Luxuria
Zeven Zonden (Seven Sins)

Luxuria is part of a line of Belgians called Seven Sins. The owner of this line is Hugel who then contracts with The Brew Society. Further complicating is that Hegel's page on UnTappd says it is a subsidiary of The Brew Society. If someone thinks they can clarify this, have at it. And all this passed muster of Monitor ten years. So, I'm confused. Luxuria now has 4,090 Check-ins on UnTappd.

Bought from Drankcenter Schott in Kortjik, my copy had one month before its Best By date. And it shows in several ways, some good and some not so good. One obvious way is there is less foam since the yeast is now tired. But Smells are well integrated, mellowed out with time in the bottle. My nose collects a mix of spices, almost like the holiday season. That follows into Taste, but it is mostly dark fruit like figs and plums. Maybe fruit cake ! Medium-mouthed ,due probably to tired yeast. Well-concealed alcohol.

I'm not sure what to make of Hugel and its relations to The Brew Society. But I still give it good Overall Hugs in the hopes that they all stay brewing interesting stuff.

 

 

 

Note: 2012 Vintage

A: Pours an opaque yet still clear very dark brown in color with light to moderate amounts of gentle visible carbonation along the edges of the glass and some mahogany highlights. The beer has a half finger tall foamy dark beige head that reduces to a large patch of wispy very thin film and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas not dissimilar to a craft root beer with lots of complexity from herbs over the top of dark malts. Hints of star anise, cinnamon, spicy hops, and Belgian yeast. Very light notes of vanilla as well, kind of reminds me of a hybrid of a winter warmer and a BSDA.

T: Upfront there is a moderate flavor of dark malts with some dark fruit sweetness - I detect fig, red grape, and cherries. That is followed by moderate flavors of spices - anise, vanilla, and cinnamon. Hints of booziness in the finish, but like that in a very nice brandy. Hints of spicy hops and Belgian yeast as well.

M: Slightly heavier than medium bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation.

O: Very interesting beer - the smell reminds of craft root beer and a hybrid of winter warmer and BSDA. Enjoyable and easy to drink, though with the higher ABV this one is much more of a slow sipper.

 

A: The beer is very dark reddish brown in color and appears black when viewed from afar. It poured with a short beige head that left wispy traces of bubbles on the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of various herbs are present in the nose along with notes of dark fruits. There are so many herbs that it's tough to put a finger on any one of them.
T: The taste is similar to the smell, but has stronger flavors of dark fruits along with some associated candy-like sweetness. Hints of spices are noticeable in the finish. No alcohol is perceptible.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This Belgian Strong Dark Ale has an interesting mix of herbs, particularly in the smell. It is quite drinkable considering its strength.

Serving type: bottle

Note: 2012 vintage

 

 

 

 

From BeerAdvocate magazine Issue #67 (August 2012):

LOOK: Stunning lace, dark brown, opaque

SMELL: Bitters, Fernet, figs, alcohol, licorice root, mild molasses, hermit cookies, buttery, broth

TASTE: Super creamy, peppery, booze, toasted bread, wild herbs, peppery, cooked figs, dried hay, toast, cola, brown sugar, mint, yeast, warming, semisweet finish

To sin, you must commit to it fully; one could say that about this beer. You must take your time! We decanted this beauty with care, let it come to proper temperature and sipped away. With each meeting, our palates grew fonder, and we were saddened when our glasses became empty.

 

 

 

 

 

Pours dark with a fine and creamy hazel-colored head that lingers for quite a while.

Nose is really lovely balanced with dark dried fruit, cherries, gingerbread and eucalyptus and pine-like herbs. Refreshing yeasty esters with slightly tart overtones.

Mouthfeel and flavors are equally balanced, it is a crisp beer considering the alcohol and color. There is some dark cherries, smoked molasses, warming alcohol and herbaceous flavors all intermingling wonderfully together. The finish has some slight bitterness and dark caramel notes that persists.

Altogether a fantastic dark belgian ale, with that refined old-world feel. This is something you really want to break out around Christmas in front of the fireplace with your family and friends.

33cl bottle @ de Bierboom in Brugge on 18th Oct 2012. Rudy doesn't have many glasses and this was given to me with an unmarked chalice to drink it from: it worked!

The beer pours almost jet black (it is dark in de Bierboom, even on a sunny day): anywhere else it is most likely dark brown with a ruby tinge. The head was full, deep and tan coloured.

Dark chocolate malts rule here: the nose and taste just ooze chocolate, dark, bitter and yet an underlying sweetness abounds too. Interesting and heavy bodied, a night cap sort of beer, not a mid-afternoon mid-session beer like when I had it!

A-

500ml into a tulip. Pours a deep cola walnut with garnet highlights, mocha colored head receded to an enduring cap, very nice dark tone lacing.

Aroma is of vanilla and herbal unsweetened chocolate, airplane glue in the distance.

Taste is big of roasted spices. An underlying charred low level bitter keeps the spicing in check nicely. Lots of pulpy dark fruits, minor grape bubblegum. A pleasant dry twang intros the bitter sweet cinnamon aftertaste, long lived. Medium bodied creamy mouthfeel. Shines with warmth.
Bitter is of a belgian stout, a noël belgian stout.
cheers
jd