De Dochter van de Korenaar L’Ensemble

Now for a beer that I've been wanting to get my mits on for some time and it was whilst attending the annual Bruges beer festival earlier this year that I managed to pick up a couple of bottles, from Rudy at his fantastic bar and bottle shop De Bierboom (a great place to pick up bottles not seen in other shops) and so after much longing here it is.

L'Ensemble is a barley wine from De Dochter van de Korenaar (the daughter of the corn) that weighs in with a mighty 13% ABV and for a beer with such power comes in a very generous 500ml bottle. It's brewed just once a year and is available at Winter time (just perfect for warming the cockles)

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
an all-malt barley-wine, double mashed to obtain 27 degrees Plato; two brews, blond and dark brewed seperately and blended in one fermenter, where it was fermented with both beer- and wine-yeast. Dry-hopped lightly one day before bottling. A beuatifull red coloured-beer, rich and full with a scent of cherries


L'Ensemble pours a very deep brick red that has a slight haze and despite the high ABV is topped with an impressive tan coloured, dense, bubbly head that really hangs around, fading in time to a lasting cap.

Intense aroma of pureed raisins, sticky toffee, sweet syrup (almost jam like) malt loaf and biscuits....bloody wonderful.

Taste follows along with a malty bitterness on the finish that stops the beer becoming too sweet and no way do you detect the 13%, yes it's intense and sweet but there is no burn at all...a masterpiece in brewing.

I'm thrilled to have finally sampled L'Ensemble and so glad I picked up 2 bottles, come next February I'll certainly be picking up 2 more.


http://www.dedochtervandekorenaar.be/

To Øl Jule Mælk

Now then my next beer is a bit of a hybrid, the concept and recipe is from Denmark but the brewing is in Belgium and so for that reason I've included it in my blog - plus this monster deserves to be shared.

What we have is the absolutely bonkers Jule Maelk from Copenhagen brewers To Ol a mammoth Imperial Milk Stout brewed for the festive period that weighs in at a colossal 15% ABV, the brainchild of Mikkeller students Tobias Emil Jensen and Tore Gynther - the beer itself is brewed by Dirk Naudts and gang at De Proefbrouwerij in Belgium.

Now I've had more than my fair share of high ABV beers but this is one of the most extreme - if you don't like sweet beers then stay well clear.

Jule Maelk pours like used engine oil, this is one very viscous beer and despite its formidably high ABV even gentle pouring produces a dense 3 finger, thick coffee coloured head that slowly, slowly fades.

An intense dark berry aroma (like forest fruits jam) coupled with raisins, dark chocolate, molasses, vanilla, coffee and a hint of sherry like booziness on the finish...WOW, what an aroma.

Taste can only follow with brown sugar, caramel, chocolate, roasted malts, dense stewed fruits and bitter coffee on the finish. It's in the taste that the sweetness really comes to the front making the mouthfeel almost syrupy.

No doubt a beer that could divide opinions, some could easily find the sweetness far too cloying and indeed it pushed my sweet loving taste-buds to the extreme....but take time and savour this dessert in a glass.


http://to-ol.dk/home/

      

  

Smiske Kriek

Well it's been a very long absence but I'm back......and for good this time.

Many (many) Belgian beers have been sampled, Countries visited and some very special memories made.
So where (how) do I kick start my blog, well seeing we recently Bruges (for the 10th time) for the annual beer festival, that seems the obvious choice.

Now then, one thing you can do whilst in my most favourite city is indulge, beers that you may cherish back home (because they are hard to come by in the UK) can be bought with relative ease.

One such bottle for me was the limited beer from Smiske....namely Johans seasonal offering Kriek.

Now then fruit beers aren't normally my first (or indeed second) choice from a beer menu BUT seeing as this was from one of my very favourite breweries, using his outstanding Winter beer as the base then it was a must try....oh and it weighs in at 12% ABV.

Smiske Kriek pours a dark brown with a deep red hue and is topped pale pink dense bubbly head that quickly collapses to a craggy covering.

