Virtual Craft Beer Tasting Club » Discussions

Belgian Style Ale Tasting Apr 1-15

• oregonbeerlover

  

  Member
   

  March 30, 2009

  Go out and try a Belgian style ale brewed in the US, Belgium, or just anywhere you can find one, and let us know what you think of it. Post your tasting comments here! Cheers!

  Go out and try a Belgian style ale brewed in the US, Belgium, or just anywhere you can find one, and let us know what you think of it. Post your tasting comments here! Cheers!
• oregonbeerlover

  

  Member
   

  March 31, 2009

  
  
  Stone Collaboration with Alesmith Brewing and Mikkeller Brewing
  Belgian Style Triple Ale, 8.7% ABV
  
  This collaboration ale was between the two California breweries (Stone and Alesmith) and Mikkeller Brewing in Denmark. The taste of this beer kind of reminded me of Stone’s Double Bastard meets Rogue’s Double Dead Guy.
  
  Appearance: poured out hazy golden amber with a thin cream colored head. Head dissipated within a minute or so
  
  Smell: Definite tropical fruit and bread like presence, some hops and malt.
  
  Taste: The alcohol in this hit me fairly quickly. I got the malt and hops, just a slight piney like taste but not overly bitter. The tropical fruits...perhaps mango, banana, pineapple, were also present
  
  Mouthfeel: medium bodied, not overly carbonated
  
  Drinkability: a little too alcohol present for my taste, but still a good tasting brew
  
  I consider this a fairly decent beer. If I were to grade it, I would give it a “B”.
  

  
  
  Stone Collaboration with Alesmith Brewing and Mikkeller Brewing
  Belgian Style Triple Ale, 8.7% ABV
  
  This collaboration ale was between the two California breweries (Stone and Alesmith) and Mikkeller Brewing in Denmark. The taste of this beer kind of reminded me of Stone’s Double Bastard meets Rogue’s Double Dead Guy.
  
  Appearance: poured out hazy golden amber with a thin cream colored head. Head dissipated within a minute or so
  
  Smell: Definite tropical fruit and bread like presence, some hops and malt.
  
  Taste: The alcohol in this hit me fairly quickly. I got the malt and hops, just a slight piney like taste but not overly bitter. The tropical fruits...perhaps mango, banana, pineapple, were also present
  
  Mouthfeel: medium bodied, not overly carbonated
  
  Drinkability: a little too alcohol present for my taste, but still a good tasting brew
  
  I consider this a fairly decent beer. If I were to grade it, I would give it a “B”.
  
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  April 1, 2009

  Pranqster Belgian Style Golden Ale, 7.60% ABV
  North Coast brewing Company, Fort Breagg, CA
  
  The Pranqster Belgian Style Golden Ale from North Coast Brewing Company in Fort Bragg, CA pours out a golden copper in color with perfect clarity and a thin white head that readily dissipates. On the nose aromas of clove, orange, banana, fresh flowers and a sweetness almost like honey. Great flavors in the mouth - orange, pear, apple, clove, honey, doughy white bread - that end with a slight tartness. Medium bodied. No lacing. Good carbonation. Quite a bit of oil to the mouthfeel. A very nice, very well made Belgian Style Golden Ale
  
  

  Pranqster Belgian Style Golden Ale, 7.60% ABV
  North Coast brewing Company, Fort Breagg, CA
  
  The Pranqster Belgian Style Golden Ale from North Coast Brewing Company in Fort Bragg, CA pours out a golden copper in color with perfect clarity and a thin white head that readily dissipates. On the nose aromas of clove, orange, banana, fresh flowers and a sweetness almost like honey. Great flavors in the mouth - orange, pear, apple, clove, honey, doughy white bread - that end with a slight tartness. Medium bodied. No lacing. Good carbonation. Quite a bit of oil to the mouthfeel. A very nice, very well made Belgian Style Golden Ale
  
  
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  April 1, 2009

  Grimbergen Blonde Ale, 6.70% ABV
  Brouwerij Alken-Maes, Alken, Belgium
  
  The Grimbergen Blonde Ale from Brouwerij Alken-Maes in Alken, Belgium pours out gold in color with nice clarity and a large white heads that dissipates slowly. On the nose aromas of banana, apple, pear, vanilla, honey and sweet malt. In the mouth the flavor intensifies through the palate. Quite subdued at first with banana, apple and a little spice followed by the same flavors intensifying with a touch of honey then a slight undertone of bitterness. Very nice lacing. Moderate carbonation. Light side of medium bodied. Clean mouthfeel. Quite a long finish. A very nice beer that is an easy drinker.
  
