Narrenvat
Brasserie de la Senne

A great rendition of the English Brown. I wish that 3/4 of the Bretts I drink tasted this balanced.

Narrenvat Looks like a good Belgian yeast at work: tight bubbles, swirls almost to the end.
Smells are a nice tart working up a dried fruit medley with apple or grape notes. This cider and vinous nature comes stronger in the Taste and I'll presume that is from the barrels. A finish that is mostly semi-dry with a dash of vinegar.

At $22 including tax, I must comment that Narrenvat could be the second most expensive ale I've ever bought.
Will they make it again? I hope so. But since they might not, I hope de la Senne continues being a model to American crafters that Brett can be balanced.

a funky tart brown ale aged on oak, crazy complex, english malts, light dry cocoa bitterness, sweet raisin and fig, vanilla, tart cherry, port wine, mature brett that i recognize from other beers these guys make, and an interesting finishing dryness and effervescence i dont usually get in this style. airy and wispy feeling for what it is. the fruitiness is cool here, some from the malts, some from the brett, working really well together. a little more acidity here too than i am used to from these guys, but it lightens the intensity of the grain and also adds a citrus thing that i like with all the malt depth here. red wine fruitiness, light vinegar, toffee, and plenty of wood. interesting beer overall, sort of a style bender between a number of things, unique but also quite traditional in some ways, drinkable but also challenging. i feel like my palate expands every time i have beer from de la senne, which is one of the many reasons i love and respect their beers so much. this is a fun one, nice this time of year. they can do no wrong in my opinion! in terms of quality, this is really unrivaled.

Poured from a bottle dated February 2018 into the test glass
A- mahogany in color a wonderfully tightknit froth of off-white rides on top. The carbonation is steady and relentless
S - starts with a kiss of Brett than wonderful barrel touch, mixtogetrher to add, some vinous notes, green grape, apple skin and a little peat.
T - Begins with standard brown ale malts then quickly shifts gears to the barrel aged side lovely tartness rides through the entire experience. The mouth bass it is simply delightfu begins with standard brown ale malt then quickly shifts gears to the barrel aged side lovely tartness rides through the entire experience. The malt base is simply delightful. Brett application is delicate and not overbearing
M - medium in body with carbonation is up to the challenge keeping the sweet malt base and earthy hops moving along. Finish is quick and delightfully dry
O - a wonderful offering, deftly applied Brett, perfect barrel touch, add enticing elements to this very nice brown ale