Malheur 10 Belgian Blonde Ale

Malheur 10 Ale. Brouwerij de Lantsheer.

Clouded golden coloration, vast head of snowy-white foam, drifts down slowly, leaving lace. 

Sweet and spicy aromatics, met with the trademark Belgian funk. Citrus zest aplenty. 

Taste: Creamy, yeasty mouthfeel. Lots of fruit and spice at play on the palate. Swims happily in the mouth, then leaves easy as a breeze. Slightest bitterness at work, matches the touch of honey in the taste. Alcohol rises at the end. In other words, " a warm finish."

Nice mix of fruit, spice, and booze. Mmm, hmmm.

Leffe Blonde

Here's another I had on tap this weekend, and for the first time, too. It'll be back when we do Belg-a-Rama #9. Leffe Blonde,  a very popular Belgian ale, and for good reason. Here are my first notes from way back in February, 2003.

Color: a clear gold. 

Head: a nice, fluffy white.

Aroma: sharp with spicy notes, sweet with citrus and fruit, peach, apricot. Palate is sweet and smooth, with full malt. Hops are playing it cool, but give a nice little tingle on the tongue. Light body, low carbonation, good texture.

Overall, uncomplicated, fine, if unremarkable.

Nothing really to add to that. It's easy to drink, goes down smooth, and offers some flavor. Accessible, some would say (even  myself). I call it a good ol' drinkin' beer. But I would only have if there were no better Belgians around.

Lindemans Cuvee Rene Gueuze lambic

Along with the Hanssens, I picked up another gueuze recently, unsure of whether I'd had this one before. Of course I had, back in June of 2005. And it's another great one. Here's what I wrote then, and Lindemans Cuvee Rene:

My first time with this beer, scared away through the years by the higher price tag. Well, I've plenty more expensive beers since, so there's no excuse for putting it off. Here we go! 

Pale peach hue, flush carbonation, rushing up the glass, with a sturdy, off-white head...a very appetizing glass of brew. 

Aroma, sour and citric, a little spicy, super funky, that unique smell that only comes out of a gueuze. 

Taste, oooh! Puckering, then lip-smacking, sour bite at first, then all is mellow...big lemon rides through the flavor, with yeast character right behind. 
Interesting. Tartness is king in this, dominates the feel, but in a gentle, delicious way. Very sophisticated stuff, and, past the powerful tartness, especially approachable.

Hanssens Oud Gueuze lambic

I lied. The Imperial Stout will wait. I just had to have a gueuze, and this one was Hanssens. Here are the notes:

Hanssens Artisanaal, sinds 1896, Oud Gueuze Lambic (each bottle matured for over three years) Ale, product of Belgium. Brewed and bottled in Dworp, Begium.

I woke up this morning with a craving for the funk. I had to have something lambic-y, something sour, something gueuze-y. Haven't had this one in a little bit, so away we go, with Hanssens.

Straw yellow color, hazed, under a slim, white head. 

Aroma: it's all there, the barnyard, the horseblanket, the urine-soaked hay. All that delightful sensory assemblage in the nose. Ahhh….sour, lactic, and weird.

Tasting it…ooo, pucker, pucker, ow, sour, sour, lemon, and piss and vinegar, mmm, mmm. This is lambic in it's rawest, no fruit, no wine barrels,(but some aging) nothing, straight-up and undiluted, wild, weird, and utterly refreshing. Sour as heck, and with just a tingle of bitterness. Malt is there to do it's job, it's the yeast that drives the amazingly uncommon flavor of this thing. It's an experience above all, not for the week, not for the timid, not for the mild or unadventurous. Strap in tight for this one. 

This one grips the tongue and palate, grabs hold, delivers what is an unusual deliciousness, a long, and quite refreshing finish, and a flavor experience not found anywhere else in the world of beer.

Liefmans Goudenband

Since 1679, Liefmans Goudenband…"one of the world's most complex beers. An aged Belgian brown ale. It is brewery cellared for many months until it matures. Only then is it blended and bottled. Historically known as 'Provision Beer', Goudenband is superb for further home cellaring, allowing the taste, aroma, and body of the beer to continue to evolve. A delectable treat for the beer connoisseur."

Regardless of that, I'm drinking it now, since I haven't had one in many years. I'll cellar another one later. 8% ABV.

Dark, clouded, deep burgundy brown, slim off-white head, gets tight, but hangs in there.

Aroma is where it's at: soft, yet sharp. Sour, and a little sweet. Raisins, dates, cherries, blackberries. Dark malts plunked down, mashed and maturated with deep, winey flavors.

Taste: beautiful. Enters the mouth a'blazing'…coats the palate with a great splash of sour, a supple coating of sweet, a flush of fruit flavor, the dark ones, the plump ones, the ones that grow on vines. A little bitter buzz butts up against the sour, then allis malty and mellow. Complex, but well-balanced. Luxurious, and satisfying. Sweet, succulent, wine flavors meld with full-bodied brown ale.

