Wostyntje
Brouwerij Smisje

WostyntjeWostyntje
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From:
Brouwerij Smisje
 
Belgium
Style:
Belgian Pale Strong Ale
ABV:
7%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.59 | pDev: 15.88%
Reviews:
147
Ratings:
198
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 25, 2016
Added:
May 07, 2003
Wants:
  10
Gots:
  4
The label on the bottle says: Wostyntje is a dark blond ale brewed with 90% barley malt, 10% munich malt, 2 sorts of hops, dark candy sugar and mustard seeds.
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Ratings by rfgetz:
Photo of rfgetz
Reviewed by rfgetz from New Jersey

4.11/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Ordered off the menu due to my enjoyment of all things mustard...

Pours an attractive burnt orange gold color with medium cap of prickly off-white head, decent retention and lacing. Scent is muted, some spice (which could be mustard) mixed with belgian yeast, grassy hops and some musty hay. Taste is more aggressive then scent dictated, very original taste for a BSPA, more than moderate amount of spicing (which again could be mustard at work but it doesnt quite taste like what I expected), the belgian yeast is smooth and mellowed, lightly bready, some musty hay an dgrass notes with an unexpected touch of sour funk at the end. Lighter side of medium bodied, bright and crisp on the palate. While not getting the mustard qualities i expected, i was rewarded with a uniquely flavorful pale.
Mar 08, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

3.58/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
i have to give this some credit for being real different, but it didnt end up being one of my favorites, especially from these guys, but good to know they are keeping it inventive still! it pours a real murky burnt orange color, rusty looking, no chunks or anything, but plenty of sediment in suspension. minimal white head, more of a lazy bubble layer. the beer smells almost sour, funky for sure, tannic and sharp, more herbaceous than spices, and with hints of white wine and candy sweetness. first sip confirms there is no need for the extra sugar here, its not fermented out enough to be useful for strength, and the amount left in the taste it too much for me, almost a tripel complexion. the yeast is awesome, classically belgian, bubblegum and caramel from it, and the mustard seeds end up being somewhat less impactful than expected. they add a unique layer, but its quickly swallowed up by residual sugar and a warm fermented belgian yeast strain. what bothered me the most was the lack of carbonation. this brew, like most or even all belgian styles needs to be alive in the glass and on the palate, and it ends up being flat, heavy, and too sweet all at the same time. hard to drink much of or even fully appreciate what makes this so unique because of that. overall a beer worth trying, maybe a little past its prime from the cellar here, but not quite on the level i had hoped it would be...
May 25, 2016
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +17%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I Had this two or three years ago. But with its anti-advertising label and unusual spicing (mustard), I expected I'd never see it again. I did see it again. I bought it again. I drank it again. I'm glad again.

First, I get some sudsing action out of the undisturbed bottle. I like signs that my beer is still alive. (At my age, anything alive is a good sign.) While the pleasant head eventually receded without much lace, a nice amber was noticed. The nose was good, but I don't get the mustard-thing.

The taste starts to tell me more about the suds. The yeast and, I presume, the mustard got this thing going, suddenly, that is beyond explanation... or "that knoweth no understanding" if you want to keep to the New Testament. The mouthfeel is almost that good, also showing an elevated intuition.

Should you buy this if you see it ? I think so.
Should you buy this again if you see it ? I will bet that you will think so.
May 24, 2016
 
Rated: 2.68 by connecticutpoet from Connecticut

Mar 20, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by atlbravsrno1 from Maine

Jun 19, 2015
Photo of candcholt
Reviewed by candcholt from Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
I got this in a Belgian sampler. 2 bottles of each. I tried the first one over a year ago. The mustard taste was extremely strong back then but has mellowed since. Now, if you think about it, you taste mustard.

Today, it was extremely effervescent. Enormous, fast dissipating head. Very enjoyable to drink while I worked, and even complemented pizza.

Would not turn this down if I saw it again.
Jun 10, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by krome from Illinois

Mar 13, 2015
Photo of Bitterbill
Reviewed by Bitterbill from Wyoming

4.16/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
It pours first a hazy orange brown then turns cloudy. Great head of foam, retention, and lacing.

Spicy nose to start..smells like some asian spices were used and the mustard spice clearly listed in the name. Quite a bit of sugary sweetness seeps through and there's an earthy character here as well.

Mmm..spicy, candi sugar sweets, earthy malt, cool that the mustard seeds integrate so well giving the beer an unusual but enjoyable balance.

Medium body with the carbo on the lighter side.

I only bought 1 bottle but I'll buy more if it's still around. An overall tasty son of a gun.
Jan 03, 2015
 
Rated: 4.09 by ThePopper from North Carolina

Dec 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by PatGreer from Massachusetts

Oct 23, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by StephRai from New York

Sep 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by RBCBrams17 from Illinois

Sep 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3.4 by mattfancett from England

Sep 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by coobstar from New York

Jul 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by DrBier from Pennsylvania

Jul 24, 2014
 
Rated: 1 by shadyside from Georgia

Jul 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by afsdan from Colorado

May 29, 2014
Photo of Bouleboubier
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey

3.28/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
(no freshness date... a "new" case did come into my work recently, and this bottle was from that case... had a bottle last year elsewhere and a glass of this on tap... little current mention of this beer on the Smisje website... hmmm...)

A: old bottle? - lots of foam coming out when uncapped, head formed but fizzed out just as fast in the glass... clear liquid, tanned yellow-gold in color - the degree of brilliance found in this often suggests high attenuation, i.e. bugs

S: mild caramel, white grape vinous esters (vaguely sherry), overripe pear... no off-putting off-aromas, though

T: full burst of dried-crusted-over doughy malt, matched with a baker's yeast-like highlighting... dry champagne soda at its core... curious peppery-spicy zip/heat - the mustard seed? - you can smell a similar certain spicy something later on as well

M: approaching medium+ thickness in malt body, as if this has been aging (that old German lager quality, just with Belgian yeast nuances)... shows signs of viscosity, however, the lightly spiced-up alcohol warmth attenuates that fairly well

O: while this bottle is potentially aged, I believe I could sell this on the basis of it being similar in constitution to the slough of samey, fullish-bodied, red-hued Belgian Noël ales that we seem to have trouble ridding of each year - I happen to enjoy those beers, but you can't drink them all the time... this is 7% and not quite light and crisp, but has the allure of that yeasty-mustardy spice... worth one try - curious what you'd think
Apr 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by psoriasaurus from Thailand

Apr 12, 2014
Photo of donkeyrunner
Reviewed by donkeyrunner from Massachusetts

4.32/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
At some point I had asked the owner of an exotic beer store for something weird and unique. This is what he gave me.

Dark orange with a towering white head. Bottle claims this is a golden ale but I heartily disagree. Don’t see many “orange ales” for sale.

Unique aroma, there’s an uncatagorizable floral hibiscus spice thing that dominates. Not sure what mustard seed smells like but if it smells like Goulden’s Spicy Brown I’m glad it’s not very obvious. Bruised orchard fruit like apricots and oxidized apple.

Taste is equally unusual and it’s going to take a while to sort it all out. Very dry with lots of spice and an even dryer moisture sucking finish. Malt like spaghetti squash sweet and tart strawberries. Don’t know that I’ve ever pulled spaghetti squash out of a beer before.

A good pick by whomever I bought this from. One of those beers that make me rethink beer as an art in addition to a beverage. I'm surprised by the lackluster reviews for this beer but I also mention of this brewery's inconsistency. Glad I got a good bottle.
Mar 23, 2014
Wostyntje from Brouwerij Smisje
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 198 ratings