What beer are you drinking now? #4192

The question I am being asked most by knowledgeable BA's about the Dutch beer culture, is: " Heph, could you help us out giving your opinion on the best Season Dutch Bocks around?"
:
Well, I am not really into the Dutch Bocked beers, as many times they are too sweet for my liking, but well, selfless and generous as I am, I will sacrifice my weekend to give you some pointers. I' ve bought four 6-packs of the most widely available Spring Bocks (yes it sounds like players of the South African football team, but that is actualy derived from Dutch for Jumping Billygoat, some name for a gazelle of a kind, I guess - no relation there).

The candidates:


Grolsch, Gulpener and Brand come at 6,5%ABV.. Hertog Jan at 7,2%




Let the games begin

 

Duvel Belgian Strong Blonde Ale



Light clear yellow color with World class cap and lacing.

Aroma is like sticking your nose into a bouquet of fragrant tea roses. Speaking as an amateur rosarian I can say that. As an amateur cook I can also find Herbes de Provence, particularly lavender. I can't think of any other beer that has such a delightful fragrance.

Taste is marvelous. This is so good on so many levels it's hard to find a place to start. Floral hoppiness is in perfect balance with the rest. Malt is rich without being heavy, sweet without being cloying, full while remaining clean and a perfect example of when just enough is enough. Malt, yeast and hops all work together in a harmonious complexity that is seamless from start to finish.

Texture is full with balancing carbonation.

Overall this is a head and shoulders above the rest sort of beer. A blazing pathfinder that still out distances many of it's imitators.

 

La Debauche (France) Barrel Aged Peanut Butter Pastry Stout.,. Cheeers!

Gloriously sunny 74° day in Toulouse! Living the dream.,.

Dime for the box:

 

Well, will do some head-2-head comparisons later and post extensive evaluations in my beers list, for now the the intermediate results:



Looks:
1. Gulpener: best head and lacing
2. Hertog Jan: nice golden colour
3. Brand: lighter coloured with lots of carbonation
4. Grolsch: nice amber colour, but flat pretty fast

Smell:
1. Hertog Jan: not too malty interesting herbs, alsmost like gagel/koyt
2. Brand: moderate on the malts, some fresh hopiness there
3. Grolsch: malts with some biscuity sweetness
4. Gulpener: skunky malts but with some nice floral notes, honey

Mouthfeel/Taste:
1. Grolsch: being low rated above, it is actually most refreshing and drinkable beer. Well balanced, good round mouthfeel
2/3. Brand: freshness and bitterness of the hops, little bit hempy for me, not too shweet, dry mouthfeel
2./3. Hertog Jan: bit on the heavy side, sugar infused, taste a bit out of balance, too bitter aftertase, but nice herbs
4. Gulpener: just the skunky malts,spoils the spring freshness it should have

So my conclusion for now. Groslch is the "easy" drinkable option. They advertise as "fresh" and "soft" and I can agree with that.
If you are into "difficult" flavours, try Brand for hopiness or Hertog Jan for herbiness.
If you want a spring bock beer that just looks nice, Gulpener would be your thing..

 

Small break, reward for the hard work

 

I can see this combination work.. Ça marche! Enjoy!

 

His and hers at Manchester NH airport. Great North Trail Juice IPA and a screwdriver.

 

Happy Friday BA's

 

Strategic glass placement

 

Cheers BA!

 

G'day all!

I can always depend on Odell to bring the goods. Canned January 17th and tastes so darn fresh.

Prost!

Edit: After I read a few reviews, the January 17th is actually the best by date!

 

Enjoying the lovely weather. Cheers

 

As an bonus, will initiate a small Weissen comparison in my small spring bock break.


All of course just for you guys, do not think i enjoy ;-)

 

Forest Fire - Big Wood Brewing - Vadnais Heights, MN - Smoked Beer - 8.7% ABV
My friend Tim kindly got this for me a couple of weeks back. Holy cow a rye flavored bonfire. I am in paradise right now on my weekend today. Cheers!

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/27074/106069/

4.29/5 rDev +18.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
From a 750ml crawler. No date on the crawler.

This beer pours a dark amber color, and somewhat murky looking. 2 finger head that is slightly off white in color. Frothy looking, with fluffy small bubbles around the edge of the glass. Very long lasting head. Sticky and clingy looking lacing on the glass as the head dissipates.
Nose has a malty rye bread aroma to it. The rye is amped up a bit by a beautiful smoky aroma that adds an extra layer to it.
The flavor is a malty rye bread flavor right away. The rye is a sharp flavor. The rye lasts throughout, but is added on to on the back by a nice smoked flavor. The smoke reminds me of a bonfire, however it doesn't overpower the rye flavor, but adds to it. There's also a nice bitterness on the backside.
The body is very smooth, and full feeling. This is actually a thick beer. It's almost creamy feeling.
Damn, this is an amazing beer. It hits all the fine points well with me.