Aroma...CHERRIES - bucket loads of cherries, Johan certainly didn't skimp when using local Noorderkrieken. You also get a tartness and hints of tannins, almost as if the beer had been barrel aged. There's also marzipan and touches of cocoa.....it really is Black Forest gateau in a glass.

Taste is...yes cherries, this time like cherry jam coupled with boozy amaretto along with a light sourness on the finish, think cherry yoghurt - sweet and sour in perfect balance.

Despite its mighty 12% (the strongest Kriek in Belgium) this is one dangerously drinkable beer, in-fact whilst sampling in 't Brugs Beertje both me and Daisy came up with a new name...Killer Kriek.

   

Zeven Zonden pt1 Luxuria

Pretty much like the beer in my last review, what we have here is a special release that forms part of a brewers sideline of experimental beers - whilst not being barrel aged of bottled in limited numbers, these are still non the less great beers.

Brewed by Gulden Spoor this particular line-up carries the title Zeven Zonden (7 sins) and each beer in the range takes its name after the Latin for one of the seven deadly sins. The first two to be released are Gula and Luxuria (after gluttony and lust) with the next five that follow carrying the names...superbia, avaritia, invidia, ira and acedia.

So first up for review Luxuria and what we have here is an intense, dark, deep brown beer and is topped with a huge, creamy, beige coloured head that slowly fades whilst you savour.

Aroma is dominated with dark malts and bitter dark chocolate, then you get dark fruits (cherries and figs) along with subtle spices and a herbal hop note on the finish.

Taste follows with roasted malts and a delicate liquorice spicing coupled with a raisin sweetness before finishing with a bitter (almost woody) flavour - the sweet / bitter flavours perfectly balanced throughout.

A wonderful introduction to the seven sins, much looking forward to part 2 with Gula.
   

Hof Ten Dormaal Barrel-aged Project 2013 (Dark Ale) No.3 Sauternes

Well it's been a while but I'm back, lots of beautiful Belgian beers have been sampled and I intend to share each and every one right here.....and every future beer as well.
So lets kick things off again with an absolute stunner (and a beer with perhaps the longest title yet) it's one from the limited release series from Brouwerij Hof ten Dormaal.

I've already sampled a couple of beers from this farmhouse brewery, namely their Winter 13 and their chicory beer Wit Goud but what we have here is one from their oak aged line of beers, a series of bottles each matured in oak barrels that once contained various spirits (Gin, Cognac, Madeira etc) and the particular beer in my review spent several months housed in Sauternes casks.

Now for the opening and my there is some power housed in that bottle, just releasing the cage and the cork was eager to shoot out. A firm grasp and light twist and it escaped with an echoing pop.
A swift pour produces a very deep brick red beer that almost borders on black and is topped with a beige, thick, creamy head that slowly, slowly recedes.

Aroma is simply wonderful and is crammed with sweet caramel, dark bitter chocolate, dark fruits (red grapes and plums) also hints of liquorice spicing and a tart (almost balsamic) finish that shows elements of the oak ageing process.

With an intro like that you can only hope that the taste can match up.....and boy does it.

Instantly you get the dark, rich, dried fruits coupled with a deep caramel sweetness, then you get a mocha bitterness before finishing with a slight vinous / tannin edge that lingers long into the after-taste.

Yet another winner from this artisan brewery....and you know what, I have one of their other beers yet to sample (No. 11) and I'll share that right here.
           

Kasteel Tripel

Let's continue the Van Honsebrouk tasting, this time with the pale sister beer to my recent post - the mighty Kasteel Triple, and like its darker incarnation weighs in with a hefty 11% ABV.

The Triple pours a hazy, bright straw gold and is crowned with a huge, fluffy, soft white head that looks like whipped egg whites that within minutes has gently settled to a lasting finger width covering.
Streams of bubbles rise from the bottom of the glass giving the beer a nice lively appearance.

Initial aroma is honey sweet, then you get citrus along with an apricot / peach like fruitiness. Also present are the trademark triple duo of banana and clove before a bready / yeasty finish and the hint of alcohol burn - lovely stuff.

