Brut
Brouwerij De Vlier

 

Poured from the bottle into a champagne flute. Best before June 3rd 2018.

Off the pour gives lots of sounding snapping carbonation, filling the glass with a very quick dissolving one finger whie head. However, head gets repopulated very quickly with a great amount of explosive carbonation, leaving a thin puck and collar drinking throughout. Body is a pale lemon to dark yellow body and loads of classic fast bubbly carbonation rising through and opaque body. Solid looker.

Aromas is quite unexpected. Wine like white grape sense, if kind of cheap smelling. Leaves quite a bit of beer character behind and a sensing light body that comes like a simple spumante but far less sweet. Interesting, but not sure where this is heading.

Palate keeps to simplicity for simplicity sake. Light and easy drinking palate that makes its emphasis on body and simplicity. Light but not quite wet with lots of carbonation and tickling palate feel. Mild sensing sweetness, but also real simple Belgian character. Tight and numbing palate flavors, that emphasize the gas and less the malt and sweet Belgian character. Neutral and mineral.

Strangely not that memorable, but in a way impressive how it borders the line between simple beer and excellent carbonation of classic brut minus the sweetness. Not much to complain about here, but not much to brag about either.

 

 

 

Like fine champagne, these, the driest of all beers ferment to completion leaving a dry fruit character, highly effervescent mouth feel, acidity, and an understated backbone of wheat- De Vlier Brut is the perfect nightcap for a final night in Brussels.

Opening with a thin golden color and intense bubbly carbonation, the beer seduces the eye with near-bright clarity to show off the streams of carbonation in a rhythmic dance that's displayed behind a thin vale of haze. Sprite head character is constructed of loosely knit stark-white foam that retains thinly and momentarily before replaced by the streams of carbonation beneath. Very low lacing further reinforce the notion of champagne.

Fruit and spice enter the nose with vinous-tart character of white grape, cider, green apples, under ripened pears, and wine must. Thin wafer-like bread character anchors the spice of sharp white pepper, bitter orange peel, with a touch of clove and cumin.

Flavors of fruit and spice to this charted intertwined relationship where the fruits of grapefruit, grapes, apples, and pears give soft impression and then introduce the spicy balance. Acidity and herbal bitterness then borrow the spices of fresh cracked peppercorn, coriander, curacao, and clove; then return to the acidity of red grape, plump berries, and almost vinaigrette in a decidedly dry and fruity finish.

The beer's light body is largely attributed to full malt attenuation and prickling carbonation. Playful yet challenging to the feel of the mouth, it's the light wheaty body that provides just enough creaminess that makes this beer superior to sparkling white wines. This reprieve tempers the needle-like bubbles and alcohol heat from harsh penetration of the senses.

Brut's dry fruity character makes it an effortless beer for both the palate and stomach and a perfect complement to strawberries, bittersweet chocolates, and Swiss cheese.