  

  Grimbergen Blonde Ale, 6.70% ABV
  Brouwerij Alken-Maes, Alken, Belgium
  
  The Grimbergen Blonde Ale from Brouwerij Alken-Maes in Alken, Belgium pours out gold in color with nice clarity and a large white heads that dissipates slowly. On the nose aromas of banana, apple, pear, vanilla, honey and sweet malt. In the mouth the flavor intensifies through the palate. Quite subdued at first with banana, apple and a little spice followed by the same flavors intensifying with a touch of honey then a slight undertone of bitterness. Very nice lacing. Moderate carbonation. Light side of medium bodied. Clean mouthfeel. Quite a long finish. A very nice beer that is an easy drinker.
  
  
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  April 2, 2009

  Duvel Belgian Golden Ale, 8.50% ABV
  Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV, Breendonk-Puurs, Belgium
  
  The Duvel Belgian Golden Ale from Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV in Breendonk-Puurs, Belgium pours out a pale gold in color with perfect clarity and a big, dense fluffy, white head. On the nose aromas of apple, clove and some yeast. in the mouth this wonderful beer first comes at you slightly sweet with good fruit flavors followed by spice, even some white pepper, then a crisp bitterness to finish things off. Medium bodied. Monster lacing. Good carbonation. Clean mouthfeel with just a tad of creaminess. Slightly drying on the finish. One of the great brews that others compare themselves to.
  
  

  Duvel Belgian Golden Ale, 8.50% ABV
  Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV, Breendonk-Puurs, Belgium
  
  The Duvel Belgian Golden Ale from Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV in Breendonk-Puurs, Belgium pours out a pale gold in color with perfect clarity and a big, dense fluffy, white head. On the nose aromas of apple, clove and some yeast. in the mouth this wonderful beer first comes at you slightly sweet with good fruit flavors followed by spice, even some white pepper, then a crisp bitterness to finish things off. Medium bodied. Monster lacing. Good carbonation. Clean mouthfeel with just a tad of creaminess. Slightly drying on the finish. One of the great brews that others compare themselves to.
  
  
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  April 2, 2009

  Grimbergen Double Ale, 6.50% ABV
  Brouwerij Alken-Maes, Alken, Belgium
  
  The Grimbergen Double Ale from Brouwerij Alken-Maes in Alken, Belgium pours out mahogany in color with nice clarity and a frothy, light tan head that dissipates after a few minutes. On the nose aromas of chocolate, dark dried fruit, toffee and some coffee. In the mouth you first taste the sweetness with some roasted grain and a lot of dried, dark fruit that evolves into toffeed goodness with a bitter bite near the end. Medium to full bodied. Good carbonation. Very nice lacing. There is a cream to the mouthfeel that gives way to prickly carbonation. Long finish with lots of toffee. A very, very nice beer.
  
  

  Grimbergen Double Ale, 6.50% ABV
  Brouwerij Alken-Maes, Alken, Belgium
  
  The Grimbergen Double Ale from Brouwerij Alken-Maes in Alken, Belgium pours out mahogany in color with nice clarity and a frothy, light tan head that dissipates after a few minutes. On the nose aromas of chocolate, dark dried fruit, toffee and some coffee. In the mouth you first taste the sweetness with some roasted grain and a lot of dried, dark fruit that evolves into toffeed goodness with a bitter bite near the end. Medium to full bodied. Good carbonation. Very nice lacing. There is a cream to the mouthfeel that gives way to prickly carbonation. Long finish with lots of toffee. A very, very nice beer.
  
  
• oregonbeerlover

  

  Member
   

  April 3, 2009

  Nice frothy head on that Duvel!!

  Nice frothy head on that Duvel!!
• oregonbeerlover

  

  Member
   

  April 3, 2009

  
  
  Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van de Keizer Belgian Blonde Ale
  Brewery Het Anker – Mechelen, Belgium
  10% ABV
  
  This beer is not to be confused with the Cuvee Van de Keizer d’Or which is a darker ale.
  
  This beer is only brewed once a year around the birthday of Charles the Fifth – February 24th.
  