Taste is initially honey sweet malts with touches of light caramel, then you get peppery clove spicing along with the musty orange notes of coriander.
There's also rich doughy / bready notes that lead to a floral, slightly bitter and dry finish.

Without doubt another great beer from Van Honsebrouk.

Kasteel Donker

Kasteel takes its name after the Flemish word for castle, indeed the castle in question is depicted on the label - a U shaped building situated at Ingelmunster that dates back to 1736.
After many changes of hands it finally fell under control of current owners; the Van Honsebrouck family in 1986 who bought it from then owners the Montblancs family.

Kasteel Donker pours very dark brown (bordering on black) and is topped with a huge, rich, creamy tan coloured head that comprises of thousands of tiny, compact bubbles.
Wonderful aroma of demerara sugar, caramel, rich dark fruits (prunes and raisins) intense malt loaf bready-ness coupled with a delicate liquorice and clove spicing before finishing with a nice alcohol warmth (this formidable beer is 11% ABV after all)

That aromatic intro carries through into the taste with sweet dark ripe fruits, rich caramel malts, brown sugar, chocolate covered cherries and hints of red wine tannins that lend a port like depth.

This is for sure one of Belgiums sweetest beers but it is so perfectly balanced between the intense burnt sugar, deft use of spices and vinous qualities - also a beer that could be described as being heavy......think of this as the perfect dessert beer, Winter warmer or welcome nightcap.
   

Petrus Aged Pale

Now if there is one style of beer that doesn't feature regularly in my reviews then it is the sours - this should come as no surprise because as you can see the vast majority of my entries are the darker, sweeter varieties such as Quads and Tripels.
This isn't due to the fact that I dislike sours (the Lambic styles) it's just that my taste buds lie elsewhere, with this style one or two are enough for me.

So what we have here is in fact an Oud Bruin, a beer from Bavikhore brewery Bavik (hence the name) a brewery famous for that traditional Flemish Brown style and one that has been around since 1894, a brewery that is still family owned.
The beer in question is Petrus Aged Pale and as its name suggests it's a paler version of another of Baviks beers their Oud Bruin - the aged, well it spends over 20 months maturing in oak barrels.

Now just uncapping the beer and amazing tart, crisp, sour notes escape from the neck...my we're in for something a bit different.

This Aged Pale pours a lovely bright copper with the slightest haze and is topped with a fluffy white head that all too quickly settles down to a thin lasting ring, thin streams of bubbles rise from the bottom of the glass giving the beer a well carbonated appearance.

Aroma is instantly tart and incredibly fruity with lemon zest and crisp green apples, then you get a dry, acidic sourness that reminds me of cider vinegar.
There's a biscuit matiness coming through along with hints of caramel sweetness and touches of oak on the finish - a nod towards the barrel ageing.

Taste - well what do you expect, sour tart grapes, lemons, grassy hops, white wine, crab apple and a dry, bitter, woody finish.

A sour beer no doubt and whilst not my chosen style it's still an intriguing, well made Oud Bruin and one I look forward to sampling again.

       

De Graal Gember

So here we are at the start of my next century of beer reviews, so lets kick things off with an absolute cracker and a beer from a brewery I've rated before.

De Graal Tripel

The clue for this particular beers flavour lies in its name "Gember" (Dutch for ginger) and it's the dried root that is used to infuse this particular ginger bomb.

A hazy deep amber beer that is topped with a foamy white head that all to quickly collapses leaving behind large craggy mounds.

A most wonderful aroma fills the glass that is crammed full of those spicy / prickly ginger qualities but also coupled with lemon and orange citrus notes (it's almost as aromatic as a herbal tea)
Then you get a deep honey sweetness before a rich malty backbone comes through, finished off with a subtle touch of hops.

The flavour comes as no surprise as once again ginger features heavily on the taste, this time in the form of the sweet preserved variety, again the citrus notes of lemon come through along with a caramel sweetness before finishing with a malty / bitter hop bite.

Without doubt another great beer from brewmaster Wim Saeyens and without doubt a beer I'll be sampling again.

