Belgian Beer Appreciation Thread (2023)

Gonna match your post @SLeffler27 - Cheers.
@TongoRad , based on what you said about the Sand City beer the other day, you gotta use the Merchant du Vin beer finder to grab Westmalle Extra - but check those dates. This bottle is a year old and it’s not at its best. (I held onto this last bottle of my last four pack because I didn’t want this beer to go away.) The two year best-by timeframe/shelf-life on the bottle is an odd choice (based on my experience today, I would not buy this beer at a year old) but I have to give them a lot of credit for putting an easy to read bottling date AND best-by date on the label, with white ink, and not using a number for the month (which can create confusion with European imports). The best-by is optimistic, but otherwise this is as consumer-friendly as it gets:

(Plus the front label on this bottle is as handsome as this stuff gets in my eyes)

 

Here's a nice one from Ommegang..I always snag their beers when I can. Real subtle fruit and very carbonated... its a nice Tripel

 

There's definitely a hole in the market for quaffable Belgian ales that I'd love for somebody to find a way to fill. I haven’t even seen the Westmalle Extra, but I'd figure that similarly to the St. Bernardus, price and freshness serve as deterrents for most people.

 

Oh yeah, it ain't cheap. I don't recall the exact price I paid, but it's more of a special treat than an everyday drinker... which goes against what you'd ideally want... but on the plus side, drinking one can really feel like a treat even if people usually want to reserve such feelings for bigger beers. For it's type, it's "all in" vs something less committed, so in my case I never felt like I was spending too much for what I was getting - a bottle conditioned and highly carbonated, whole cone hopped, wonderfully put together Belgian beer... and not something one can really substitute with Leffe or an American local (definitely no offense to those beers). That's just my take of course.

 

The four-pack, I found, was $13 at Wegmans; so not outrageous. And while freshness is likely and issue, it is a real nice small beer. My detailed review will be another day, and will be posted here. It would have been this past weekend, had I not been enamored with a couple Kveik beers.

 

I loved this beer when I could still find it. Enjoy!

 

I love lambic

 

Join me in the ranks of Poo-Butt

 

. Hey look at that! Pile on the heap.

 

Brasserie De La Senne
"Jambe-de-Bois" tripel

Banana, vanilla & mild lemon peel flavors. A treat!

 

Lambiek Fabriek, a great newcomer and the youngest member of Horal.
I like their Pluri-Elle - Juicy & Wild.
Another newcomer is Kestemont.
Lamiek market is as vivid as the beer/fermentation itself.

 

Fist time trying this one.



It’s definitely to my liking. Malty and sweet with a creamy viscosity, but moderately so keeping it from becoming a chore to drink.

 

Great classic Tripel and part of a really great series I really miss..GOT. Huge carbonation that works so nice with the fruits and spices. Really proper

 

This was made with Belgian yeast so ill post here
North Coast Grand Cru
It's listed as a Belgian Pale but drinks like a Quad and looks nothing like a pale.

 

Today is Saison Day !
(My favorite style.)
My intention is to get over to Off Color's Mousetrap and taste their collab with Allagash, a wit called Ghost Lemons. Apparently Allagash (Maine) is releasing their Saison again. Also, I'm going to try to pickup a bottle of Interlude, which I've not had.
Is/Was has released Negel, a new saison on tap also at Off Color.
Have to hurry while provisions last; but, it's April Showers outside right now.
Off Color's email said also celebrating Saison Day would be Oxbow (also Maine) Green Bench (St. Pete's), Urban roots (Sacatomatoes) and Threes Brewing.
Anyone else planning anything special?
And if not, have a saison with lunch !

 

ChicagoJ--
Thanks for responding here.
But two months later, I finally took your advice and also posted over at #3843.
To this moment and my limited knowledge, you are the only response on this Belgian Thread.
A Votre Sante' !

 

Very nice. Their Off Color / Allagash lineup looked great. The weather not as much, but hope to perhaps head down there and see if they have anything left tomorrow or early next week. Will catch up with the What Beer Are You Drinking Now thread. It typically is quite busy on weekends.

Not sure if any of those are Belgians, but looking forward to my next Belgian and Saison offerings in May!

 

Kerel Belgian Stout by VBDCK Brewery in Belgium.

Aroma is roasty, a bit of dark fruit, and some earthy Belgian yeast phenols. Similar flavors in the taste, has a bit of a cola flavor in the finish. Medium bodied.

 

Never saw that glass, I love it!

Enjoy