In other words, yummy, this is delish. Sourness never quits, and never dominates, either. You get a hit of it, it blends with the rest, and it's all easy on the way out. Long, fruity finish. Utterly delightful.

Rodenbach 2007 Vintage

Rodenbach 2007 Vintage, Oak Aged Ale Barrel No. 230, Rodenbach, the exceptional red/brown sour ale of mixed fermentation, takes on it's unique character by maturing in handmade oak vats, some over 150 years old. This exclusive limited edition vintage by Rodenbach (7% ABV) is the result of a two-year aging process in Vat No. 230, resulting in our finest ale produced. Enjoy it's unparalleled sweet and sour palate with a complex aftertaste."

Gorgeous burgundy hue, a rich lavender, a rosy raspberry…with a slim, pinkish head atop. Very clouded. Looks utterly inviting, lovely as can be. 

Aroma: Ah! Wow. Mmmm. Ripe raspberries meet mature cherries, under the fog of funky Belgian yeast. Tart, and sweet, and so tempting. I honestly and truly don't want to take my nose away from it. A lambic like no other. Complex, indeed. And, now to drink it…

Taste: on the lips…sublime. Incredible depth of flavor, large oak effects, delicious fruit factor. Lacks the sharpness and acidity in fresher red ales/ sours, whatever we call them these days. So rounded, so mellow, so groovy. (You know, that's going to become a regular thing in my vocabulary.) There's still plenty of sour snap, lots of zest, very vibrant funky kick, lush fruit…so tasty. So robust, so complex, deep …pretty near impossible to really encapsulate with mere words alone. If I could paint it for you? Animate it for you? Do an interpretive dance? Spin some poetry…perchance?

I went and rhymed again. So sue me. (Worse, it's bad, and trite. And forced. Ah, forget it.)

Medium-bodied, fullest of flavor. Long lasting tartness on the tongue. Gets more complex, with tannin-type feeling  on the palate. Wow, I say again. Damn, this is deliciousness. A mellifluous mix of wine-like flavors, lambic sour and sweet, fruit flavors above and beyond, with an unheard-of depth and complexity. 

De Ranke XX Bitter

I bought a bottle of this recently, thinking, "man, it's been a while!" Took notes on it, thinking I ought to, and lo, and behold, it seems I did so 2 1/2 years ago. I'm going to combine them, just for fun, here goes....
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Why has it taken me so long to get to this one?

11.2 oz bottle. Into a Maredsous tulip glass. (St. Bernardus goblet.)

de Ranke XX Bitter, Belgian Golden Ale, "The Hoppiest Beer of Belgium"
Product of Brewery De Ranke, Wevelgem, Belgium.


This one is a gusher, it spilled all over the counter, and I'm sure I handled it well.

Appearance: Gargantuan froth, pillowy and lacy, lovely ivory rivulets. Clouded pale amber below.
Cloudy, pale amber color, huge head, bone white and pillowy, lace leaving.

Gorgeous aroma, smacking of spice and citrus, some clove and cardamom, white pepper...bright, bitter lemon and orange. Floral and fruity, and lovely. Distinctive Belgian funky sweet and sour yeast flavor is on top, with some peppery spice in there. Thoroughly authentic Belgian flavor. Plenty of crazy extras in the foam, utterly harmless, of course.

Zest continues once it jumps on the tongue. Big spice and citric twang on board the palate, a pleasantly bitter smack to the senses. Fades slowly, gently, goes to the back, while lingering long.
Flavor is sublime. Marvelous. Magnificent. Earthy, rustic, ragged, and everything good. Citric flavors, spicy goodness, bready, yeasty,

Medium body, long finish, plump with character.The hops and the zestiness never really quit. Hangs on all over the mouth. Really rewarding, and quite refreshing. yes, it's "the hoppiest Belgian"…then, but it brings the bitter in the best of all possible ways. This is not the American palate-killer, this is just a delight. It's, in a word, yummy.

Nothing quite like this one. Except for all the others that have come along since.
But this here's the original.

Mmm, mmmm…

Van Honsebrouck Bacchus Flanders Red

Van honsebrouck Bacchus, Castle Brewery, no info whatsoever beyond, "Belgian ale".
Bottled on: 090414. What, is this a time traveling bottle of beer?

Cloudy and brownish red. Half inch of soft brown foam above.

Aroma: sour cherries off the bat, a little twist of tart, matched with sweet malt. Nice, soft sourness. Lovely stuff.

Taste: bracingly sour and puckering at first, sweet and sour cherries, lush and luscious. Rather mild, while still sophisticated. Sweetness rises, and is matched by the minor sour notes.