Fantome Pissenlit

Well here I am, at my 100th review and what a great time I've had reaching this mile-stone, sampling some truly outstanding beers along the way.
My only regret is that I didn't start my blog sooner, there are so many more fine Belgian beers I've sampled over the years (sadly the majority I never photographed) but these will be revisited and reviewed here.

Needless to say that many of the highlights contained in my blog revolve around trips to our beloved city of Bruges - the beers I have sampled and shared with friends here rank amongst the most special.

So my 100th post rightfully deserves a special beer and the bottle I have chosen has been sat at the back of my cupboard for the past year (awaiting that special moment) also this is sadly my very last bottle from Soy brewery Fantome.

Pissenlit was the very beer that first sparked my interest in Dany's brewery, and this way before our first trip to Bruges (guess which beer was at the top of my shopping list back in 2008...alas I drew a blank)
Last June however I struck gold - gold indeed because Pissenlit is brewed with bright yellow dandelion petals. Each year Dany and friends scour the fields surrounding the brewery in search of the the yellow 'gold'.
The flowers are then dried in the sun then soaked in water. the resulting infusion is the basis for Pissenlit.
Eaten raw dandelion is known to have a diuretic effect, hence the name of the beer - French for "wet the bed"

Here we go...Pissenlit pours a clear bright copper and is crowned with a large bright white head that really lasts as you savour this spectacular beer.

Absolutely fantastic aroma that is herbal and grassy coupled with a flowery bitterness, then you get a dry hay mustiness.
Tart crisp orchard fruits (green apple and pear) all perfectly balanced with a honey sweetness...simply sublime.

Taste is another winner, initially tart with unripe citrus notes, then musty yeast combined with a peppery spicing.
Then again you get that honey sweetness before sharp grapefruit cuts through giving a dry mouth-feel. Is dandelion there, well there's definitely a glass full of herbal / floral characteristics so I suppose yes.

A unique and amazing beer and one that I simply must try again - my next hunt though will include that elusive Fantome glass.....lets hope I strike gold again.

     

Winter 13

Well seeing we've been having some nice warm sunny weather here in the UK (makes a change) so why not open a Winter beer...well why not, after all this is not the usual dark, heavy, spiced brew - no this particular beer is more a farmhouse saison.

Produced by Leuven brewery Hof ten Dormaal, it is a family run farm that also doubles as a brewery - the farm producing everything that is required by the brewery (right down to the chicory used in their Wit Goud beer) this is very much a self sufficient business.

The beer pours a deep murky amber and is topped with a white, bubbly head that quickly fades to a lasting finger width cap.

Aroma is sweet malts then instantly you get a tart, sour green apple edge. Then you get a musty banana note before a yeasty, floral hop finish.

Initial taste was sweeter than I was expecting (not a bad thing though) then you get yeast, faint bitter hops, light tart / citrus notes and a spicy, carbonated finish.

Yet another great beer from the Dormaal brewery and a beer I'll no doubt sample again.

Goliath Tripel

Now I may as well stick true to my words, so here we have another outstanding beer from Brasserie des Geants - this time as hinted their sublime Goliath Tripel.

Goliath was the first beer produced by des Geants back in 2000 and like their other beer Urchon, Goliath takes its name from local sources.

Goliath (pronounced Gouyasse in the local dialect) is the lead figure in the annual 'Ducasse' festivities - Gouyasse btw is also an alias for this beer.

Goliath pours a hazy deep orange with a towering bubbly white head that slowly collapses, leaving behind a rocky glass clinging covering.

Wonderful classic Tripel aroma that explodes with sweet malts, crisp green apples and pears that are combined with tropical fruits. Then you get sweet honey notes before a spicy yeast bite and gentle hop bitterness.

Taste only backs up that fantastic introduction with citrus fruits (orange and lemon) sweet bready malts that are almost biscuit like, there's a nice dose of clove and pepper spicing, then floral bitter hops and again sweet honey notes are there on the finish.

No doubt, a truly well made Tripel.

URCHON

First brewed in 2002 by Brasserie des Geants and located in Irchonwelz, situated in the multiplicity of Ath, a Walloon province of Hainaut.

