Wadesda #5
Brasserie de la Senne

 

 

 

 

 

Crips, clean and acutely spicy with hops, the De La Senne experimental ale is a testament to pilsner malt but manipulated in order to celebrate what's grand about Belgian brewing.

Its strong reliance on pilsner malt begins with the eye, casting a hazy straw shade against the glass. Its arid and champagne-like froth bursts with hops and grain, washing the senses with lemongrass, hay, pepper, white grapefruit and herbal grass clippings while the ale's bread sweetness is short and dry even early.

With the trailing maltiness playing less and less of a role, the fruit and spice prevail and dry the palate with the leathery and dehydrated citrus, tropical and orchard fruit medley. Its peppery balance is of fresh-cracked peppercorn and faint cumin to counter the lemon, apple, orange and papaya-like esters. Gaining bitterness late, the ale isn't shy on hops as its fleeting taste is grassy, stemmy and of leafy verbena.

Strong effervescence keeps the ale medium-light throughout as it thwarts any residual sweetness and promotes a dry peppery finish with playful carbonic bite. Lightly tart and bitter, the finish is herbal with sassafras and dry hay.

Pour is lightly hazed pale yellow with a good bit of tight white head. Nose is fruity, apricot, stone fruit, nice hops. Flavor follows suit, faint toasted grain, a bit sweeter, juicy fruits, apricot and stone fruits. Soft carb, light body, very clean.