This one won't win accolades from the soreheads among the beer geek crowd, but it'll hit a sweet note with a wider public.

Delirium Tremens

Delirium Tremens. Best Beer in the World? Or, most overhyped, over-rated, over-marketed beer in the world? And, can it all be due to one person, who hasn't written a word about beer since the volume that Brouwerij Huyghe took their accolades from? Great questions, let's try to answer them.

I was very impressionable when I was new to beer, that much I can admit to. Can't tell you exactly what the first Belgian beer I ever had was, it might have been Duvel, maybe something from Sterkens, like St. Sebastiaan, which was easy to find around here. Had some lambics. Don't remember at all how I found out about them, or why I tried them out, but I'm sure I had some Belgians before I ever had a D.T. Now, the question is this: did I have one before reading Stuart A. Kallen's book, or after? My memory seems to tell me that it was introduced to the local market sometime after his book appeared in my hands. Did his choice of D.T. as #1 beer in the world influence my feelings early on?

Let's take a minute to go back and look at his book. In 1997, "The 50 Greatest Beers in the World, An expert's ranking of the Best", by Stuart A. Kallen, author of "Beer Here" appeared at the bookstore I worked at, Shinder's, downtown, published by Citadel Press. Who is this expert, besides the author of "Beer Here"? The back cover tells us this: "When (SAK) is not brewing or drinking beer, or reading or writing about it, he is either writing books for children (he has written more than seventy) or planning to open his own microbrewery. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota."

The last part has always been curious. If he lives in my hometown, why have I never seen him, met him, or heard of him locally? That mystery is dispelled by a recent google search, the first hit of which went to Scholastic.com, which tells us, "Kallen is the author of more than 150 nonfiction books for children and young adults. He has written extensively about Native Americans and American history. In addition, he has written award-winning children's videos and television scripts. In his spare time, Kallen is a singer/songwriter/guitarist." Also it informs us that his home now is San Diego, California.
So, the beer expert fled Minnesota for one of the major beer havens in America, San Diego, but has abandoned his microbrewery plans in favor of music, at least before the people who would investigate him at Scholastic.com. The first page at Amazon.com relating to his oeuvre lists books for young readers on animals, crop circles, pyramids, Renaissance art, American history, as well as "the Complete Idiot's Guide to Beer." If you continue looking through his catalog, you'll see he has written on almost every topic for young readers and the only works he's written for adults has been about beer, though nothing on this topic in 14 years. His name has never come up in all my reading of books and magazines and websites through all that time, and yet this one choice made in this one book has led this one beer to market itself as "Best Beer in the World" ever since.

One thing stands out about this, and that is that Kallen did in that book something no other writer or editor has ever done. Noone has ever declared "the best" and done a numerical ranking of the world's classics. Michael Jackson had his "Great Beer Guide", which lists 500 great beers, but they are not ranked in order of best, listed alphabetically instead, and there is no notion that these are the "greatest." Instead it's "hey, here's 500 great ones, check them out, they're good." Another volume in my beer collection is "1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die", which came out early last year. There's obvious choices, and surprising, obscure ones, but nowhere do they say "this is the best, this is third best, this is number 13," etcetera. In fact they include Budweiser, making clear that it's not "the best" or even among the 1001 possible best beers, but claiming that if you pretend to know beer, it's clear you need to know Budweiser, at least to taste it.

So, Kallen's book did something noone's done before, or since, and for good reason. The answer to "what's the best beer in the world?" is inherently subjective. It's opinion based on taste. Some only like light beers, some only rank dark, rich ones highest, some prefer high alcohol brews, some only feel hoppy ales are worthy of their consideration. Personally, I try not to answer the question, because my favorite changes so often, and my personal feelings from one minute to the next may mean nothing to the one asking me. Sour beers are great, as are hoppy ones, but there's also deep, mystical Belgian trappist lovelies, and rich, cavernous imperial stouts. Whenever I give an answer to the question, I'm just throwing darts, in order to end the inquiry. Three years ago, Star Tribune writer Tom Horgen asked for my 5 favorites, among the beers I serve at the Nile. He put me on the spot, but I threw them out quickly, and he put them in print. They were: Bell's Expedition, Surly Furious, St. Bernardus Abbot 12, Lion Stout, and Westmalle Dubbel. And then he asked me to describe them. I did my best. This led to people coming in after the article appeared asking for my favorite, or "that $7 beer I like" (???).

So Mr. Kallen makes up his mind and throws his personal dart at Deliirum, stating, in the first line: "I could have made my life easier. I didn't have to name Delirium Tremens as my number one favorite beer. If I simply mentioned a beer everyone has heard of, without the name of a drinker's disease, I would get more peace. But that's not what this is all about."

