Rebelse Strop
Roman N.V.

This is my 9th brew from Roman and they remain still something of an enigma to me with five Centuries of family ownership and six different lines of ales, all with their own story. But I will have the pleasure of visiting them in March on a five day tour of Belgian Family Breweries, or about seven of this elite grouping of about two dozen families.

Rebelse is from the Strop line which, Roman's website relates, were those landowners (partly defending their peasants) who refused to pay a higher tax to the Holy Roman Emperor and were given a badge of a noose to put around their neck to walk the streets with. But refusing the tyranny of taxing by imperial decree, the noose backfired and became a badge of honour. Good story. One we should think about today after the Big Ugly Bill passed against the best interests of at least two hundred million Americans.

Back to beer... Rebelse Looks great, a huge foam that shows life until the last drop in the glass. Smells are mostly malt, but a rich yeast is in there kicking up some fruit like apples. Tastes are balanced, but there are lingering hops that would make me cautious to have this with food. Medium-mouthed and so very soft.

As for the excellent Overall Hugs, that is because I like Roman and the Belgian Family Brewers Association and because of their skill and iconoclasms. A Sante' !

Copenhagen 18/4 2020. 33 cl bottle from Belgisk Bryg, Emdrup Mosevej, Kbh. NV. Golden label with a lot of rope wrapping itself around the word Strop.

Pours unclear, golden amber with a very big white head. Stable. Settles as 2 cm thick, fluffy crown of foam obscuring the surface of the beer. Massive lacing.

Aroma is medium intense and probably dampened by the massive amount of foam. Yeasty and sweetish with a light touch of alcohol. Cheese, hand soap, Funk and light sourness. Candy-like sweetness, honey peeking in.

Light carbonation. Slightly thick, oily, creamy, lightly tingling texture.

Flavor is medium intense. Medium sweetness followed by medium strong slightly citric bitterness. Aftertaste is bitter. Lingers for a while. Finish is semi-dry.

A bit strange experience to be honest. The yeast is all over the place with unpredictable results like hand soap. But also solid in an immensely Belgian way.

 

 

 

Bottle at Las Buenas Pulgas, served in a trappist glass. Dark golden color, big head with long retention, reducing to a layer that never seems to fade. Great lacing. Aroma of bretts, citrics and spices. Full body, rough texture, good carbonation. Bitter finish. Taste follows the aroma. I can't see the comparison with Orval, wich is much more complex.

 

Evidently brett beer. Respect. Really interesting.

4 Sep 2020. Avg 3.06. De Tercertiempocervezas. En copa Teku. Jugando con los niños a Roblox (Big Paintball, Mi Restaurante y Arsenal) Perfil seco más propio de una tripel que de una belgian palé, con ligeras notas funk que me da que no son intencionales y cuerpo algo aguado. Aún así, no está mala, pero pasa algo desapercibida

17 Jul 2023. De Labirratorium. En copa shaker. En Leo Punta Umbría Deluxe. Elaborando temario de opos. Perfil funk marcado sin resultar molesto, aportando frescor. Algo menos de carbonatacion estaría bien para no tener que servirla en varias veces, pero no molesta en boca e incluso aporta un feel agradable. Avg 4.25

330ml bottle.
L: Bright orange when backlit. Swirls of suspended yeast. Massive, lumpy head.
S: Light, pithy, orange.
T: Dry, pithy & spicy.
F: A bit thin, to be honest. Mousse-like carbonation doesn't help. Very poor mouthfeel for a 6.9% ABV beer.
O: Not satisfying at all. Bitter, thin & gassy.

 

 

Using a large goblet, this beer pours a lovely hazy body, topped with a superb frothy head!

Aroma is very much a sherbet affair, some subtle sour notes.

Taste is quite harsh upon first sip. Expecting something sweet, but a bitter bite takes hold. This softens after a couple more slugs leaving a smoked aftertaste.

Feel is quite dry and powdery on the tongue.

Overall this brew looks great, and if you like a smoked bitter flavour, this will be for you. For me it is just not satisfying.