Blanche des Bruxelles

Another witbier, this one more authentic, known as Mannenken Pis in it's homeland, called Blanche des Bruxelles (the white of Brussels) here in the United States. We may produce and drink beer that looks and tastes like piss, but we will not allow the word on a label here in our country. Not missing, however, is that peeing boy who is so celebrated in Brussels. Now, the notes, from May, 2008, the first time I got my hands on a bottle.


There's the pissing boy of Manneken Pis on the label.

Hazy straw yellow, smallish white head.

Airy, spicy, lovely nose...fresh and perfumey. Coriander in there, and notes of lemon, herbs, dandelions, fresh mown grass.

Nice texture, citric flavor, zesty, spicy, and very refreshing. Great play on the palate, tingles and tantalizes, shuffles, bucks and wings, boogies and breakdances up and down.

Plentiful flavor, much delight on the tongue. Good witbier!

Lefebvre Hopus Ale

Found this one marked down to $1.99 a bottle at Zipp's, and it seems that I reviewed for the first time a little over a year ago, january of 2010. Here are those brief notes:

Lefebvre Hopus Ale, Brasserie Lefebvre, previously tasted in the Barbar Winter Bok.

"Brutus, Amarus, Flavusque. (?)"

Lightly hazed and yellow...enormous, bright white head, leaving much lace.

sharp and bitter aromatics, floral, lemony...

Bitter, hoppy slap to the palate up front, then softly faded back...gets milder, slightly sweetwhile retaining the hoppy flavor. Needs more body, and a bit more from the hops to compare to Poperings and the like.

I enjoyed it to an extent, found it quaffable and passable, but nothing special. At that price, though, I may go back for another.

Barbar Winter Bok

I've had this on tap before, at Acadia Cafe, and have finally put it on tap at the Nile for my second in a series I'm calling Belg-a-Rama, and, no, I'm no longer ashamed of the name, nay, I embrace it.

Barbar Winter Bok (aka Barbar Biere de Noel)

In the frosted Barbar handle mug, it appears dark brown, with a slim, tan head holding tight on top.

Aroma: Honey is evident, and doesn't contribute to too much sweetness, with orange there, too, and a nice drizzling of coriander. Interesting that the two main flavors of a wit are here in this dark winter offering, yet we don't really get the feel of a wit. The dark malts match those flavors to a t, although they don't add too many of their own. Some minor chocolate, a drip of molasses. (Or is that the honey tricking me?

Taste: sweet, smooth, and lightly spicy. Delcicious dark malt meets these sweet & spicy flavors, and I had to just call it a delight. It's not terrifically complex, but not everything has to be. It is medium to full body, and hangs in there on the palate, but doesn't overstay it's welcome. It's like sweet and lovely meets body and soul.

8% alcohol helps the heat and the warmth. Flavors are a total treat.

I'm still rather confused by the designation "bok", while they yet call it an "ale". ("Bock" beers are malty, dark lagers.) Maybe that word means something else in Belgium?

Something else weird, one the glass what looks like a sword and shield carrying amazon is a mono-toned outline, perhaps suggesting nudity? On the tap handle, the figure is clothed. Standards? Censorship? Whatever.It's a tasty brew, and I will return to it again.