Eerst Ale
White Birch Brewing

Eerst AleEerst Ale
Beer Geek Stats
From:
White Birch Brewing
 
New Hampshire, United States
Style:
Belgian Pale Ale
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
4.1 | pDev: 11.22%
Reviews:
6
Ratings:
6
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 04, 2013
Added:
Aug 13, 2009
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  2
In Dutch, Eerst means first. This is why we chose Eerst as the name for our commemorative launch beer. This beer is a golden colored brew, medium bodied with a nice noble hop effect and dry finish. Only 44 bottles were produced and only 36 will be offered for sale. The rest will go to family and friends as thanks for their support and enthusiasm as we worked through all the steps to create our brewery.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Ratings by akorsak:
Photo of akorsak
Reviewed by akorsak from Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to jmu500 for this bottle, #32 of 44. I once traded for some homebrew that has since become White Birch.

A: The bottle opened with a hisss. Poured into my glass, the ale is a yellow-brown amber color, haziness enough to be opaque. The color approximates a tea-apple juice hue. A finger of white head was quick to dissapate away. Thin patches of lace were left sporadically around the glass. The last pour is a murky brown color, stirred up creek water.

S: The nose is spicely fragrant. Candi sugars stand out, as does a dry brett-like finish. Ripe fruits linger, sweet with a peppery finish. I am really impressed with the aroma.

T: The first sip throws a lot at you. Carbonation is strong, followed up dry candi sugars. Fruits are aplenty, with apricot and peach flavors. Sweet apples too, although not juicy golden delicious ones. Grains are pale and light, well-suited to support the sweet body. The Belgian yeast strain is the heart of the ale, driving the sweet dry flavors. So this is the first commercial batch? I'm sold.

M: The sweetness, the dry yeast and fruit flavors, coupled with ample pepper and a mild hop bitterness really takes a while to digest. The complexity, layer on layer, really seals the deal for me. I'm struggling to find some constructive criticism. About the only thing I can think of is that the sweetness of the yeast and the pale malts create a vegetal flavor upfront that isn't so great. It does, however, fade as the ale warms.

D: Damn, that's a lot that I just wrote for (M) above. I am sold though, on White Birch. The dryness and fruit profile sold me. A great debutante ale.
Sep 06, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of johnnnniee
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire

3.83/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Bottle shared by Hoppasaurus Rex, thanks for the opportunity.
Pours just shy of clear, a dark straw or light golden color with a smallish white head that shows moderate retention. Aromas of sweet bready honey like malt with a bit of grassy earth to counter. The flavor is nicely malty sweet with early signs of sherry like oxidation characters. Light earthy spicy yeasty flavors provide a nice balance to the malty sweetness. Medium body and level of carbonation. This beer has held up surprisingly well given its age of just about six years. I'm glad I got the chance to try this again while still able to write a quick review.
Oct 04, 2013
Photo of DIM
Reviewed by DIM from Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
bottle# 25 of 44. Thanks Mike, I never thought I'd get to try this!

a: This was an almost perfectly clear pale golden color. It poured with a large, frothy head that faded to a sheet of lace.

s: Lightly sweet overall, I found delicate aromas of pears and grapes. There was also some candy-like honey in the backround.

t: Appealingly sweet with surprising depth. Pears, apricots, and grapes drizzled with honey give way to a dry, peppery, almost vinous finish.

m: Velvety body enhanced by soft, creamy carbonation.

d: I have to admit I was disappointed when I heard Bill's first offering would be less than 50 bottles of a Belgian pale ale. First because I assumed I'd never get one. Second, I hoped he would make a splash with something audaciously different, something big, bold, and barrel aged. I'm glad he went in this direction though. I sometimes forget what a deft hand it takes to brew something subtle like this and to do it as well as he does says a lot about the range he is capable of. Congratulations one more time Bill, I know you'll do well.
Mar 16, 2010
Photo of Arbitrator
Reviewed by Arbitrator from California

3.22/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Chilled bottle into a glass. Generously shared by ipa247. Thanks Jeff!

A: Pours a clear straw-golden body. It's fizzy, with ample carbonation up the glass, but it never develops a huge head. Good retention, with some spots of lacing down the glass. I expected much more carbonation and lacing from a Belgian Pale.

S: Apricot and other orchard fruits, with substantial earth and a little spice. Very pleasant, though not outstanding for the style.

T: Apples, nectarines, and apricots; even a hint of mango. Quite a nice array of fruit. There's a light spice bite, but not as much as I'd expect for the style. There is some earthy and floral hop bitterness in the finish.

M: Light-bodied, with decent carbonation. I expected more bubbles, to be frank. It was still very fluffy and airy, which is quite redeeming.

D: I thought this went down very easily, but it wasn't memorable in the slightest. It's slightly above average, but that's about it.
Dec 22, 2009
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

4.51/5  rDev +10%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
So here I am sitting in the chair sipping on bottle number 5 of this first release from White Birch. Enough thanks cannot be given to my good friend for making sure I got to try this. Served chilled and poured into a large wheat glass, this one was consumed on 11/13/2009.

The pour was perfect, nothing else can really be said except for that, it was perfect. Rich golden amber in color with loads of cloudiness and haze that give way to ample carbonation. A huge head of white then comes up and over the top, settling down only slightly as it goes and leaving you with loads of lacing that clogs up the entire glass all the way down to the bottom.

Aroma is light, but building. Hints of apricot and pear notes coming forward. Warming brings out floral and herbal notes, lavender and heather like almost in nature with a light hop backing that just barely makes its presence known. First sip is just soo smooth and mellow. Delicate carbonation gives it a feathery light approach as touches of clove and pear dance along the tongue. Light grains peak their head up now as it starts to warm up a touch. Still I am looking for a hop kick and then I get it. Nice light citrus notes that balance out the finish perfectly. Lightly drying and with a touch of light spice, a nice clean finish is left across the palate.

Overall this was about as solid as you can get. A very nice, light pale ale that was well suited on my palate tonight. Too bad it was a one off as I could have really seen this one take off.
Nov 14, 2009
Photo of jammalamma
Reviewed by jammalamma from New Hampshire

4.08/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
It pours hazy golden yellow and is well carbonated

Taste resembles a triple/golden ale, sweet and smooth; mildly spicy with a slight bitter finish.
Its ABV is 6.5 but it seems hot, maybe closer to 8. This in no way negatively affects it's drinkability, it's quite good! -Too bad this one time brew is limited to 36 bottles being sold one per customer, it'd be great to have more!

Big thanks to Bill at White Birch Brewery for all his help and best of luck on this new expedition!
Aug 19, 2009
Eerst Ale from White Birch Brewing
Beer rating: 4.1 out of 5 with 6 ratings