4 Stars

4 Stars, Abdij O.L.V. Koningshoeven, Strong Ale

La Trappe – Isid’or by Abdij O.L.V. Koningshoeven

Brother Isidorus Laaber was the first brew master of the Onze Lieve Vrouw of Koningshoeven Abbey. Originally brewed on the 125th anniversary of the brewery’s founding but now part of the permanent lineup.

Poured a rich but hazy amber with small bubbles making up the white head. A combination of malty, caramelly, fruity aroma with some classic Belgian yeasty spiciness. Large amount of carbonation greats you followed by overwhelmingly caramel flavors, light bitterness with a fruity finish. Nice.

4 Stars.

4 Stars, De Dolle Brouwers, Strong Ale

Stille Nacht by De Dolle Brouwers

Poured a murky apricot with almost no apparent carbonation. Aromas of malt, caramel, fruit and some sweetness.  Full bodied, smooth mouthfeel. Loads of complex flavor; sweet fruit (apple, banana, tropical) flavors are at the front, good alcohol punch, faintly herbal, some yeasty spiciness, lightly bitter with fruit and malt as a long lasting finish. Great sipping beer, which is probably a good idea since it weighs in at a hefty 12% ABV.

4.5 Stars.

4 Stars, De Struise Brouwers, Tripel

XXX – Rye Tripple – Reserva 2013 by De Struise Brouwers 

Best before November 2019, only half way there. Pours a murky dark reddish brown with a small amount of rapidly disappearing head.  Complex aroma of peach, spice and faint bourbon. Fruity at first quickly switching to bourbon and charred oak, honey like sweetness, leading to a spicy, peppery finish. At 10% the alcohol doesn’t disappear but complements the other flavors very nicely. I would bet this will continue to age well. Aren’t all bourbon barrel aged beers stouts? Not this one and that’s a good thing.

4 Stars.

4 Stars, De Struise Brouwers

Pannepot Grand Reserva – 2010 Vintage by De Struise Brouwers

Old Fisherman’s Ale Aged On Oak.

Appears black in the glass but pours a dark brown with a very small amount of head. Aromas of chocolate and oak with some whiskey character. Creamy mouthfeel with plenty of carbonation, particularly for a beer with this much age. Bitter chocolate, fruit and spices finishes with oak followed by subtle vanilla. Full flavored; a great sipping beer.

4.5 Stars.

4 Stars, Deca Services

Vleteren – Blond by Deca Services

Golden orange in appearance; lively carbonation but no appreciable head retention. Fantastic aroma of fresh fruit, oak and alcohol. Thick mouth feel, sweet and lightly bitter. Complex flavors of fruit, oak, subtle honey and vanilla with a large alcoholic punch. Not sure where a 12% oak aged blond fits as far as style but this is a big beer and a must try.

4 Stars.

4 Stars, Blonde, Deca Services

Antiek – Blonde Old Strong Ale by Deca Services

Another in my recent run of 8% Blonds, each by different brewers but all brewed at the same brewery, Deca Services.  So how does the brewery who brewed all brews own brew hold up?

First look shows a crystal clear blond with a small amount of long lasting bright white head.  Bitter hop aroma, apricot and classic spicy Belgian yeast character greet the nose.  Well balanced and smooth, flavors lining up with the aroma, not a trace of alcohol to be found.  Long lasting spicy aftertaste.  Very reminiscent of Trappist Blonds.

4 Stars.

4 Stars, Blonde

Papegari by Brouwerij Verstraete

Pours a golden straw with no head accumulation.  The nose picks up a strong spicy yeast aroma, some earthy fruit notes as well. First sip, wow, this is the spiciest Belgian Blond I have ever tried. Bitter orange peel, pepper, finishes dry with a long pleasant fruity aftertaste.  Leaves a tingling feeling on the tongue. 8% but not a hint of alcohol to be found. Very interesting beer, I am not accustom to a Blond that packs so much flavor that it almost overwhelms the  palate. I really like the beer, it may push the boundaries of the style but it is great to see what different flavors a Brewer can accomplish with the same set of ingredients.

