Flandre-Kent Les Frères De La Bière / Thiriez XXtra
Brasserie Thiriez

Flandre-Kent Les Frères De La Bière / Thiriez XXtraFlandre-Kent Les Frères De La Bière / Thiriez XXtra
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From:
Brasserie Thiriez
 
France
Style:
Saison
Ranked #305
ABV:
4.5%
Score:
91
Ranked #7,778
Avg:
4.07 | pDev: 13.02%
Reviews:
117
Ratings:
152
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 27, 2023
Added:
Apr 05, 2005
Wants:
  39
Gots:
  3
Local name - (Flandre-Kent) Les Frères De La Bière
US Import - Thiriez XXtra

Description on US bottle label:
“This is one rich and très hoppy golden ale. Working in his little rustic brick and wood beamed building, Daniel Thiriez makes this earthy, punchy, flavorful stuff in very small batches especially for the stout-hearted Frères de la Bière, a local caterie of special friends united by their thorough enjoyment of a rough and ready unrelenting farmhouse brew. Mon Dieu, that’s good!”
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Gueuzedude:
Photo of Gueuzedude
Reviewed by Gueuzedude from Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This beer is extremely well carbonated, it actually leaked through the cap during shipment to me and is still so carbonated, 2 weeks later, that it forms a five-finger thick head and allows only two-fingers of beer in my glass. The head is a pale cream colored, quite rocky and it forms a nice lace pattern as it slowly subsides, but never disappears. The beer is a pale blonde color with lots of floaties kicked up by the ample carbonation. The aroma smells like Summer; aromatics of blooming fields of wild flowers and grasses, light hay, a hint of lemon, a nice herbal hoppiness, and notes of pear and apple. The aroma is light and airy yet still complex in a subtle way.

The beer is quite light on the palate and quite dry as well. There is a grassy herbal note that compliments the dry grain character, and the finish has a nice sharp bitterness. This is nice and spicy as well. The flavors I can pick up are pepper, ginger, green tea (astringency), lemon, a bit of musty earthiness, and a note like grains of paradise. This has a nice solid bitterness throughout; really it is quite hoppy for a "light" beer. I really enjoy light, flavorful Belgian Ales, especially of the Saison persuasion.
Nov 01, 2005
More User Ratings:
Photo of Bouleboubier
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey

3.96/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
(330 ml bottle, 242 19 date/code; purchased single off shelf at State Line yesterday... decanted into my Chouffe tulip)

L: crystal-clear, pale brass-colored liquid; tons of foam on the pour, didn't even get half the liquid out of the bottle... head settles, rocky and creamy-dense... looks picture perfect, keeping a thick, messy cap till the end, lacing in big chunks

S: nice spicy yeast top note with actually some (heavy) lingering evergreen, herbal dry hop... brief hint of the crumb of fresh white bread, but the balance shifts back to fruits - banana (skin), honeydew, hint of white grape - along with the green, leafy flourishes

T: leafy, (dry) grassy dominance with a mild-to-moderate spicy bitterness, while the malt base is dry and relatively indistinct aside from a subtle toasty edge... it's kind of mostly a showcase for the yeast spice and hop infusions

F: clean, lighter-bodied, but not too dry and effervescent; hop resins lend a silky texture, rounding out the sides, lengthening its finish... too easy to slug

O: somewhat surprised it's held up this well though, clearly, it's far from having it's most pointed, dynamic expressions on display... I have had this once, maybe 10 years ago, so this is a revisit of sorts... good flavor, but I wouldn't recommend a bottle this aged, unless you're using it to cook seafood? (2075)
Jan 27, 2023
 
Rated: 4.03 by paresis from Massachusetts

Dec 22, 2016
 
Rated: 3.94 by shelby415 from Oregon

Nov 19, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.72/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
Brings the yellow and brings the haze, producing a 1"+ virgin white head. Looks pretty. Good retention. Hits you with grassy rustic notes.

