 MartinT (4241), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
May 2, 2008
Now this one’s difficult to rate. It was nearly impossible for me to serve myself a pint of this from the 750ml bottle without unleashing a sediment monster into my glass. So, first, here are some pre-yeaststorm comments from the first half or so of the bottle:
-A dense sheet of foam tops the hazy blond.
-The fruity, perfumy nose is tantalizing, offering up exotic citrus fruit in both juice and candied form alongside white pepper-like spiciness.
-The wise spiciness works wonders with the doughy yeast.
-The mouthfeel is frothy but kind to the palate.
-Cereal sweetness is well calibrated and the flavor profile whispers the wonderful bouquet..
-The finish is rather dry and knows how to keep the tastebuds longing for the next sip.
-Points were: 9/3/7/4,15/20, 3.8/5
Now, the rest of the bottle:
-Kerplunk, said the yeast. Gurgle, gurgle.
-Appearence has now become slurry-like.
-The yeast shot obviously muddles some of the delicate features of this beer, but seems to make the bittering hops more proficient.
-The nose is quite hurt, yet remains appealing.
-Points were: 7/1/7/3 14/20 3.2/5
Bottle.
Borresteijn (55), Amstelveen, Netherlands
Jul 16, 2008 Bottle from Cracked Kettle, @ home. Golden orange appearance, big disappearing head. Aroma of yeast, sour apples, some malts. Dry and prickly palate, lots of carbonation, flavour is sour apples, sweet peach, yeast. Average.
Glouglouburp (1872), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Jul 6, 2008 In short: A bland juicy, floral and doughy clean Belgian Ale
How: Bottle 750ml, about 4 months old
The look: Clear golden body with a lot of particles and topped by a medium off-white head
In long: Nose of citrus essence and garden flowers. Taste has some soft cookie malts, some flower juice, some citrus+apricots juice, a few drops of perfume and a whole lot of doughy yeast. Something in that doughy flavour reminded me of a unbaked pancake-like dough complete with a slight egg yolk taste. Short finish. Oily body with an annoying soda-pop-like carbonation. Light mineral water taste from beginning to end. This is an easy to drink well brewed beer but unfortunately it is rather characterless. Altitude 6, Attitude 0.
GonZoBeeR (1986), ste-Eulalie, Quebec, Canada
Jul 6, 2008 Aroma:citrus,orange light spices...
Appearance:Hazy gold with chunk of yeast,Light head...
Flavor:citrus-orange flavor,light spices...
kepano (239), Meudon, France
Jun 16, 2008 It seems tough to admit, but Belgium’s brewing climate today has little to do with the monastic tradition so often advertised. I can’t help but raise an eyebrow when I see borrowed ecclesiastical titles, as if they somehow elevate the product to a divine status. Abbaye des Rocs awakened this concern during my initial encounter. Fortunately, as I explored their profound talent, I realized this is a brewery thats put little effort in polishing its image, and focuses instead on a truly exceptional set of beers. A remarkable endeavor. Des Rocs’ habit of leaving ’unsightly’ sediment in the bottles never bothered me in the least, but I was surprised to find a relatively clear brew this time around. The lively apricot color glows deeply, and a creamy off-white head puffs up above. The aroma is equally bright and summery, but rich and complex as well. Honey and abundant grains form the unmistakable smell of Miel Pops, one of my childhood breakfast cereals in France. The subtle balance of spices and vegetal components adds surprising intricacy for a basic offering. Nutmeg, coriander, pepper and buttery asparagus are particularly notable. The palate finds a light, creamy and very easy-drinking ale. There’s a touch of minerality that seems perfect for a hot day. Sweet grains are present, and the chalky lemony yeastiness gives an air of witbier. The spices are perfectly balanced with both hops and malts, suggesting hints of peach and coffee. There’s a definite sweetness throughout, but it remains authentic and the subtle dryness and sourness in the finish continually encourage another sip. Perfectly sessionable and drinking well after it’s second birthday, it’s another stunning beer from des Rocs. (08/06/07)
wyzzywyz22 (238), Wirral, Merseyside, England
Jun 5, 2008 Bottle, at the Belgian Belly, Manchester.
Poured an orangey gold with a decent sized white head. Good lace. Aroma is sweetish with a touch of orange and peach. Flavour is malty and honey tinged, with hints of summer fruit and a pleasantly spicy herbiness which gives this a nice balance. Emminently drinkable and went very well with the Samurai Chicken roll !!
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