4.5 Stars.

4 Stars, Blonde

Klets by Brouwerij Bier & Karakter (B&K)

Pours a crystal clear blond (at least until I emptied too much of the bottle into the glass and clouded it up). Loads of bright white fizzy head. Luscious aroma of mandarin oranges, sweet malt and spicy Belgian yeast character.  Complex flavors greet the tongue; spicy, peppery, mild hop bitterness , pleasant long lasting aftertaste. 

Label aside a solid 4 stars.

4 Stars, De Struise Brouwers

Yepres – Reserva 2011 by De Struise Brouwers

Pours a dark reddish-brown with a finger of quickly dissipating brown head. Loads of fruit, predominantly cherry, as well as vanilla and oak aroma.  The first impression is tart, followed by sour fruit, cherry and oak again, some acidity but not overly so.   Like any good Flanders Red it is an incredibly complex beer that is difficult to describe; compares very well to the gold standards of Duchesse and Grand Cru.  I tied reviewing this beer once before but the bottle I opened was a gusher and I lost the vast majority of the beer all over my counter, very happy to have no such problem this time.

4.5 Stars

4 Stars, Tripel, Westmalle

Triple by Westmalle

Poured a hazy deep gold with slow developing, but long lasting, bright white head.  Smells of pit fruit, spiciness, some malt and faint hop character. Plenty of carbonation, full of flavor that lines right up with the aroma, finishes dry. Nothing gives away the 9.5% alcohol content.

Interesting tidbit about Westmalle they supply the yeast to their Trappist friends at Westvleteren and they both share the same bottles.

4 Stars.

4 Stars, Brasserie Du Bocq, Dubbel

Waterloo – Double 8 Dark by Brasserie Du Bocq

Pours a dark brown with great clarity and one finger of creamy looking head.  A deep breath is not needed to pick up the warm alcohol aroma with strong candi overtones.  Ample carbonation, sweet and surprisingly light.  No alcohol punch to follow the smell.  Typical dubbel flavors abound, caramel, candi syrup, raisin and dates.  Solid beer, I could definitely drink a couple of these.

Interesting story on the label. “This 100% natural craft beer originated in one of the oldest breweries in Belgium, the “Brasserie du Marche” in Braine-L’Alleud (Waterloo), which was founded in 1456. In 1815, during the battle of Waterloo, the allied troops drank this beer, which was recognized for giving “Strength” and “Courage”… Waterloo, the Beer of Victory!”

4 Stars.

4 Stars, Dubbel, Westvletern

8 by Westvletern

Pours a beautiful dark amber with a long lasting beige head that clings to the side of the glass. Subtle classic Trappist yeast aroma; raisin, fig, candi sugar, fruit, spice. First thing you notice when taking a sip is the creamy head, highly carbonated (but not overly so), followed by a burst of flavor similar to aroma but more pronounced. Fades into a alcoholic, slightly sweet and mildly bitter aftertaste. No one flavor or aroma dominates the rest. You are going to find the bottom of the glass too quickly.

4.5 Stars

4 Stars, Blonde, Westvletern

Blond by Westvletern

Pours a clear golden color, lots of visible carbonation, small bright white head that lasts and lasts. Aroma is of light malt, hop crispness. Taste is well balanced; fruit, again malt, wheat, yeasty and pleasant bitterness with a faint grainy finish. A great beer for sitting in the shade with a few friends on a hot day.

4 stars

4 Stars, De Struise Brouwers, Quad

Pannepot – Old Fishermans Ale – 2014 by De Struise Brouwers

Pours a dark brown, tinge of red, small amount of beige head.  Smells of caramel, fig, dried fruit and a hint of booze.  Full flavor, strong malt backbone, again with the dried fruit, finishes spicy with a mellow alcohol flavor.  Incredibly smooth considering it comes in at a stout 10%.  A perfect beer for a stormy night (like tonight).  I think I have enough of these for a multiyear vertical… Stay tuned.

4 stars