns is enough, the pressure within does the rest and a loud, characteristic "POP" rings out as the cork is fired from the neck.
Quickly but smoothly pouring produces a clear amber beer that is intensely carbonated being crammed full with streams of tiny bubbles, topped with a large white foamy head that slowly fades - incredibly Champagne like in its appearance.

Powerful aroma of spiced green apples, dry floral hops, alcohol (well this beer is 11.5% ABV) also citrus...lemon almost and a musky / yeasty finish.

Taste is full of fruits - grapes, crisp pears, lemons and also a note of spiced bananas, with a flowery (almost herbal) edge, bready malts and a honey like sweetness in the finish. The mouth feel is as you'd expect carbonated and dry but this just helps to keep the flavour alive.


http://www.bestbelgianspecialbeers.be/main_eng.html