St. Glinglin Houblon
Brasserie Artésienne

A: Pours up with a frothy, luxurious, three finger, slightly off white head, and a slightly reddish amber body, nice lacing.
S: Sharp pine notes right off, almost to the extent that it has a chemical astringency, with more subtle malt undertones, and some jenever-esque berry notes, very spicy but in an alpine cleaning solution sort of way. Some hints of lavender as well.
T: The taste follows the nose right off with heavy pine that is followed up by berry notes instead of the usual citrus, there is a decently strong but nowhere near punishing bitterness here, there is a definite astringency here, the malt body is present, but understated, and the beer has an incredibly crisp finish without really being sharp.
M: This is a beer that really coats the mouth although it feels thin.
O: I can honestly say, I have never had a beer quite like this one. It is really hard to give my thoughts on it because I haven't really experienced this combination of flavors coalescing in this way before, in it's own way, it is much more odd than any sour beer or beer made from fast food. But the big question: Would I try it again? Yes, I would, if only to try to understand what is going on here.

 

From a 750ml bottle. Pours a pale amber color with a finger of fluffy white head. Big floral and piney hop smell. Soft feel, highly carbonated. Tastes a lot like it smells, bright floral and pine flavors. Relatively bitter, but not harsh. Quite nice. As hop forward as many American IPAs, but (I assume) using different hop varieties so this one comes off as lighter and more floral.

Poured from the bottle into a Spiegelau IPA glass.

Thick soapy rich foam, with a large bubblebath head appearance, bright white and weak retention. Good staying power but the huge bubbles burst in your face, you can practically hear them snap. Body color is also nice, slightly opaque but for the most part clear with fine middle carbonation rising up quickly.

Man I love this aroma is reminds me much of one of favorite beers. Deep garden green herbality and floral notes come right off. Slight woody balsam and floral like sweetness rips right off the nose, reminds me a lot of Houblon Lachoufe, but with less sweetness and Belgian character. Great bouquet and aroma stellar!

The palate takes a little bit more simpler route. Wet juiced body with a tea and floral like full mid palate. Washes clean almost getting a bit wet though and some slight mineral to metallic finish though unfortunately. There's a real excellent sweetness to this which comes with some honey character mere touches of floral qualities really pop for sweet garden goodness.

Real nice angle and different than your average ordinary IPA for sure.

 

Enjoyed from the wire wrapped corked bottle in a Chimay snifter. This unique ipa pours a lightly hazy yellowish amber with a very nice head of long lasting foam and great lacing. Nose is incredibly subtle with light honey and grain aromas, and medium leafy and floral hops. Flavors surpass the nose with a nice honey malt background that provides balance to the leafy, floral, and on the back piney hop profile ending with a moderately bitter finish that has a touch of green apple and light grapefruit providing a tart backdrop to an interesting take on the standard IPA with a French twist. Nice effervescent carbonation makes for a lively mouth feel. Very solid without being overpowering.

Bought as a closeout at Jungle Jim's and was pleasantly surprised for 3 dollars a 750 ml bottle.

Cheers

Large wire and cork bottle poured hazy blonde-golden with a good head.

Aroma: only slightly more hoppy than malty, as is the lightly fruity flavor. Very nice bitter/sweet balance. Unexpected but not really undesirable sour note.

O: rather far from an Amer. or English IPA, but appealing on its own terms. A fruity pale ale with high level of fruitiness.