Holy D'Hiver
Loowit Brewing Company

 

 

can into glass
First of all, the creative wit applied to the illustration and the world class pun, based on two languages and album cover art work by Randy Berrett for Ronnie James Dio's (R.I.P) first album Holy Diver, gets top kudos from me. Just in case you don't know that the word on the label, hiver, is winter in French. This is a winter ale so this whole concept including the similar art work is truly brilliant punwise. On to the actual beer review........ Glowing? light orange clear appearance. Has a slightly sweet malty aroma with a touch of vanilla and sweet spice. Slightly persistent sharpness along with the touch of cardamom on the taste.

 

Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a very slightly hazy, medium golden amber with a fine, two finger white head with great retention and thick lacing. Aroma of candi malt, Belgian yeast, cardamom, apple and pear. Flavor is candi malt, Belgian yeast, cardamom, vanilla, light stone fruit and apple. Spicy vanilla and fruit finish that has an interesting dryness with a touch of sweetness. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess, nice mouth feel. An interesting take on a Belgian strong pale that does have enough spiciness to be appropriate as a winter warmer. I have never had a Belgian with vanilla and have to say that it melds with the fruit in the yeast quite nicely. The finish profile is quite a bit like a tripel, with more cardamom spicing then fruit. I wasn't sure about the vanilla ahead of time, but liked this quite a lot. Interesting and a great seasonal. Good Belgian character too, if not traditional.