Argentum
Brouwerij Huyghe

Pours an amber color with a generous head and lacing
Aroma has generous hop hints
The taste follows the nose with a slight hop flavor
A light bodied well carbonated beer
A well done IPA

 

 

On tap at Brabant in South Park, which is the place to go for Belgian tap beers in San Diego, in my opinion. Gorgeous burnt orange sort of color in the Delirium Termens tulip. Clear and topped with a fine-grained foam that veils the glass. As beautiful a beer as I have ever seen.

Mild and malty with a touch of roast grain flavor. Slight fruity tang, cider and pears, like a Saison. I wouldn't call it so much of a Belgian IPA, more like a Pale Ale as others have observed. Just a little floral hoppy taste, but it's like the best toast you're ever had. Pleasing dry finish with a distinct yeasty tang. A great beer worth trying on tap, at least.

Poured from a 750 ml corked bottle into a Belgian goblet. 2014 label on neck with a 2015 cork.

Appearance: Pours a deep amber with a lot of rising bubbles. Huge three finger off white head which settles into a thin creamy layer. Leaves a lot of lacing.

Smell: A yeasty, fruity, and spicy Belgian aroma with hints of fruit and spices. Belgian yeast with some hints of clove, pepper, and funk. Malt hints of grains, straw, wheat, caramel, and biscuit. Hints of bubblegum. Fruit hints of banana, pear, apple, orange, and lemon. Also some hints of grassy hops and candied sugar. A solid aroma.

Taste: Like it smells, a yeasty, spicy, and fruity Belgian ale taste with notes of spices and fruit. Belgian yeast with some upfront spice notes of clove and pepper along with some funk. Bready malt notes of straw, grains, wheat, biscuit, and caramel. Fruit notes of banana, apple, pear, lemon, and orange. Also some bubblegum and candied sugar. Some grassy hops as well. Seems more like a Belgian Pale Ale than IPA but it tastes nice.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a fairly high level of carbonation. Spicy and fairly prickly. Very drying.

Overall: A solid Belgian ale. More like a standard Belgian Pale Ale than a Belgian IPA. Nice spice and subtle fruit notes.

On draft at Max's Hop Fest. Not really an American IPA but still quite hoppy with the traditional Belgium yeast. Really glad I tried it. Stood up well amongst the onslaught of IPAs at this fest. Would definently have another.