Month: March 2016

4 Stars, Brassiere du Rochefort, Quad

Rochefort 10 by Brassiere du Rochefort

Dark brown with a tinge of red, long lasting tan head. Fruit aroma, subtle yeasty spiciness and malt sweetness, tracking right with the 8. Dark fruit, caramel tones, more bitterness to balance out the stronger flavors and high alcohol (11.3%), finishes lightly sweet. Like all good Trappist beers the results are complex (secret code for hard to describe), balanced, and the alcohol well hidden. The 6, 8 and 10 taste like increasing versions of each other, subtle difference are there, but overall more flavor comes with more malt and as a result more alcohol. Of the three I give a slight edge to the 8. It is rare that you have to give up so little in the way of taste when going with a lower alcohol beer.

4 Stars.

Brassiere du Rochefort, Dubbel

Rochefort 8 by Brassiere du Rochefort

Pour appears a hazy brown but once held to light reveals a dark red, same tan head as the Rochefort 6. Strong fruit aroma, subtle yeasty spiciness and malt sweetness. More body than the 6, flavor follows aroma with fruit spicy and malt, bitterness provides a good balance, finishes nice and dry. Balanced and very drinkable though you better not drink too fast as the 9.2% AVB is nowhere to be found. Much like a the 6, this dubbel is a little outside the lines typical to the style.

4 Stars.

3 Stars, Brassiere du Rochefort, Dubbel

Rochefort 6 by Brassiere du Rochefort

Pours a deep amber with a large tan head. Aroma is predominantly malty with fruit and subtle alcohol tones. Taste is strong of both fruit and malt, finishes slightly sweet and alcoholic. This is the oldest of Rochefort’s three beers and represents about 1% of their total output. Overall I would say this is a bit of a departure from your typical Trappist dubbel and that is not a bad thing at all.

3.5 Stars.

3 Stars, Dubbel, St. Bernardus

Prior 8 by St Bernardus

Pours murky brown with an off-white head. Aroma of toffee, malt, dark fruit. High carbonation, nicely balanced, slightly sweet, malty, dried fruit, some bitterness on the end. Overall a fine easy drinking beer, but to me, it is a thinner, less flavorful, version of Abt 12 and who wants that?

3.5 Stars.

5 Stars, De Struise Brouwers, Imperial Stout

Cuvee Delphine by De Struise Brouwers 

First let me start. Oh man, this is good.

Brewed in 2012, bottled in 2014, drank in 2016, best before 2019.  The disavowed offspring of Black Albert.  This beer takes Black Albert and was aged on Four Roses Kentucky bourbon barrels.  Described as a “Royal Stout”.  Artwork by Delphine Boel.

Pours a midnight black with a small amount of long lasting brown head. Inviting aroma of sweet roasted malt, subtle dark fruit and as the beer warms the bourbon becomes more pronounced. High carbonation gives this beer a smooth mouthfeel. Complex and well balanced makes the beer difficult to describe.  Roasted malt, bitter chocolate, vanilla, light bourbon and some sweetness as a counter to it all. Long bitter and bourbon finish. 11% alcohol as mellow as can be. No need to sip but you are going to want to savor this great beer.

5 Stars.

4 Stars, De Struise Brouwers, Strong Ale

Tsjeeses Reserva – 2012 by De Struise Brouwers

Strong Ale, bourbon barrel aged, 2012 vintage, best before the day after Christmas 2018. Poured a hazy amber with a decent amount of off white head. Strong aroma of fruit, orange and apricot, mellow bourbon character. Complex fruit flavors, long lasting interplay between a pleasant bitterness and bourbon warmth to finish. The 10% alcohol is there but so damn smooth you would be forgiven for not noticing.

4.5 Stars.