Sauvage Arrivée! Brettxcited Dark Reserva from Fantôme in Belgium. A Belgian strong dark ale. 8% ABV. At least 6 years old. Poured at fridge temp. Pours a murky brown with a solid inch or two of head that quickly dissipates. The nose is surprisingly minimal. It's almost hard to pick out any flavors. Some dark malts, toffee, oak, and maybe a hint of raisin. The taste is really interesting. Big malts, toffee, bread, and an ever so slight sourness. Some raisin and cherry notes come through as well. The mouthfeel is light and dry. A nice fruity aftertaste.
Drank a bottle of St. Bernardus Abt 12 with delayed Easter Dinner #2. Glassware choices were limited at my mom's house. 4 year old bottle, it was in that cellaring sweet spot - super smooth.
St Feuillien Grand Cru dry hopping. Very good Belgian in its proper chalice. 9,5% abv. Super fresh as the BBD is November 2027. Santé!
I've been meaning to post in this thread, I need to get drinking and go to total wine for some imports! In honor of the NBW #300 with @Beersnake we have The Bruery 12 Drummers Drumming. Bottled on 10/09/2019. I had to use a flashlight to see the engraving. Clear very dark ruby/brown color. 1-2 finger foamy tan head reduces to nothing quickly as expected of 12%. Aromas of huge raisin, prune, date, fig, caramel, toffee, dark candi sugar; light molasses, tobacco, leather, bourbon, oak, vanilla, roast, herbal, and yeast earthiness. Taste follows with huge raisin, prune, date, fig, caramel, toffee, dark candi sugar, tobacco, leather, herbal, grass, peppercorn, cedar, light oak/pine, yeast earthiness, light cocoa/roast. Light-medium herbal bitterness and yeast/oak spiciness on the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full body; balanced creamy/lightly slick malts, with lingering sticky hop and oak tannin dryness. Mild increasing warmth and a bit of booze in the gut at 12%. Great mouthfeel of a quad, not too sweet, no cloying after the finish. Great classic feeling quad, with a bit of a tannic wine like feel from the 20% old ale blend. 4.18/5 Cheers
Chimay 175 Blonde ale. I finally went to Total Wine and found it, been meaning to review. Need to go and make a 6 pack and grab a bomber more often at TW. 2025 bottling. Incredible beer. Foamy head with solid lacing and good streaming carbonation. Aromas and flavors of big pear, red apple, white grape, lemon, coriander, cedar, clove, peppercorn, cracker, white bread, herbal, floral, grass, yeast earthiness, and light banana/bubblegum. Medium herbal/woody bitterness and peppery yeast spiciness on the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; balanced bready/grainy malts, and sticky hops in the mouthfeel. Light hop resins and lingering dryness with no hop astringency. Fairly crisp finishing on carbonation. Very smooth, mild warmth of 6.5%. Classic Chimay house yeast, pretty much the same taste as Cinq Cents in yeast ester profile. Delicious. I'll be getting some Chimay more often soon. 4.27/5 Cheers
Given the number of Belgian beers consumed in the WBAYDN thread, there should be more posts here! I'll try to get it going. This is a 2020 bottle of Stille Nacht from De Dolle in Belgium. Fantastic Belgian strong pale ale. 12% ABV. Ages so well.
2013 Gueuze from Cantillon. After 13 years, I have to say that this isn't nearly as good as one with half the age. Everything is a bit muted.
Bourbon Barrel Qualified from Taxman Brewing. A barrel-aged Belgian-style Quad. 10% ABV. Really awesome beer. Lovely notes of vanilla, toffee, prunes, and bourbon.
Dogfish Head Raison D'Extra bottled 12/21/2018. Murky pour, no head retention, a lot of streaming carbonation on the glass. Aromas of big raisin, prune, apple, caramel, toffee, brown sugar, brown bread; light molasses, tobacco, leather, yeast earthiness. Taste of huge caramel, toffee, raisin, prune, cherry, apple, brown sugar, brown bread; light molasses, tobacco, leather, wood, peppercorn, pine, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Light herbal/woody bitterness and peppery yeast spiciness on the finish. Medium-plus carbonation and medium-full creamy/bready malt body; lingering sticky hop and spicy alcohol dryness after the finish. No cloying, mild increasing warmth of 16% after the finish to the gut. Slight touch of astringency. I reviewed the 2006 and 2014 a bit better than this on Untappd and on BA originally. This was not quite as rich as the 18% ones. Aged real well.4.3/5 Cheers
Brouwerij Huyghe Delirium Nocturnum. Been a long time since I had this, but glad the half liter cans are out there now. TIL they have a BB julian date. Probably a year from canning. BB 1/6/2027. I got out the Tremens glass, needed to clean it out with soap. Incredible as usual. Big yeast fruitiness balanced by caramel, toasted biscuit, and light cocoa/coffee malts. Light bitter and spicy yeast finish. Lingering hop/yeast dryness. No cloying. Minimal warming 8.5%. I'll pick up tremens at total wine soon. Cheers
2022 Fou' Foune from Cantillon. Wow - this is tasting so good right now. More sourness than I remember. Peaches, vanilla, tart, and more sourness. Refreshing.
Sextuple from Hoppin' Frog. A super strong (16.4% ABV) Belgian-style strong dark ale. The taste is fantastic. Not too boozy, but the ABV isn't completely hidden. Prunes, sherry, dark malts, blackberries, molasses, and a bit of candy. It definitely tastes like a strong Belgian dark ale. Very nice and glad that it's a small can.
Sensitive King from Supermoon Beer Company in Wisconsin. An Abbey style tripel. 9% ABV. Clove, mint, orange, vanilla, banana, slight hop bitterness, grainy, earthy, honey, and a significant dryness. Although this doesn't really come close to some of the best tripels from Belgium, this is a tasty beer.