I'm not sure what little peace Kallen got, if they were any controversy at all after his book rolled off the presses, but there has certainly been argument. The title of the book leaves off the important phrase, "In My Opinion". Well, it's an expert's ranking, right. But, what makes him an expert? He's read, he's drunk, he's written. So have I , but I've never called myself an expert. I have a feeling the editors chose those phrases. You can't sell a book like this without claiming the author is an expert, otherwise who's going to care?

It is an entertaining, and informative book. Kallen knows how to make funny, the words flow, the pages turn. It's full of history, technical information, real brewing know-how. You can't read this book, without being more interested in the subject, and more informed about it. And, despite the rankings, you can't quarrel about the beers included, ...unless you forget it was written in 1997. There are many beers in these 50 that either don't exist anymore, or have been eclipsed by better ones that have come along. Here's the top ten: Murphy's Irish Stout, Lindeman's Kriek, Schneider Aventinus, Samuel Smith Old Taddy Porter, Chapeau Gueze, Caledonian Organic Pale Ale, Duvel, Rogue Shakespeare Stout, Kulmbacher Reichelbrau Eisbock, and finally Delirium Tremens. Do I agree with this list? Of course not, it's only one "expert's list", from 14 years ago, it's not definitive, it's not binding. There are beers I like on that list, but not sure if they'd be one my list, today. Which is why I dodge the question as much as I can.

But Kallen didn't, and Brouwerij Huyghe went with it. The coasters, and the cases both are adorned with his description of the brew. All of the signage that promotes the beer have the phrase "Elected as Best Beer in the World" The Belgians don't understand the nuances of the English language, perhaps, and don't understand that "elected" and "selected" are not the same. One man's opinion is not an election. One person voting does not make you the world's greatest. And yet, who can blame them for promoting themselves after such an honor. I visited a Rogue Alehouse in Portland, Oregon, in 2002, and saw a poster proclaimed that Shakespeare Stout was considered "#1 Stout in the World", due to it's ranking in Kallen's book. They didn't win a juried competition, it was just one guy, who dabbled in beer over a decade ago, and appears to have given it up. (Sorry, but Mr. Kallen's name does not come up anywhere else regarding beer, after those volumes were published.)

I had the beer sometime after reading his opinion, and was swayed. I had bottle after bottle, and when time came for me to pick my first beer list, I chose D.T., as well as Duvel and De Troch banana lambic (give me a break, it's an African restaurant, here) among the first Belgian beers I stocked. Once I knew kegs were available, D.T., along with Maredsous, was one of the first Belgians I ever put on tap. In January, 2003, I posted the following review on BeerAdvocate.com:
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I've written about this from a bottle and now I've had the privilige to enjoy this beautiful brew on draft. Let me say that the sensation only multiplies!

Color is pure spun gold, head is huge, full, blooming and white.

An utterly unearthly aroma greets you, fresh, sea-foamy, citrus, spice, straw, sugar, a mellifluous melange of fruit and spice!

The true thrill is in the taste, that spark on the tongue! Alcohol comes in soon, warming you up for the next sensation, a hurricane of fruitiness: peaches, apricots, pears, melon, and more. The most apt summation I've ever conceived for this fine brew is "a pale ale crossed with champagne." To test that theory, I blended draft DT with champagne on New Year's Eve, and let me tell you I'm still coming down off that high!

Head remains, as well as sweet, honeyish notes, and pure liquid sunshine, with the alcoholic strength finally giving a full kick at the end. Watch out with this lovely charmer, or you'll start to see those little pink elephants that dance around the bottles and glasses.

Remarkable, and utterly unique. Five stars I stand proudly behind!
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So, for more than eight years, that 5-star review has stood, and I've let it stand as part of my warts and all policy, but I've changed my mind. If it's not really a perfect beer, just a very good one with persuasive marketing (people love that name, love the cute pink elephants, and really love to steal the glasses!). why should I be on record calling it "the best." The marketing leads people reading the signs to ask me over and over again, "is it really the best?" And the only answer to that "try it, what do you think?"
It's all opinion. It's all up to you.
And besides, I'm afraid, internet hype or no internet hype, I'm leaning on Westveletern 12 as best, But I don't think Mr. Kallen had one in 1997, and maybe his life would have been made harder by declaring as #1 a beer from a monastery that wants no publicity and will only sell to people who submit their license plate numbers in advance, before meeting an appointment at a drive-in window. (I have a bottle I've been hanging on to, so a Westveleteren entry is coming soon.)

So, 8 1/2 years after that gusher, here's my current tasting notes of Delirium Tremens, which I will post on BA, replacing the old one...probably bringing it down from all-5's:
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Crystal-clear, golden-hued, majestic head, large, loud, and proud. Stunning.

Aroma: soft fruit, soft spices, light, airy, slightly sweet, and slightly dry, at once. Some orange, lemon, even pear, with a minor, spicy hop attack, but overall, all is mellow.

