De Glazen Toren Canaster Zymatore (Belgian Owl Whisky)
KleinBrouwerij De Glazen Toren

harsh plastic boozy overly sweet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On tap at Birch.

A - A light-colored yet fairly cloudy ale. Nice head.

S - This beer really shows the whisky characteristics in its aroma. Very impressive to the nose.

T - Again, the whisky flavors are fairly pronounced at first. Yet, as it warms, it mellows some. The taste is wonderful. You notice the alcohol, but it still goes down very smooth and easy.

M - Rich and malty like most Wee Heavy's, but it still is not overly so.

O - This is one superb beer. Without a doubt, I want to try other canaster beers from this brewery. Delicious and very satisfying.

 

 

 

Poured into a 6oz wine glass at Trappist Provisions. Review is from my notes.

Produces a reddish-brown tinged color similar many oak-infused, sourish beers I've been having lately. There's a modest head as well as lively carbonation at first, which adds extra character to the beer. The head eventually dies down (although it takes a while), and the color changes drastically depending how it's placed against the light. There's indeed a slight viscous, almost wine-like appearance at the center here. It's definitely a difficult beer to categorize on its looks alone but its presentation is without a doubt elegant.

The nose immediately picks up all kinds of barrel soured goodness, such as tart cherries, huge woody tannins, deep fruity notes, and slightly smoked flavors imparted by the scotch barrels. I'm actually impressed that no cherries were used in this - there's a remarkable bouquet that lasts throughout and luckily cancels out any harshness imparted by the peat, smoky flavors, as well as the wood. It is slightly funky, but it's also robust enough to hold interest throughout. Not too much of the whisky is present, however. My only complaint (especially as it warms up), are the barrel flavors muting the fruit notes, as well as a honey syrupy off flavor that slowly creeps in as well.

The flavor continues and fully accentuates the soured cherry flavor, as well as blackberries, wood resin, and vinous grape skin notes. There's a strong fort consisting of barrel sourness and smoke that work pretty well together, to my surprise... And the ever growing honey flavor never becomes grating throughout and instead adds extra complexity to the flavor. There's a full bodied graininess that adds a bready texture to the beer. The wood gives off pretty ripe tannic notes at times, and the peat does become ever present in astringency. It's all pretty well integrated and held well by the funk. Interestingly enough, a sip of water alongside reveals the beer's extreme rustic notes, often resembling a dried smoked woody flavor covered by malt backwash and peaty notes. Alcohol is well hidden. Truly a tour-de-force in some ways... Never had anything quite like it.

De Glazen and Belgian Owl Distillery have really created a unique hybrid here - a scotch barrel aged ale mixed with a dubbel mixed with a kriek? Hard to say what this really is in the end, and while the aroma is a bit off-putting by the scotch, the flavor remains complex, sour, fruity, but very refreshing. Definitely don't pass by a chance to try this - it's something different to look forward to, and has peaked my interest for other De Glazen beers.