Oud Zottegems Bier Hergist
Brouwerij Crombé

Pours champagne gold, accumulating in the bulb of a tulip glass into an old brass color, under a glass-filling cloud of big-bubbled, clingy old ivory foam that dissipated only slowly. Looks like a profusion of effervescence in the glass, but no sediment in glass or (33cl) bottle — how’d they do that? Under the old system, appearance would've been the high-scoring category. Now. With the beer a bit below cellar temperature, close to fridge temp, I get aromas of flowery esters or is that a bit of hopping, then a van of bread with a bit of sawdust, perhaps some banana, apricot and mint. Flavors are of buttered toast, yellow fruits, a bit more mint or coriander, with a subtle bit of sweetness balanced by a blip of sourness and just a bit of hop spice, more herbal than bitter. Mouthfeel surprisingly full, creamy, toothsome even, but nicely cleansed on the swallow thanks to a bit more carbonation and hop underpinning. From my memory (and notes) of the non-“hergist” (bottle conditioned) Oud Zottegems, this one seems to be more developed in the mouthfeel as much as in the flavor.