Now, to taste: Clean, soft, sumptuous, with bitter hops slowly sliding in, nice gritty texture on the palate. It's not altogether harmless and denuded. Not entirely. A tidy fruit blend, a neat blast of hops, with an exquisite pale malt base standing firmly underneath. Add to that a bouyous effervescence that thrills the palate. Tingly, tangly, tongue-ly, it's a terrific ride in the mouth, all before the alcohol becomes evident.

Despite the 9% ABV rushing to the fore, it's incredibly consumable, and urges another swallow, after the last. An ale, though very pilsner-like, but every bit Belgian, candy sugar is involved, and copious hops, and plenty of flavor.
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It should be noted that the other Belgians in Kallen's volume are: Kwak (50), Witkap Pater Single (38) (have I had that?), Lindemans Gueze Cuvee Rene Lambic (36) Rodenbach (30), Liefmans Frambozenbier (22), Saison Dupont (18), Orval (16), Corsendonk Pale Ale (13), Chimay Cinq Cents (11), Lindemans Kriek (9), Chapeau Gueuze Lambic (6), Duvel (4) and D.T. (1).

The Belgian beer geek goes apoplectic from this list. What, no Fantome? No Cantilllon? No St. Bernardus, no Kasteel, no De Dolle, no De Proef., etc., etc. not to mention the many great brews that have come into prominence since then, but that's beside the point. There's not a single dubbel, tripel, or quad. He likes fruit lambics and sours, but come on, where's the range?
Anyway, it doesn't matter, it's all down to opinion, and why is one man's more important than anyone else's ?

Kasteel Cuvee du Chateau

Kasteel Cuvee' des Chateau
brewed to replicate the taste of an aged bottle of Donker (formerly Bruin)…how they do that, I don't know, but that what they accomplish, that's what we want to see.

Plum-brown appearance, firmly opaque, under a slim, cocoa-toned ring of foam.

Aroma: raisins, plum, port, chocolate and spice. Mild molasses, treacle, brown sugar. Big, rich, and ever-flavorful, powerful, yet mellowing.

Hitting the lips, the dark fruit, rich malt, and hugely complex flavors barge on board, with an early trace of the high alcohol content. Magnificent. Not too harsh, not too sweet. Utterly well-rounded, even-handed, with caramel and toffee rising in prominence in the flavor. Lays very softly and elegantly on the palate. One common criticism of Kasteel Donker is an over-sweetness, and this glass has that conquered. What more can I say beyond "very, very mellow."

The plum, the raisin, the toffee and cocoa is all in attendance, but plays it very cool, calm, and coalescent. No cloying sweetness, just extra groovy. Super beautiful. Extra yum. And here and then again, the alcohol sting rises up and coats the brain for a minute. Slicks the tongue, treats the senses.

When I heard of this, that it is brewed to resemble the flavor of an aged Kasteel Donker, I wondered first how you would do that, and then, if you could, why not make that the original beer? I don't have answers for any of those questions, all I can say is that they did it, and it's wonderful. A lovely, spiked plum pudding of a brew, a laced liquid licorice whip, and a toasty, tasty, caramel and toffee confection rolling happily in the mouth, all in one. And all very mellow, very groovy...

Brasserie des Rocs Triple Imperiale

Here's #4 in Belg-a-Rama #8. As stated before, I was holding back until I could find that one Abbaye des Rocs (as it was once called) chalice I have left around here somewhere. No go. Found the Poperings hommel goblet, but this one remains elusive. Oh, well. Let's just taste it again in another glass and move on.
This one I first had when I first tapped it after it was first released back in July of 2005. Notes follow:
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Thoroughly opaque appearance, chestnut hue, or is it magenta? Nonetheless, a dark brown, tempered with crimson...and blessed with a fine head, a creamy, tapioca cap, that lasts a bit, then flattens out.

Nose is sweetness and spice...dark fruit and toffee meets anise and clove? Immense character, vast appeal, with hints of the alcoholic content to come...almost brandy-like at times...

Richly fills the mouth, commands every section of the senses, washes the palate, then fades back, for you to take your breath. Sweet and caramel-y, but not for a moment does it cloy. The taste presents itself, lingers, leaves, but the impression is large and vivid. And here's where my powers fail, in that there is something utterly special about this and all the des Rocs brews that sets them apart, and puts them in a rarified class. Partly the yeast, definitely the malt...whichever, and however, it just slip in under my consciousness, pulls up and subverts my psyche..the real world falls away, and I relax, submit and luxuriate in this uncommon ale.

By that I mean, of course, "tastes great"!

I'm barely feeling the 10 % in this 12 ounce glass, until...whoa, there it is...puts the brake in imbibing, but it's for the best, as you want to take your time with it, and enjoy every second you're in it's company.
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I still like it. No, love it.