Ath is also known as the 'City of Giants' after the 'Duccasse' festivities that take place each August when huge figures representing Goliath and Samson (amongst others) are paraded through the streets - Goliath btw being the name of another of des Greants beers (my next review maybe)

Back to Urchon which takes its name from the breweries location at Irchonwelz - 'Irchon' for urchin or hedgehog and 'Welz' for the place across the river, the brewery is located on the River Dende.

Now for the pour, Urchon is a lovely deep ruby red colour and is topped with a massive light tan coloured head that slowly collapses, leaving behind lots of lacing.

Lovely aroma of spicy malts, rich caramel (almost toffee) dark fruits (raisins and plums) and a fantastic bitter cocoa finish that almost borders on becoming leather?

Taste follows with bready malts, roasted nuts, red berries, sweet caramel, liquorice spicing with a malty, chocolate bitterness on the finish.

WOLF 9

The Wolf brewery was founded in 2003 by Peter Van der Borght when he decided to follow his hearts dream and brew his own beer, being joined a while later by three friends and so in 2008 Wolf brewery was founded, being formally called Lupus (Latin for wolf, canus lupus)

Wolf 9 poured much darker than I expected (why I was expecting a paler beer I don't know) and so an incredibly deep amber beer filled my glass and was topped by a huge, creamy, light tan coloured head that really lasts and lasts.

Lovely aroma of sweet bready malts, deep musty banana notes, deffinate anise spicing and a light hop touch on the finish.

Initial taste was raisin bread (malty with a dark, dried fruit edge) then you get a lovely caramel sweetness that coupled with the fruit gives it an almost marmalade flavour.
Again the spices are there (clove and anise...maybe even gingerbread) before slight bitter hops balance things out nicely.

My first taste from the Wolf brewery and I look forward to sampling the blond 7 and dark 8.
   

Vinkenier

Another review , another great beer (well what else would I drink) and my first from brewery Eutropius, located in Heule, in the West corner of Belgium.

The label of the beer features men indulging in the pass-time of Vinkenzetting (Dutch for finch sitting, hence the name of the beer) a local contest that dates back to 1596 and involves male chaffinches, each housed in a small cage which are then placed six feet apart along a street.
The birds then sing their little hearts out - each trying to establish his own territory (and no doubt attract a mate) Each song is then chalked up by the owner sat behind on a long wooden stick - after an hour the bird that sings the most is declared winner, champion birds belting out several hundred calls.

Vinkenier pours a hazy, deep orange and is alive with streams of bubbles.
This is topped with a large, white, bubbly head that slowly collapses as you savour.

Rich, bready aroma combined with a lovely caramel sweetness which is then cut by citric, floral hops on the finish.

Initial taste is dominated by the honey sweet malts, then just like the aroma you get intense fruit notes (orange and peaches) also there's a peppery, spicy bite before grassy / herbal hops provide a welcome bitter finish.

A beer I picked up because of the label....now a beer I'll pick up again because of the taste.

         

Ondineke Oilsjtersen Triple

Time for what is only my second beer from De Glazen, my first being the truly magnificent Christmas offering Canaster Winterscotch and first thing first this beer shares none of it's darker sisters volcanic opening problems (so no panic pouring)

Ondineke pours a hazy, burnt amber and is topped with a huge billowing, bright white head that slowly collapses to a bumpy, bubbly covering.

Wonderful aroma that is packed with ripe citrus fruits (oranges and biting lemons) coupled with sharp crisp hops then you get a toffee sweetness to balance things out nicely before income the spices - clove , pepper and coriander.........just lovely.

Taste follows with sweet doughy malts, then you get touches of citrus fruits (orange and lemon) there's grassy / herbal hops that provide a dry mouth-feel along with those trademark triple spices of clove and coriander.

A fantastic well made true triple.

    

Montagnarde

One of my favourite beers (and one I'm guaranteed to order when in Bruges) is the utterly fantastic  Abbaye des Rocs Brune
So here's a beer from the Montignies-sur-Rocs brewery that I've never sampled before, an amber beer by the name of Montagnarde.

