Belgian Beer Appreciation Thread (2023)

You should have watched the game. It was great, an explosion occurred. During the post game show the pundits opined this was the best Phillies playoff game ever!!

And back to beer: I too am a fan of Chimay Red in a fancy chalice.

Cheers!

 

That's annoying about the tax, but I bet that was a good pairing. But I'm confused, did the holiday pack come with 2 chalices? I thought they generally only came with 1

 

One, I bought two packs.

Enjoy

 

This was the first Quad i ever had and it's still one of my favorites

 

First time trying this and it’s delicious! Love me some Triple.

 

One of the best bars evah. About the time I started going there.

 

Nice sipper for a November evening.
Fairly big beer in a big bottle but I still wish I had a second.

 

Didn't realize ABInbev had picked up Bosteels - setting that information aside, I still enjoy this ale quite a bit...full review here and in NBW #173.

4.28/5 | rDev -0.2%

Cheers!

 

25 cl (9 oz.) bottle, chilled, poured into a taster’s snifter in Toulouse, France. Best by 3/25/25, making this 7 1/2 months in bottle. 9% ABV, the strongest ale Leffe produces.
Generous foam above pure copper colored brew, slow recession. Decent lacing.
Aroma is clove, vanilla, banana, with hops making a lively and welcome appearance.
Taste is spicy, fine bitterness, well balanced, countered with a touch of sweetness. The finish is loooong and residual spice lingers until the next sip.
Feel is medium, and it’s properly carbonated.
Overall, respect! Fine European Strong Ale.,.

 

I think my first time chiming in here.

BA has this listed as a RIS, but UT as a Belgian Quad. I think it fits the latter better.

Cross posted as well from NBW.

Uinta - Labyrinth (2023)



Purchased from the brewery cooler for $4
Canned 11.01.23
Poured at about 45° into what I think is a goblet/chalice.

Pours dark oily black with a 2F mocha colored head. Near full sheet lacing. 4.25

Aroma off the can is largely barrel, and semisweet bakers chocolate. Off the glass I get a bit of char and coffee. 4.5

I'm still working on description of the taste, since I'm not terribly familiar with the style. But there is some hot booze, woody barrel, soft and subtle raisin, bakers chocolate, roasty coffee and mixed dark/fermented stone fruit. 4.5

Moderate prickling carbo, heavy and pleasant mouthcoating, warming but subtle alcohol, and a beautiful dry bite of a finish. 4.75

Overall I'm quickly loving beglians more and more, especially the variance across dubbel, Tripel, quad. This one in particular felt wonderfully balanced, and crafted with much love. It's appears to be a celebrated local high point beer. 4.5

 

Welcome to the club! Probably my favorite thread on BA.

 

Definitely excited to make them a part of the regular rotation, and as it would happen I have another one here today and man it's good.

Level Crossing - Eternal Pursuit


Illegible canning date, yearly release though, and that's Feb.
Purchased from the brewery cooler for $6
Poured at about 45°F into a chalice.

24 IBU
8.8% abv
33 SRM - Deep Copper Brown
"Eternal Pursuit is a Belgian Dark Strong Ale with complex malty aromas of black cherry, raisins, plumb and figs. The low hop bitterness allows the mélange of fresh stone fruit, caramel malt and hints of chocolate-covered banana flavors to shine. Eternal Pursuit has higher carbonation and a medium body which finishes dry with some residual alcohol warmth lingering in the mouth."

Pours that deep cola brown with bright coppery edges and a dense khaki colored head. Some thin/fine trailing lacing and steady retention. 4.25

Aroma is some fruity esters, banana, and dark stone fruit-fruitcake. 4

Some roasty cocoa, banana bread, raisin, and mmm my favorite Belgian Candi Sugar, not so noticeable but it's present along with some nice herbal and earthy hop oil finish, and back with a soft cocoa lingering character. 4.5

Initially there was some very hot whiskey-esque booze but that immediately faded after the first sip. Rich, but not so thick it takes hours to finish. Sticky, full with moderate to low carbo. 4.5

Overall a very delicious Belgian dark ale I'll hope to get my hands on again and look forward to the 2024 release, (perhaps do a side by side!)

Cheers friends!

 

Is Monk's Blood still around? Used to take the cans on kayak trips.

 

Best time and also my favorite time to type up beer reviews is early morning with coffee. With a clear head I can navigate my hashed up tasting notes and plug 'em into the basic format I've chosen. This beer is super great and not as much of a grand sipper as I thought it might be. I love it! Salute BAs!
Trappistes Rochefort 6 4.3/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
11.2 oz bottle enjoy by date 11/29/2026 into a Watu chalice.
L: SRM 12 Pours clouded medium dark caramel color with some dark thin sediment, a thin & fast receding off white head that goes to almost no edge foam, good amt of fine carbonation bubbles, no lacing. Sediment is in suspension.
S: Tannins, apple, plum, very light malts.
T: Gently fruity, plum, very light citrus zest, a hint of grapes, a touch of honey, affably sweet caramelized malts, distant brown bread notes, malts are gently toasted. Has a floral finish but not much aftertaste.
F: Brisk effervescent medium to med-light bodied feel with a broad middle and a very lightly chalky medium-fast length semi-smooth finish that is fairly drying.
O: I rolled the bottle so that all of the sediment is involved. A brisk , fruity, and slightly dry Double that will compliment many foods. Lightly effervescent and gently sweet. Becomes smoother with warming. It is outstanding in its style.

 

Roudhouse Brewing Co ~ Siren Song
Jackson, WY ~14%ABV Quadruple slim can BA

Lacking in depth of malt character that you get with the classics. Drinks more like a Tripel to me in that manner. A bit sharp around the edges overall yet still a pretty nice lil warming sipper.

 

N'Ice Chouffe. Nice fall/winter vibes here, with cream, cinnamon, leather & herbal notes.

 

Handsome 33 cl bottle, poured slightly chilled, into a snifter, in Toulouse, France. 3.50€.
Fluffy head pops up, stays late. The beer is cloudy gold in color. Splotchy droopy lacing.,
Aroma is Earthy. Honey. Hops.
Taste is fruity; pear up front. Then a good spiciness emerges, bitter note, followed by wildflower honey. Dry + yeasty + funky + finish * accented * by the warm 10% ABV.
Mouth is quite creamy. Low, but lively carbonation.
Overall, I howl aloud for this kind smoove taste, brewed in Peruwelz, Belgium - only on a full moon.
Everything in harmony here.

 

Advice sought!

I just purchased a 2023 Cantillon fruited lambic, Sang Bleu. Should I drink it now or is it better aged? For how many years? I don't mind waiting for the optimal age. Also, does barnyard funk fade with aging? I would be more likely to age the bottle if that normally happens.
Thanks!

 

Back in this thread after a while.

Bottle of Bourgogne des Flanders