Brasserie D'achouffe McChouffe

Here's Belg-A Rama #8, beer #2, a Scotch ale from Brasserie D'achouffe, those keepers of the gnomes (but everyone thinks they're Santa Claus on the tap handle!).
The review I did was another early gusher, from January, 2003, way back 8 1/2 years ago, when I was a scruffy lad of 35. Here's what I wrote:
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Deep dark murky brown color, small, but simmering, tan head.
Aroma: mollasses, nuts, butter, cream, dates, raisins, dark rum, all the rich flavors one can imagine.
Thick, full, hot mouthfeel, full body, tingly hops.
Super-charged with hops, the flavor keeps on coming, simmers and stews, with a long lasting, rich, satisfying finish!
Takes the cake for all brown ales everywhere, past, present, future.
Round, delicious, sensuous, and utterly lip smackin'!
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that was from a big, bad, brown bomber bottle. Drinking it now, on tap...yeah, it's still pretty damned good!

One not so hidden fact about this blog, is that I try to have the appropriate glassware whenever possible. This is why I haven't boxed any glasses up for my upcoming move. And this is why I didn't choose Brasserie des Rocs Tripel Imperiale, because I know for a fact that there is one BdR glass here somewhere. And same for Poperings Hommel Ale, I know there has to be at least one. The others? Kasteel Cuvee de Chateau, I have the glassware, but it will require a full review. Not feeling like it tonight. Delirium Tremens is also part of Belg-a-Rama #8, and if you recall my entries on the other Delirium brews, this one calls for a rewrite. Stay tuned as I search for those glasses, and buckle down for some serious scrutinizing.

Duvel Single

It's time for another Belg-a-Rama, isn't it? Especially since it's also St. Arnoldus Day, the Belgian holiday that Artisanal Imports is promoting nationwide. I'm throwing a little party for it, today, and folding it into another Belg-a-Rama. Today only, I'm adding another 6 Belgians on tap, making a total Belgian tap takeover. Why not?

Of this line-up, there are two I've never had before. This is the first.

Duvel Single. Here's what the brewery says about it:

"Duvel Single is a 6.8% ABV draught variant of Belgium’s best selling specialty ale Duvel 8.5% ABV.  The Single Fermentation refers to the fact that it undergoes just one fermentation process.  This gives it a gentle hoppiness, a mild aroma, and a subtle, fruity bite.  Brewery Staff at Duvel Moortgat have enjoyed Duvel Single Fermentation 6.8% for decades."

Here's what I'm saying:

clear, golden, huge, majestic head, much puffery, lovely to look at, delightful to know.

Angelic aromatics, utterly gorgeous. Lightly spicy, lightly fruity…just beautiful.

Taste: the same hops, the same fruit, the same effervescence, the same spark on the tongue is here, without some of the alcohol, and without certain of the complexities. Would be great to try side by side with a bottle of regular Duvel. Well, why don't I?

Great idea, here goes…

Duvel bottle…mmm, ahhh…, Wow! A blast of citrus fruit, mild spice, and intense carbonation and effervescence. Champagne-like spritziness. A joy in the mouth, dazzling, and delicious, and begging the mouth for more. This reminds me of why I love Duvel and why everyone else should. Damn, this is great stuff!

The draft version? Softer, milder, easier down the ol' gullet…lacking in several flavor areas, as well. But, if that's the best they can do to replicate it in a keg, well, they're doing okay. Not great, just okay.

What can I say? wish them the best of luck with this, but it in no way replicates the true joys of Duvel in the bottle. It is no substitute at all, and if they fear that this will hurt sales of Duvel in bottles at on-premise accounts, they need not worry.
There's simply no comparison.
But, perhaps there's a niche market for those looking for lighter, simpler experience. I'm not going to be in that camp.

Cuvee des Trolls Cuvee Speciale 10th Anniversary

I had no idea Cuvee des Trolls was 10 years old. I had never heard of it, until kegs were offered a couple of years ago. Those Belgians and their love of little people. The gnomes of Brasserie d'achouffe, the "erthels" of Urthel, and one of the most famous cartoon character out of Belgium, Peyo's Smurfs.

To get myself in the proper mood, I put on a movie. Not "Troll 2", that's about goblins, no matter what the director will tell you. I'd never seen the original "Troll" from 1986, but what a delight. Swinging Sonny Bono, lovely June Lockhart, a surprisingly non-wooden Michael Moriarty, and an evil Troll trying to turn an apartment building into a fantasy forest /alternate dimension. He just about turns every tenant into a horrible rubbery creature, except Julia Louis Dreyfus, who becomes a scantily clad wood nymph, which is how it should be, of course.