A hazy amber coloured beer that is topped with a huge white bubbly, creamy head that lasts and lasts - look closely and you'll notice that typical Abbaye des Rocs snowglobe effect, the glass is crammed with yeast particles - there's nothing wrong though, empty the bottle and watch the glass come alive.

Incredibly fruity aroma, it's simply packed with peaches and apricots combined with a delicious honey, caramel sweetness.
There's also a lovely yeasty, bready note on the finish......fantastic.

Taste is rich with toffee sweetness and caramel malts, complimented with a buttery, honey smoothness and a definite orange marmalade kick.
There's also the lightest touch of spiced biscuits and a gentle hoppy bite on the finish.

Another great beer from a great brewery.

Boskeun

The time is right for a seasonal offering from one of my favourite breweries - namely De Dolle and the beer in question the Easter brew Boskeun.

Roughly translated as "rabbit of the woods" (hence the label) Boskeun was one of the first Easter beers brewed in Belgium and being a blond beer was the style Herteleer brother Jo preferred brewing - ironically Boskeun is also his nickname , the result of an accident when the brothers were younger in which Jo received an injury to his lip.

The mighty Boskeun shares the characteristic De Dolle pouring problems (a steady hand is required here) whilst not as aggressive as Dulle Teve (a very similar beer) it still took 4 separate pours to fill the glass - each time a towering , fluffy white head is produced, underneath lies a hazy, bronze beer.
Once filled however you have a very nice looking beer.

Gorgeous aroma of bready / yeasty malts, sweet candy sugar, intense tropical fruits, clove spicing and a floral, honey finish.....simply divine and no doubt about it a fantastic start.

Initial taste is sweet, bready malts (almost dough like with the yeast) then you get ripe fruits - apples, bananas and apricot. There's a peppery spicing (perfectly balanced)nand the lightest touch of hop bitterness on the finish.

Hands down De Dolle are my favourite Belgian brewery and Boskeun.....one of their finest - roll on next Easter.

 

Qantelaar

Time for a relatively new beer, a beer from brewery d' Oude Maalderij - a brewery founded in 2011 by 4 friends who all shared a common passion for craft beer.
The original beers were brewed at bry Manhout, however recent batches have seen a move to bry. het Gulden Spoor.

My first sample of Qantelaar was at the recent Bruges Beer Festival and my reaction was one of surprise (this is one heavy going beer)
Miss-labelled by some as a Quadrupel (what I was expecting) this is anything but....it's more akin to a sweet stout.

Powerful aroma of roasted malts, burnt sugar, liquorice. dark fruits and a biting coffee bitterness combined with a light touch of hops on the finish.

Taste can only mimic that intense aroma with roasted burnt malts, bitter cocoa (almost mocha) old worn leather, light tropical fruits, caramelised / brulee sugar and a slight bitter note.
Mouth-feel for such a mighty beer is incredibly smooth and creamy.

Have no doubt, Qantelaar is one hefty beer....but as long as you know what to expect you can enjoy this for what it is - a really good sweet stout.    

Watou Tripel

Watou Tripel takes its name from the small village in the west corner of Belgium, situated in the province of West Flanders and located next to the French border (a beautiful area I feel very fortunate to have visited)
The illustration on the label features the St Bavo Church, which in parts dates back to the 12th century and proudly sits in the centre of the village.

savoured at the one and only 't Brugs Beertje

The people behind this beer, the iconic St. Bernardus Brouwerij and is just one from their impressive portfolio of beers.

Watou Tripel pours a hazy burnt amber and is crowned with an intense white, three finger width head that comprises of a thousand compact tiny bubbles - a very nice looking beer, which is made even nicer poured into that bowl like St. Bernardus glass (a simple yet elegant design)

Aroma is instantly fruity and floral, ripe bananas, lemons and pears. Then clove and coriander spices come through with a doughy / bready finish.






Flavour again has those typical orchard fruits characteristics (mainly pear) combined with a honey sweetness, then clove and pepper spicing before herbal hops cut through.

An expertly made, easy drinking Tripel.