Randolique
De Struise Brouwers

Copenhagen 19/2 2021. 75 cl bottle from Best of Beers web-shop. Drawing of a wild Monk afire riding on a frantic Ostrich. Drinking a flaming goblet of beer.

Pours murky, unclear orange with a mid-sized, bubbly white head. Settles as thin patch of foam unable to cover the surface of the beer. Moderate lacing.

Aroma is medium intense with a light sweet malty odor with stronger tart notes. Sweet pale malts. Yeasty touch of damp cellar. Dark alcohol. Bitter coffee. Citrus and tart berries.

Light carbonation. Slightly thick, oily, almost flat texture.

Flavor is intense with a strong sweetness followed by a more moderate tart bitterness. Aftertaste is sweetish. Lingers for a while. Finish is bitter-sweet and semi-dry.

Unusual Tripel with a solid yeasty touch but a fairly modest touch of Bourbon. I am not quite on fire-

While much of the beer world is seeing a ton of reinvention, experimentation and adaptation, the Belgian brewers have largely remained reluctant to much of these changes. Except for Struise Brewers. Maple, coffee and bourbon barrels makes their way into their Tripel ale.

Burnt orange with a golden tint, a soapy froth quickly greets the rim while Randolique starts to swoon the nose with caramelized sweetness. As aromatic nuances of orchard fruit, citrus, spice and white wine complement the grains, the taste leans in with honey, sugar cookie, fresh dough and caramelized cashew.

As the esters blossom on the middle palate, the fruit and floral character of pear, peach, lemon, apple and white grape eventually trend in the apricot direction before the spices counter with their own white pepper, vinous spice, oak, coriander and citrus peels. A generous hit of hops provide a grassy, woodsy and herbal bitterness to tighten up the finish.

Medium full in body, and trending more spicy than fruity, there's really no suggestion of coffee and the bourbon nuances are slight, adding only a hint of caramel and coconut. Its winey tartness brings a warming heat to the finish as the ale trails into a fruity, spicy aftertaste.

75 cl. bottle at Las Buenas Pulgas, served in a trappist glass.
Hazy golden colour, medium head with short retention, some lacing.
Aroma of peaches, bourbon, oranges, malts.
Medium body, creamy testure, normal carbonation. Wseet and boozy finish.
Taste is fuity, bourbon, peaches, oraonges, herbs, flowers, malts.
Good, not impressive.