Ah, but the beer. Here's what I had to say:

Cuvee' des Trolls Cuve'e Speciale, Belgian Ale Refermented in the bottle. I pint, 9.4 fl. oz. , 10th Anniversary Cuvee Speciale, Product of Belgium, 7% Alc., by Vol.
From Brasserie Dubuisson, makers of the Bush/Scaldis line. I like them.
Brewed in limited quantities, Troll's 10th Anniversary special edition accentuates the delicate qualities and fruity aroma of Cuvee des Trolls thanks to it's secondary fermentation in the bottle. Enjoy!
Brewed with: water, malt, sugar, hops, and yeast.

Clouded, golden-hue, large, snowy-white head, lacy and long-lasting.

Aromatics of yeast, light malt, light hops, citrus-y hops and considerable spice. Air-y, lemon-y, and delightful. Mmm, mmm.

Now, let's taste it: light, spritzy, carbonated, lemon and orange, yeasty. Mmm. Now, how is this different from regular Trolls? I can't think of it. I don't have a regular Trolls next to me to compare to it. But, what can I say, it's Mmmm, mmm.
So good. A little sharp, a little smooth, a bit creamy, and altogether mmmm.
Another gulp, another sip, and it's more mmm, yeah.

Again, I can't say there's anything better than the regular Trolls, and I tried it for the first time two years ago….more yeast, more smooth, more creamy, more Mmmm.

Light bodied, light textured, fluffy mouthfeel…mmm, and yum, I just keep saying'…cream and orange, lemon and yum, not too this, not too that, just altogether ahhh….

Green's Gluten Free Tripel Blonde Ale

Gluten Free Greens' Tripel Blonde ale, "all Natural Quest", ale made from millet, buckwheat, rice & sorghum. Product of Belgium, 1 Pint, o.9 FL. Oz./500 Ml. Green's ales are brewed and bottled by De Proef Brouwerij, Lochristi, Gent, Belgium.
Green's ales DO NOT contain any of the following: Wheat and / or barley, Crustaceans, Eggs, Fish, Peanuts, Soya beans, milk, lactose, nuts, celery, mustard, sesame seeds, sulphur dioxide, and Sulfites.
Best before: 05/08/15
Bottle re-fermented, 8.5% ALC/VOL.

I don't know if I've ever had a gluten free beer. Wait. Yes, One. Didn't feel the need to try any others since. But, here's an intriguing sample, with the added promise of NO crustaceans, celery, or peanuts!

Clear, golden color, gigantic crystalline head, leaving lace, a perfect snowy white.

Aroma: slightly acidic, sharp lemony flavors, hot, peppery spice. Very much like a triple.

Taste: Very light bodied, with a spicy, citric edge. A large spicy, citric edge, too big for it's featherweight frame. Not giving me much of what I'd like here, much too rough, could be softer, smoother, needs something to temper this raw alcoholic, hot and overly acidic flavor. It becomes nothing but lemon in the end, and that's not too pleasant, my friends.

I'm glad something like this exists for those who suffers from allergies and aversions, but I wish it would taste a lot better than this.

Wittekerke witbier

It's been hot lately. Sooo hot. Too darned hot. Can't you feel it, hot, hot, hot. And so on, and etcetera.
When it's like this I like a good witbier. Love them, in fact. Here's a photo of the contents of a can of Wittekerke from Bavik, consumed at the bar at Bryant Lake Bowl, Thursday, June 30.
And here are notes I took from a bottle back in December, 2002:


Big,white head, pale yellow,hazy color.

Deep wheat aroma. Super fresh!

I'm wishing I had more food/spice experience to conjure more descriptors.
The regular gang are in attendance:coriander, curacao,anything else?
Very bright, floral, honeyish, lemony (but don't put a lemon in it, please! Let beer be beer!)
Soft texture, wonderful drinkability, some graininess, but still creamy, luxurious. I could drink this by the pitcher on a hot summer day! Tastes great anytime, though.

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I didn't get a lemon when the bartender served this can for me, but he did so with my first beer of the afternoon, Summit Hefe Weizen. I guess since the tap handle features a lemon, he feels it's necessary, but with me it's always, "no fruit, please!"

Oud Beersel Framboise (raspberry lambic)

Oud Beersel Framboise, another one that I know I'd had before I started reviewing (there's a label on one of my notebook collages, I'm sure of it), but never got around to reviewing until I tapped it last fall. (Unless it's one of those that fell off the truck over at BeerAdvocate.) Oud Beersel Framboise was part of Belg-a-Rama #1, back in November, before I started doing this. Got another keg for that Belg-a-Rama 6 1/2 event for Craft Beer Week. Now, it's back on tap, replacing the Timmermans Framboise. I was very glad that they were both briefly on tap together (late Tuesday, early Wednesday) so that I could compare for myself. Yeah, as raspberry lambics go, it's pretty damned great. Here's what I wrote back in November.
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Fresh off the tap!

Rosy red, clear, bright, with an amazingly pink head, puffy, pillowy, large, lace-leaving, slow to crumble.

