Smisje Dubbel

Lets continue with another from Smisje and also another beer that featured heavily on my bar bill during that fantastic mid-week break to Bruges......again this also no longer features in the current line up so talk about indulging.
And IF you're going to indulge in obsolete Smisje beers then where better than Bruge's NO1, iconic, beer fanatics haunt 't Brugs Beertje - talk about perfect timing because it appeared that bar owner Daisy had some kind of Smisje promotion going on with lots of beers Johan no longer produces being offered, to say I was in heaven is putting it mildly.

We were also lucky enough to share quite a few with local Bruges inhabitant and good friend Filip Geerts and his wife Katrien (Filip btw is simply one of the most dedicated Belgian beer fans I know, his passion for the subject is infectious and the website he runs...easily the webs NO1 on the topic  belgianbeerboard. If I can portray just a fraction of that enthusiasm on here then I'll consider my blog a success)
Between us quite a few of Johans finest disappeared forever that night, with both Smisje Dubbel and Guido featuring heavily.

This outstanding beer pours a rich, rusty, chestnut brown - lighter in colour than some Dubbels but attractive non the less.
Sitting proudly on top is a huge, compact, frothy, tan coloured head and my does it last - right down to the last drop.

Aroma is of rich dark malts, ripe fruits and sweet sticky dates (this beer is brewed with honey and dates) there's also a hint of bakers spice...intriguing and addictive.

Taste is packed with candy sugar combined with that typical musty honey note. Dark fruits (dates) appear and build as the beer warms, again a subtle use of spices keeps the taste-buds guessing (allspice berries?)
Warming alcohol is felt on the finish along with a light bitterness from the hops.

For the style...unique - lighter in colour, sweeter and with more alcohol, but hey I for one certainly ain't complaining.
My only problem is....................................can I land it lucky a 2nd time come February.

Smisje Guido

Well there's a new look for my blog (things may change slightly but I think it reads better) so lets kick off this new look with an absolutely cracker.

Time then for another beer from what is undoubtedly one of my all time favourite breweries - Smisje (now Smiske) and being a Smisje beer sadly this is one of the beers that brew-master Johan no longer produces (still we never give up hope for a revival.......you hear me Johan)

Guido takes its name from the 19th century Flemish writer and poet Guido Gazelle, who's statue stands proudly in his birth town of Bruges...........aaahhh Bruges.

Johan is well known for brewing his beers with distinctive fruits and herbs and Guido is no exception, here honey and raisins give this beautiful brown ale its unique character.

Guido pours an attractive hazy chestnut that is topped by a 2 finger width khaki coloured head that sits there as you indulge in yet another of Johans masterpieces.

Aroma is of rich malts, floral honey sweetness and caramel like demerara sugar - FANTASTIC !
Then the deep dark fruits emerge (figs, dates and of course raisins) then you get a barrel aged tawny port depth (possible woody tannins and a hint of leather) along with that a heady alcohol waft comes through as well but this just enhances all the above wonderful scents - truly a beautiful smelling beer.

As you'd expect from a beer brewed with honey and raisins the initial taste is sweet (but never over the top) deep molasses coupled with smooth honey (yes it's there) then in a repeat of the aroma dark, dried fruits - raisins most definitely but also plums and figs then a morello cherry sharpness before finishing with sweet caramel malts......the perfect balance.

Hands down one of Johans finest moments in brewing, the beers in my collection are amongst my most prized.

      

La Corne Tripel

Now then Belgium has a well known tradition for producing a unique glass for each beer, most do the job perfectly well (what more could you ask of a glass) yet a few are honestly just all show - a case of the container being better than the contents.....some however miss the mark on both counts.

Any new visitor to Belgium who stumbles upon a bar will inevitably pose with one of these glasses for that "look at how wacky I am" shot, and more often than not the glass and beer held aloft will be a Kwak (during our last visit to Bruges a table of 6 guys sat behind us all ordered Kwak, did the glass determine their choice ? )
Produced by the same brewery that brings us that outstanding beer Tripel Karmeliet , Kwak is (as far as taste goes) very much in its shadow - its saving grace that much photographed coachman's glass in which it is served  (time to own up, yes I do own a kwak glass but have used it maybe 3 times - a real pain to clean and dry)

Just as a quick side note there is a far worse glass than this, possibly the most useless glass title going to Leute Bokbier  - a round bottomed glass that sits in a wooden ashtray.......why?  The only time I tried this beer I spent the entire time holding the glass upright, it's that unstable - the beer is nothing to write home about either.

And so all this rambling brings me to my next beer and no prizes for guessing that it's one that is served in yet another wacky glass, the beer in question La Corne Tripel BUT I'm pleased to report that in this instance both glass and beer didn't disappoint.

Firstly the glass, what we have here is a horn shaped glass that is sat on a wooden frame (Kwak similarities yes) but here the glass is held in place by a leather strap and it's that little leather strap that holds the glass firmly in place, making the vessel totally use-able (no Kwak of Leute wobble here)

La Corne Tripel pours a hazy deep amber that is topped by a compact yet fluffy head, served in its own glass this is a really attractive beer.

Aroma is bready and yeasty with a sweet caramel note, also a light citrus edge along with a floral / herbal twang, alcohol is also there on the finish - a very promising start.

Taste is dry and malty (almost earthy) yet also packed with an apricot / citrus fruitiness, mildly sweet, spicy and well carbonated with a definite bitterness in the finish.

Both glass and contents top notch, a match made in heaven.               

Boerken

Brewed at de Proef brewery to an original recipe from the Den Ouden Advocaat cooperative, they also brew the sister beer Boerinneken (meaning little farmers wife) Boerken therefore as you'd expect means little farmer (as pictured on the bottle) a bottle that unusually features a swing-top (Grolsch type) cap.

Boerken pours a deep, dark ruby red, topped with an impressive, light beige, creamy head that just sits there whilst you work your way through the beer.

Very malty upfront on the aroma, coupled with lots of dried fruits (ripe plums and cherries) caramel sweetness then a yeasty finish.

Taste is again rich and malty (like brown bread) with hints of brown sugar, dark fruits (raisins) then a hit of chocolate before finishing with a light oaky bitterness.  

Piraat 10.5% ABV

May as well continue the Van Steenberge  tasting, this time with possibly their most well known beer and one with a nautical theme...Piraat (others include the Boucanier range)

This beer was possibly the first big hitting, high ABV Belgian I ever tasted - from that moment on my taste-buds changing forever (and for the better)

This mighty beer pours a beautiful light amber that has the slightest haze, this is topped by one enormous full foam head that slowly, slowly falls.

Aroma is spicy, bitter and malty - yes there's a healthy alcohol waft but this just accentuates the enticing bouquet.
Citrus fruits (sharp orange zest) and spicy cloves before a sweet, candy sugar finish.

Taste is rich and malty with intense citrus notes coupled with clove and coriander spices, bitter hops in the finish balance out the alcoholic sweetness.

First tasted around 18 years ago - loved it back then and love it today, simply an iconic Belgian beer.