't SMISJE KERST

It's about time that my blog contained a beer from one of my favourite breweries...Oudenaarde's microbewery Smisje  (formally De Regenboog and now Smiske)  so i'll start with an absolute beauty and one that i'm glad to say brewmaster Johan Brandt is continuing to brew, his festive beer Smisje Kerst  (the move from Smisje to Smiske sadly saw the loss of the majority of the line up)

Pouring gives a hazy dark amber beer with a large, dense, creamy head that quickly fades to a finger width constant covering.

Aroma is sweet and malty also light citrus and spices are detected. Taste is rich and sweet to start with then spiced malts fill the mouth with slight bitter hops providing the perfect balance - for a beer with a big 11% ABV  it is extremely well hidden, a beer that is dangerously easy to drink.

http://www.smisje.be/ 

GRIMBERGEN OPTIMO BRUNO

Careful pouring of this Barley Wine produces a clear ruby brown beer with a massive creamy tan coloured head that lasts, slowly fading over the course of the drink.

Aroma is caramel/toffee malts with sweet fruits (cherries and plums) and a spiced hop bitterness.

Flavour is long lasting with dark roasted malts, candy sweet dark dried fruits (figs and raisins) and a warming 10% alcohol finish.

http://www.maes.be/

GENTSE TRIPEL

Pours a cloudy hazy yellow with a huge bubbly white head that slowly fades to leave a constant finger width covering....a very nice looking beer.

Aroma is instantly sweet citrus but then bready and fruity, taste follows with sweet banana and spices then ends with a dry carbonated finish.

http://www.vansteenberge.com/

URTHEL SAMARANTH QUADRIUM

Urthel was established in 2000, a creation of husband and wife team Bas and Hildegard Van Ostaden.
The beers are designed and brewed by Hildegard whilst the artwork and packaging are the result of husband Bas.

Urthel Samaranth was originally created for their wedding in 2002, to serve instead of wine, it was such a success that it's been part of the line-up since.

Pouring gives a hazy deep amber beer with a finger thick white head that quickly fades.
Aroma is full on, intensely malty, sweet and packed with dark candy fruits, a slight alcohol note is detected as it warms.

Taste is sweet and i do mean syrupy sweet (but hey i do like sweet strong beers) also spices come through and a figgy/raisin richness with a lively carbonated mouthfeel.

Labeled as a Quadrupel (hence Quadrium) i feel that this beer is just too sweet to fall into this catagory - more like a Barley Wine.

http://www.urthel.com/

QUINTINE AMBREE

Hazy, deep red beer with a large off white compact head that slowly fades to a white ring.

Aroma is sweet and candy like with red berries and a slight alcohol note as it warms.

Taste is sweet burnt sugar malts with a hop bitterness cutting through in the finish.....my first beer from Ellezelloise and a good start.

http://www.brasserie-ellezelloise.be/

TRIPEL KARMELIET.

Brewed by bry.Bosteels Tripel Karmeliet is still made to an authentic 1679 beer recipe originating in the former Carmelite monastery in Dendermonde.

Now for a bit of personal history, this beer (along with a few others like La Chouffe) is responsible for my love of Belgian beers, so it's one i have a soft spot for.

This outstanding beer pours a golden bronze with a huge fluffy white head that very slowly fades. Aroma is a mix of flowery citrus spice with a banana grain kick...a magnificent smelling beer.

Taste is fresh, spicy lemon with clove and banana again, very nice mouthfeel - carbonated, crisp yet smooth.

A beer that is regularly seen on most (Belgian) beer menus and with good reason, consistently good quality and a beer that would make a fantastic introduction into the wonderful world of Belgian beers.


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

NOSTRADAMUS

Next an outstanding dark beer from Falmignoul brewery bry. Caracole.

Pours a cloudy ruby brown with a large, compact yet fluffy beige head.

Wonderful enticing sweet aroma, burnt sugar, caramel and dark dried fruits.

Tasting backs up that gorgeous aroma with fruity candy sweetness and a deffinate liquorice edge, the 9% alcohol providing a smooth warmth.

Perfect carbonation makes this very smooth and drinkable...beautiful...simply beautiful.

http://www.brasserie-caracole.be/

VICARIS GENERAAL

A murky, deep dark reddy brown beer with a lovely rich creamy lasting beige coloured head. Beautiful sweet malty toffee aroma that despite the description is not sickly at all.

Taste is instantly chocolatey but more almost cocoa powder like then ripe fruits emerge with a hint of sour cherries.

An absolute cracker of a beer, savoured to the very last drop.

STRUISE PANNEPOT

Just opening this beer releases fruity dark aromas that fill the air, letting you know that something magical awaits.
Pouring produces a creamy large coffee coloured head that fades to leave behind the merest reminder, underneath that thin cap lies a hazy dark brown beer with reddish hue.

The intense aroma is an absolute joy with roasted caramel malts, sweet dark dried fruits (figs, prunes and raisins) all mixed with dark Rum.

Flavour is dark roasted malts upfront then brown sugar, rich fruits, liqourice (and leather?) before finishing with slightly bitter spices.



This is an absolute joy to drink and one i revisit whenever i see it on a menu.

                        

(tasted at 't Brugs Beertje)

  

http://struise.noordhoek.com/eng/

http://www.brugsbeertje.be/index2.htm

 

MALHEUR 12

A dark chestnut brown beer with a large bubbly tan coloured head that quickly fades to leave a constant thin covering.
The aroma is heavy on the fruit being filled with sweet raisins and  jammy almost caramelised plums, there's also a touch of chocolate and a slight spicy alcohol finish.
Taste follows with roasted malts, chocolate and berries also hops are evident with a sweet warming touch of alcohol to finish.


An extremely well made beer that despite its high 12% alcohol content is very easy to drink (too easy)

http://www.malheur.be/flash.html