Privatee
Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.

 

 

 

 

This starts my rating of beers that I cannot find my tasting notes for.
Bought perhaps three years ago within a Van Steenberge sampler pack from, I believe, its distributor Global Beer.
As I recall, too carbonated and the hops could be less.

 

Shiny blood red. Has a huge foamy head that breaks apart slowly.

Aroma of ripe fruits, plum, persimmon, spice and vanilla cake.

Sweet, ripe fruit, phenolic, big alcohol and grain on the tongue.

Medium to heavy and creamy. Rich. No big complaints, more substantial than expected.

 

Not for me- strong after taste

 

At Ashley's (Ann Arbor) from a 330 ml bottle

The beer pours a golden orange with scant head. There is some sweet fruit (orange) in the aroma with some barnyard funk. The taste is sour and sweet (candy?). The hops are practically non-present, though there is a slight astringency. The beer was crisp even though is was served a bit warmer than it should have been. The carbonation was lively but with a foamy smoothness. The body was medium.

 

This came across initially as a seductive dark quad, and it delivered both with aroma and overall flavor experience. Wonderful world-class parts in my mouth!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Stubby 33cl brown bottle poured amber; slightly hazy; very large and durable bone-colored head; bands of sticky lacing. A full pour still left some dark brown sediment in the bottle. Very appealing aroma with brown bread, ripe fruits and a hint of toffee. The flavor follows largely, with intensity building through the finish and into the aftertaste. Very good sweet/bitter balance with an overall slightly sweet character. High ABV is well hidden in the nose, but only partly hidden in the feel and obvious upon tasting. Nice hints of raisins and brandied dates, along with some hop notes, in the aftertaste. Tastes considerably darker than it actually looks.

O: less well known than Piraat but worth seeking out.