Bold aromatics, sends the sweet/tart raspberry-ness far and wide. This is the nose that hits the guy on the other end of the bar, whether he wants it or not. I'm going to pull it up to my nose...
There we go, real raspberries, tart and sweet, weird, fresh, and funky. Love it.

Taste: soft, then zesty, then sour, next flush with fruit. Mmmm, pucker, then the sweet, then the sour, then the zippy refreshment, and the smiles. Funky, funky lambic time! Mmm, delicious. This is the right stuff, never too sweet, the right mix of fruit and funk!

Tassss-teeee!!! Way to go, Oud Beersel, this is the stuff! Good as they get!

Hop-Ruiter Golden Ale

Here's the 5th Belg-a-Rama 7 beer I've listed so far, here. Leaves only one. I've done this one just in time, as the keg feels ready to kick. Timmermans and Moinette Brune are both done. Got it just in time, luckily, as I've never had it, and would rather not have it run out before I write my notes and have to buy a bottle. (Oh, yes, this has happened.)

So, here are my recently written notes (minutes ago!):

Hop-Ruiter. I'm not sure what that means. I've tried to find out, but failed. It has something to do with hops, but nothing to do with Reuters News Services. What's a ruiter? There are horses on the logo, maybe it means "rider"? A rider of hops, mmmm? {I've since been informed by one of the owners of Vanberg & Dewulf that my guess is correct. Hooray, me!}
And how do you say it? Again, I don't know, no one will tell me, I can't figure it out. "rooter"? Royter? Reeter? I'm saying "router", and I'll keep on it until someone corrects me.

So here we have a brewery I've never heard of, collaborating with an American importer to create a hoppier-than -normal golden ale. And now it's on tap (a week ago, and I had to hurry and review because it's nearly gone!) and in my glass.

It looks beautiful, Clear, golden, shiny, lovely…gorgeous white head, lace-leaving, delicate and pretty, very inviting.

Let's smell it, already…pepper and straw, lemon and lime, coriander? Cumin? I'm at a loss when it comes to spices, sometimes, but that's the main thing, spice, then citrus, plenty of hoppy associations. Wonderful.

Now, to taste it…smooth and creamy, slides effortlessly down the throat. Then the hops, the spice, the citric twang climb back up and stake their claim. Another drink and it remains, the small sweetness, the big bitterness, the fruit and the spice. Yum, this is sweetly drink…I mean, consumable, with just enough bitter, just enough fruit to keep a great balance of those opposites. Such magnificent balance. Never too much here or there, this or that, it all matches and meets. A Duvel meets a czech pilsner, impersonating a La Chouffe Houblon, perhaps.

Light bodied, long, hoppy finish, lingers long on the palate…keeps remindin
Whatever it is, it is every degree of yummy. That is to say, satisfactory, or, in other words, tasty!!
Mmm, mmm, yeah. There's a few good syllables.

Timmermans Framboise raspberry lambic

Beer #4 of the Belg-a-Rama #7 beers. A raspberry lambic from Timmermans, a brewery I know very little about. But, hey, we have to try them, right?

Fresh on tap, one of the most expensive kegs I've ever heard tell of...the bottles are pricey, too. Is it worth it?

Pink, pudding-ish head, rosy, raspberry-y appearance, clear at the bottom, darker near the top.

Aroma: sweet, ever-so-slightly tart. Very raspberry, only slightly cloying, not quite in Kool-aid land, but dangerously close.

Taste: Intense flavors on first sip, very puckering, but the tart mellows out with a quickness. Raspberry flavor is fast and furious, then smooths out and leaves the palate quietly. Raise the glass again, down it goes: rapsberry, tart, but, as it says on their website, ""faithfully reflects the colour and flavour of ripe raspberries with no trace of the acidity of lambic."
See, that acidity is something I could actually go for, especially in a fruit lambic. What's left is certainly flavorful and consumable, but rather uninspired.
Fairly flat and one-dimensional, but I hear that's what sells these days.
If you're looking for a more authentic version, look for Oud Beersel, Cantillon, Drei Fonteneine, Boon, or elsewhere.

Verhaeghe Echte Kriekenbier

September 2005 was the first time I cracked open a bottle with pen held to paper nearby. Drinking it now on tap, Belg-a-Rama #7 beer #3. Here are those notes:

Seein' it: Rosy red is the color, mainly clear, with a proud, fizzy, pinkish head that collapses assuredly, but slowly...

Smellin' it: big time cherry, massive sour notes, very vibrant and arousing.

Tastin' it: Oooo, wince, pucker, grimace, shudder, ...ahhhh!!!
Very tasty, when you enjoy that sensation. Lip smackin', with a recurring fruity flavor. Brilliantly bitter. Medium bodied, long, fruity, sour finish. Thoroughly spanks the palate, slapping cherry-whips on the tongue.

Just delicious.