Belle Royale - Strong Belgian Cherry Ale
Driftwood Brewery

Belle Royale - Strong Belgian Cherry AleBelle Royale - Strong Belgian Cherry Ale
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From:
Driftwood Brewery
 
British Columbia, Canada
Style:
Fruit and Field Beer
ABV:
9%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.13 | pDev: 12.59%
Reviews:
18
Ratings:
30
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 11, 2013
Added:
May 04, 2010
Wants:
  17
Gots:
  0
A strong Belgian-inspired ale with a 1/2lb of Morello sour cherries in every bottle.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3 by JonnyBeers from Canada (BC)

Jan 11, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by KalanM from Canada (BC)

Nov 29, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by 604growler from Canada (BC)

Oct 30, 2012
Photo of mikeyv35
Reviewed by mikeyv35 from New York

4.12/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Date: 08/24/2012
Type: 22oz. Bomber
Vintage: 2012
Glass: Southampton Tulip

Very excited to finally sample this long-time Canadian want! A 1/4 pound of sour Morello cherries per bottle according to the description on the bottle. Here we go.

Pours a pink grapefruit in color w/ a skim coat head that left minimal lacing. Aromas of fresh picked cherries, bread, yeast, and mild piney hops. The flavor pretty much matched the nose w/ fresh cherries up front, followed by breadiness and slight acidity, and finishing w/ very mild hop bitterness. Medium bodied and decently lush w/ appropriate carbonation and finishes pretty dry. Pretty drinkable w/ well masked ABV, but unless you are an extreme cherry lover, one glass is enough.

Overall, this is a well put together cherry strong ale. To me it is a better version of Kasteel Rouge, w/ fresh cherry taste versus a syrupy adjunct flavor. Also, the cherry flavor is there, but it does not overwhelm the beer.
Aug 24, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by trail77 from Canada (BC)

Jun 06, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by bumchilly25 from Canada (BC)

May 09, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by oldp0rt from Canada (QC)

Apr 07, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by chickenm from Canada (BC)

Mar 10, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by cartwar from Canada (BC)

Feb 08, 2012
Photo of papat444
Reviewed by papat444 from Canada (QC)

3.62/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Part of a gift from my aunt that my brother brought back on a trip last Sept. to their place in Surrey.

Appearance: A light rosé color amid a light golden body. Barely 2 fingers form before dissolving to nothin with no lacing.

Smell: Sour cherries with a strong malt profile.

Taste: Cherries are there, tart but not overly so. Some wood and as it warms a slight sweetness to the cherries reminiscent ever so slightly of maraschino cherries. I found though that the staying power of the flavor was short lived.

Mouthfeel: Good carbonation makes this feel alive with a bit of dry tartness to round things off.

Overall: I'm a bit disappointed. I was expecting the cherries to be more present yet they seemed restrained. Still good but not great.
Feb 02, 2012
Photo of Sammy
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.8/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The search was for tartness, being cherries and all. What I liked was it wasn't too sweet. Bottom line: Rather neutral, not bitter or sourness or too sweet, but also somewhat dull. I liked the yeasty Belgians, and secondary cherry flavour, so drank the bottle. Good as a fruit beer.
Thanks Derek.
Jan 01, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by xipho from Illinois

Dec 30, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by Mages64 from Washington

Dec 03, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by EskimoDave from Canada (BC)

Nov 21, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by pudoo from Canada (BC)

Nov 19, 2011
Photo of Torontoblue
Reviewed by Torontoblue from Canada (AB)

3.8/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours an attractive pinkish-amber into a large Duvel tulip glass Absolutely zero head, not even a lacing. Nicely carbonated with a constant rising stream of small bubbles.

Nice cherry on the nose, with a hint of sweet tartness, spice & tropical fruits.

Cherry flavour is balanced and well integrated. Hints of spices, bready malt and an underlying tropical fruitiness. Nice & slightly bitter.

Body is surprisingly thin for a 9% beer.... bubbly with a nice dry, bitter finish.
Sep 18, 2011
Photo of wordemupg
Reviewed by wordemupg from Canada (AB)

4.32/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
650ml bottle poured into tulip 1/9/11

A looks pink on the table but a fair bit of copper when held to the light, just a short lived fizzy foam that leaves no lace

S hoppy cereal, lots of yeast and cherry and a little raspberry and honey

T what I smell but with a little kick, almost tastes like a cherry infused Duvel, fairly dry and just a little booze but not the 9% I see on the label. malty but the hops haven't faded yet, a little tart but very tasty

M thick and well carbonated, just a little heat but I don't mind, leaves a little behind in your mouth and the flavors linger forever as a result

O pretty easy to drink for a tart 9% cherry ale that's for sure, I like the yeasty flavors mixing up with the grainy, fruity goodness.

Thanks EskimoDave for hooking me up, a pretty special brew that's worth looking for. I'm curious to how this one would age but I'm just happy I got to try it once.
Sep 01, 2011
Photo of Rutager
Reviewed by Rutager from Canada (BC)

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Reviewed 08-02-2011:

Appearance. Pours a nearly clear peach with barely a skim of head. Little evidence of any carbonation.

Smell. Light toasty grains and yeast funk. A little sour fruit.

Taste. Again, toasty light grains and yeast. The tart cherries really come through in the end. Alcohol barely present.

Mouthfeel. Medium-light body with smooth, slightly more than light carbonation. Just a little alcohol warmth.

Overall. Another nice one from Driftwood. Drinks great right now with that full cherry flavour.
Aug 02, 2011
Photo of ericj551
Reviewed by ericj551 from Canada (AB)

3.72/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Belle Royale pours a slightly pink reddish orange with a pink head that fades immediately. The aroma is dry, phenolic, yeasty character with some tart cherries. A bit of the yeasty character comes up front in the flavor, with tons of tart cherries quickly over taking it. The tart cherry flavor rides into the finish, with some light malt popping up. The tartness lingers along with the cherries. The mouthfeel is a bit thin, but the alcohol is well hidden.
Jul 24, 2011
Photo of DaftCaskBC
Reviewed by DaftCaskBC from Canada (BC)

4.05/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A: Amber with excellent clarity.

S: Boozy with a slight hint of cherries.

T: Sour cherry, yeasty, with a slightly bitter aftertaste.

M: Medium thickness with a medium to high level of fine carbonation.

O: A nice and refreshing North American interpretation of a Belgian Ale.
Jun 29, 2011
Belle Royale - Strong Belgian Cherry Ale from Driftwood Brewery
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 30 ratings