Ten bucks cheaper in San Antonio than back home? Grabbed it on sight. Glass is tragic, but it’s hotel‑room survival mode.
A Kriek from Block 15 Brewing in Oregon. 2024 Vintage. Smell is on the vinegar side. I wish American brewers would emulate the Belgians in mixing mellow and fruity beer with the old snaggle-toothed stuff. This is just so acidic it masks whatever fruit may be left. I don't taste any Bourbon barrels, now that I see that on the label. It's just a sour old beer with bitterness overwhelming the cherries. There is just a hint of fruit in the nose. Overall this is just sour and I don't mean that in a nice way.
Many thanks to @ATL6245 for one of the best American Tripels i have experienced to date. The brewing team did a great job coaxing max potential from the yeast. This is very flavorful light fruit wise with a nice white pepper finish. Rated 4.24. Cheers! Tom
Excellent! I was hoping you would enjoy that one. Brewer John Roberts (JR) is a long time legend in the Atlanta craft brewing scene. Belgians are his thing. It's the only locally made Tripel I drink these days. Cheers!
Wilt - A Belgian quad from Brewery Bhavana from NC. 9% ABV. Poured at fridge temp. Pours a nice murky orange/red with an inch or two of head. The nose is malt, citrus, caramel, bread, and a bit of spice. The taste is great. Orange, wheat, cinnamon, caramel, ginger, clove, bread, and a bit of pepper. Seems light for a quad, in my opinion. The mouthfeel is fairly light. Overall, this seems too light for a quad. Still quite tasty.
X-posting in NBW #303 - full review there and here (3.79/5) - I did not have high expectations for this, but it's a quite decent take on the style - cheers!
I do not recall seeing any of the Raleigh based brewer's offerings here in WNC but had an ABW via trade a few years back. Curious how you came across this in your many journeys
Westvleteren 8. Best before October of 2027. The intensity of flavor is amazing. I like this more than the Westy 12, and this one ages better as well.
Spontanaheim from The Bruery. A spontaneously fermented sour blonde ale aged in oak barrels. Vintage 2019. 5.8% ABV. Great stuff.
A Spring Will Come-- Wheat Saison from Otherlands Beer in Bellingham, Wash. Beautiful slightly frosted pale golden brew with sticky foam in the Blanche de Chambly glass. Inviting aroma of lemon and fresh green herbs. Slushy mouthfeel and zippy carbonation. Fruity with dark berries or currants and a tangy finish. Belgian flavors are light but distinct, and it's not very yeasty-bitter. Overall this is one of the best Saisons I've had in a long time. From the 500 ml recappable bottle, thank you.
Victory Sour Monkey. Canned 12/2/25. Tastes of big tart/sour lemon, lime, green apple, white grape, melon, hay, straw, grass, light peppercorn/clove, bread, and brett/lacto funk. Light-medium tart/sour and spicy yeast finish. Fairly crisp, no pucker, mild warmth of 9.5%. Super smooth. My wife loves this beer. Cheers
2013 Rose de Gambrinus from Cantillon. Bought when it was released. The cork has seen better days. I thought it might fall apart when I was pulling it. The nose on this is intense as hell. Intense raspberries for days. Sourness is quite evident. The taste is incredible. Not as sour as I was expecting from the nose. Raspberries, lemon, blackberries, some funk, slightly musty, biscuits, and an earthy note. Lovely.
Just because it's Belgian doesn't mean I always have to like it: Rare Barley Dark Project from Brasserie Fantôme Handsome chestnut color with bubbles streaming in the Maredsous goblet. Smell of broth and something herbal. It's neither strongly sour or sweet, but there is some of both sensations. Tastes of tea and something very, very woody and earthy. Strongly oxidized and rusty tasting. Overall it's "starkly bitter and medicinal" as another reviewer puts it. From the capped and corked 750 ml bottle purchased at The Garden Path in Wash. Label says "Best by end of 2026."