  I could tell this beer was going to be sweet tasting from first sniff. It poured out cloudy and golden with a nice white frothy head. The nose was overpowering vanilla, sweet cinnamon and nutmeg like french toast. I jumped back and exclaimed “Wow” upon sniffing it.
  
  The taste is sweet from start to finish, with a very clingy syrupy honey taste. For those who like sweet high alcohol beer – maybe you barleywine drinkers – this beer is for you. No bite to this beer at all...pretty sweet all the way through. Not a hop-head beer.
  
  Alcohol punch is definitely there, as one would expect at 10% ABV.
  

  
  
  Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van de Keizer Belgian Blonde Ale
  Brewery Het Anker – Mechelen, Belgium
  10% ABV
  
  This beer is not to be confused with the Cuvee Van de Keizer d’Or which is a darker ale.
  
  This beer is only brewed once a year around the birthday of Charles the Fifth – February 24th.
  
  I could tell this beer was going to be sweet tasting from first sniff. It poured out cloudy and golden with a nice white frothy head. The nose was overpowering vanilla, sweet cinnamon and nutmeg like french toast. I jumped back and exclaimed “Wow” upon sniffing it.
  
  The taste is sweet from start to finish, with a very clingy syrupy honey taste. For those who like sweet high alcohol beer – maybe you barleywine drinkers – this beer is for you. No bite to this beer at all...pretty sweet all the way through. Not a hop-head beer.
  
  Alcohol punch is definitely there, as one would expect at 10% ABV.
  
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  April 3, 2009

  Brother Thelonious Belgian Style Abbey Ale, 9.40% ABV
  North Coast Brewing Company, Fort Bragg, CA
  
  The Brother Thelonious Belgian Style Abbey Ale, America Artisan Series, from North Coast Brewing Company in Fort Bragg, CA pours out a mahogany brown in color with nice clarity and a thin tan head that readily dissipates. On the nose aromas of raisins, plums, dates, prunes on a sweet malty background with just a trace of alcohol. In the mouth this really is quite sweet. Sweet fruit, grape, fig, prune with some bready yeast, a little metallic in flavor and very, very subtle hops. Medium to full bodied. Decent carbonation. Little to no lacing. Full mouthfeel. Slightly dry on the finish with the dark fruit most prominent. A very nice Dubbel Ale worth trying.
  
  

  Brother Thelonious Belgian Style Abbey Ale, 9.40% ABV
  North Coast Brewing Company, Fort Bragg, CA
  
  The Brother Thelonious Belgian Style Abbey Ale, America Artisan Series, from North Coast Brewing Company in Fort Bragg, CA pours out a mahogany brown in color with nice clarity and a thin tan head that readily dissipates. On the nose aromas of raisins, plums, dates, prunes on a sweet malty background with just a trace of alcohol. In the mouth this really is quite sweet. Sweet fruit, grape, fig, prune with some bready yeast, a little metallic in flavor and very, very subtle hops. Medium to full bodied. Decent carbonation. Little to no lacing. Full mouthfeel. Slightly dry on the finish with the dark fruit most prominent. A very nice Dubbel Ale worth trying.
  
  
• fretwalker

  

  Member
   

  April 4, 2009

  Ommegang Abbey Ale, 8.5% ABV
  (Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY)
  This one's had about 6 months in the cellar (2 left; Lord, give me patience!)
  Poured into a snifter, clear red-brown color, 1+" off white head that settled down to a thin foamy ring, with moderate lacing.
  The aroma's wonderful and complex, dark fruits up front, plum, maybe fig, and a spiciness suggesting anise, maybe clove or cinnamon.
  Mouthfeel is medium, quite smooth, carbonation lasts throughout the glass.
  Taste is everything the aroma promised, and then some... there's a cherry element that my nose missed, and a mild bite of alcohol as the glass warms.
  All in all, an excellent example of the style.

  Ommegang Abbey Ale, 8.5% ABV
  (Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY)
  This one's had about 6 months in the cellar (2 left; Lord, give me patience!)
  Poured into a snifter, clear red-brown color, 1+" off white head that settled down to a thin foamy ring, with moderate lacing.
  The aroma's wonderful and complex, dark fruits up front, plum, maybe fig, and a spiciness suggesting anise, maybe clove or cinnamon.
  Mouthfeel is medium, quite smooth, carbonation lasts throughout the glass.
  Taste is everything the aroma promised, and then some... there's a cherry element that my nose missed, and a mild bite of alcohol as the glass warms.
  All in all, an excellent example of the style.