Petrus Winterbier
De Brabandere

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On-tap 3/6/2015 at Track 84 in Warwick, RI, served in a snifter glass.

A: The beer is a reddish brown color, with a medium off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains dark fruit, nutmeg, ginger, brown sugar, Belgian yeast and a touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of brown sugar, dark fruit and caramel. There’s also some spice but less than you get in the smell. Then some breadiness comes in from Belgian yeast and a hearty but not too heavy malt character. The hops presence is very mild but complementary and brings some balance. The after-taste is sweet and slightly bready.

M: Smooth and a little crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, it’s a solid beer to drink for while if you’re in the mood for the style.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, best before 1/21/2012. Pours hazy deep orange/copper color with a 2 finger fairly dense off white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of golden raisin, plum, lemon, pear, apple, white grape, white pepper, clove, candi sugar, light caramel, bread, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast, earthy hops, and moderate dark/bready malt sweetness; with solid strength. Taste of golden raisin, plum, lemon, pear, apple, white grape, white pepper, clove, candi sugar, light caramel, bread, herbal, grass, and herbal/yeast earthiness. Good amount of earthy yeast spice on the finish; with lingering notes of golden raisin, plum, lemon, pear, apple, white grape, pepper, clove, candi sugar, bread, light caramel, herbal, and yeast earthiness on the finish. Nice complexity and solid robustness of fruity/spicy yeast, earthy hops, and moderate dark/bready malt sweetness; with a nice malt/yeast flavor balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a very smooth, crisp, and lightly prickly mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish. Overall this is a nice Belgian dark ale. All around good complexity, balance, and solid robustness of fruity/spicy yeast, earthy hops, and moderate dark/bready malt sweetness; and very smooth and crisp to drink. A nicely enjoyable offering.