Taste seems to be a bretty, funky, dry, earthy, rustic experience. Traditional farmhouse, not a wild ale souring it all up. The hops are subtle, they might be big for overseas, but hopheads might be disappointed. It comes out making the grassy hop meet farmhouse vibe, and I like it for what it is. Well carbonated, refreshing with a twist.
May 30, 2016
 
Rated: 3.71 by bishopdc0 from Maine

Sep 23, 2015
Photo of Fetusonfire
Rated by Fetusonfire from California

2.9/5  rDev -28.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3
Skunked. Damn you green bottles!
Jan 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by Drift from California

Dec 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by dougbassett from Pennsylvania

Jun 15, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by afsdan from Colorado

May 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by ystazi from Illinois

May 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by uturn from Florida

Apr 17, 2014
Photo of dirtylou
Reviewed by dirtylou from Oklahoma

4.08/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
750ml, split

This is a great value beer - $11 for a really nice French saison. lovely hazy peach body, full and frothy white crest. Super smooth body - nice earthy hop tones, fits the farmhouse mold. Unfortunately a little green-bottle skunk present, but not too distracting. Like this beer a lot.
Mar 15, 2014
Photo of Slatetank
Reviewed by Slatetank from Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to tenderbranson69 for sharing this with me, enjoyed chilled from a stemmed glass.

The color is straw gold with a thick hazed look with copious head of pillowy white. The smell is unique with lots of herbal hop aroma with a light white grape odor with subtle spice from the yeast.

The taste is incredible. Lots of yeast complexity with a slight honey-like malt with vinous flavors and a mild spice with nice herbal flavors adding to the peppery taste. Overall I would not hesitate to have this again -a top notch saison with the dry hopping giving that little X-tra, a great beer, Thanks Tim for sharing and Terry H for the recommendation!
Feb 20, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by Jakep2021 from Kentucky

Jan 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by RBorsato from Virginia

Oct 22, 2013
Photo of Orca
Reviewed by Orca from Washington

4.03/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
750 into a tulip. Pours a hazy straw color w/ a fluffy white head, some nice lacing.

Aroma is a blend of earthy, grassy barnyard funk and floral hops.

Taste follows nose. Bright citrusy hops and biscuity pale malt, earthy saison yeast and just a touch of honey.

Mouthfeel is crisp, drinkable and dry. Light and refreshing.

Overall a rock-solid, well-crafted saison, just plain good across the board.
Oct 13, 2013
Photo of cbutova
Reviewed by cbutova from Massachusetts

3.81/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
My bottle says "Extra" but same exact layout, must be an update or alternate imported style. Finally hitting up some French Saison.

A- Poured into a snifter and a goblet from the 750ml bottle. Golden-orange body with just a slight yeast haze and a large foamy white head. The foaminess of the cap isn't fizzy though and it sticks around for quite a while at about a finger high, after reaching out of the glass. Eventually this falls to a thick, creamy ring leaving plentiful piles of lace.

S- A blend of spicy, grassy, herbal hops with Saison yeast and some malts. All three elements are about equal in strength for me. Maltier aroma than I would expect with light caramel, Belgian pale, biscuit and some sweets coming through.

T- As with the aroma, a good balanced blend of yeast, hops and malt. The spicy, herbal, slightly citrus farmhouse yeast leads the way with malty hints of cracked grain dust, lightly toasted biscuit, sweetness and light caramel. Hops in the finish bring spicy, grassy and herbal notes.

MF- Foamy yet creamy light, somewhat dry body. Carbonation is on the high side but does not feel like it with the texture mentioned. Medium bitterness on the palate in the finish for this style.

More malt than I would expect but not in a bad way. A good balance of everything beer, nice herbal spicy finish is probably my favorite part. Certainly willing to try more from Thiriez.
Sep 26, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by kaelingirl from Massachusetts

Sep 24, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by JohnnieNepal from Michigan

Sep 11, 2013
Flandre-Kent Les Frères De La Bière / Thiriez XXtra from Brasserie Thiriez
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 152 ratings