Belgian Beer Appreciation Thread (2024)

My wife was told by our local Trader Joe's staff that there were some quality-control issues with some of the batches this year. Thus, for a couple of weeks, ALL TJ Vintage Special was pulled from the shelves. We've since seen it back on the shelves. So I'm guessing that they figured out which batches were good and put those back on the shelves.

 

Dangerous Man - Belgian Golden Strong
Man, the candied aspect to this is glorious. Really dries out quickly though, a bit more than maybe ideal. But great overall.

 

Drinking an Achel Bruin.

It is excellent. Anyone know if their bottle dating is a bottled date or a best by date?

 

That's a "best by" date. Source: the recent bottle I drank had a 2025 date on it, and I do not have a time machine.

Fantastic beer, by the way!

 

Yes, "Best before" date, or more correct: "To age at least until" date.
When Achel was still a trappist, they were giving 2 yrs after bottle date, so your bottle was from 2019.
As said already, no changes in recipes after losing the trappist allure.

 

From my excursion to the Aleyards craft brewing district in Toronto.

Davenport Saison from Shacklands brewing. They specialize in Belgian styles so I will be back.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/31674/305406/

Poured a 355ml can into a tulip. A one finger fine white head on a very slightly hazy amber lemon. Good head retention. Some patchy lacing.
Spicy fruit in the nose. Earthy. Very mild funk.
Fruity. Earthy. Sweet. Some pepper. A dry finish.
Medium body and carbonation.
An excellent Saison.

look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

 

In Ontario we are limited to the 12 can mixed pack and the Blanche. We used to get 6s of the Maudite and Trois Pistoles.

 

Saint Bernardus Christmas Ale
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/259/39286/

One of the last Christmas beers I still have. I wanted to shoot it outside in honour of the season but the temp was minus double digits so an indoor shoot it is!

Not quite as good as I expected. I think that the 12 is better. Full(er) review in the NBW thread.

 

Could have put it next to a window.

 

Next time.

 

Getting in some board game time.
I let this one sit in the fridge too long and it has picked up a bit of cardboard-like flavor to go along with the sweet and sour cherry.

 

Finally got to try Pannepot. It's quite the odd Quad, tart and a little funky but still damn good

 

Really jonesin' for some Maudite; have not seen it here in Vermont for a couple of years. And the brewery is barely a 2 hour drive. Time for a Montreal weekend! We have not been there since just before Covid.

 

St. Feuillien Triple. I'm not the biggest fan of this style (Quads & Dubbels are more up my alley) but this was delightful...melon, mild banana & faint lemon notes, with a pleasing clove finish. Can't believe I've never tried this before!

 

A couple from last night's poker game, Munkle Saison which actually drank more like a Tripel Lght with its pear and apple esters. Also shared the last of my 2022 Alpha Hop Society Gin BA Tripel. The gin BA was a little more than what my palate can appreciate, especially after the fruity Saison.
Cheers!
Tom

 

Fat Heads - Pimp My Sleigh. Corny (and dated) name, but it's a Belgian Style Holiday Ale. 10.5% abv, nice dark malt flavor, a little sweet, a little boozy. A touch of clove.

 

Scaldis Blond Ale Triple. This almost felt like a tripel / quad mash-up due to some leather notes mixed in with the usual banana / clove flavors I usually assocuate with the style.

I enjoyed this, but the St. Feuillien Triple I had the other day was better, IMO.

 

I'm impressed by this offering. It's very convincing and downright excellent. Well done CS tribe.
Clown Shoes One Man Holiday Belgian-Style Quadruple Ale

 

Fegley's Brew Works (Allentown, PA) - Rude Elf's Reserve (2022). A lightly spiced strong Belgian-style Christmas Ale