Ringmaster
De Circus Brouwerij

Drank at a beer cafe in Flanders.

My first from De Circus, I went on their website and this 7 year old had an English translation. (Note that please, all you aspiring micros.) Their website was also very professional looking, although not all beers (including this one) were described. I also give them very good Overall Hugs for packaging and a good sense of humour.

I thought Ringmaster was close to a classic English Porter. Relatively low ABV. It Tasted of a blend of older "stale" porter with some fresh. Medium-mouthed. Poured into a De Circus tulip, Ringmaster had a large head that stuck around pretty good. Clever label also.

(steinie bottle purchased in Belgium, shipped to US; chilled for 5 days before decanted between 2 Golden Monkey chalice-tumblers)

Clear, chestnut-brown liquid; bottle conditioning providing a voluminous head, laced well... soft nutty/roasty edge to the malt on the nose, touch of caramel; rather subdued altogether, perhaps dried out from the conditioning... malty foundation, moderately dry; hint of cocoa; swell of caramel in the finish, lingering and looming large in the aftertaste; overall taste reminded me of a less-roasty, less-coffeeish Fullers London Porter; underbelly displaying obvious weakness in alcohol... light, soft texture on the tongue, barely a sense of roundness to its body; very much sessionable in regards to it hardly challenging the palate... immediate reaction was that I would definitely try it again, preferably in a much larger serving, not due to any distinct or moreish qualities to its taste, but rather its simple approach and everyday potential (1596)