Alvinne Balthazar

Brewed by Picobrouwerij Alvinne
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Heule, Belgium

33cl bottle. Disclaimer - my brother-in-law ordered this beer, not me, so I had to formulate these notes on less sips than is usually required so as not to drink all of his beer. Pours dark brown with a thick tan head. The bottle practically gushes upon opening. The aroma is sweet and very spicy with lots of cardamom The flavor is sugar sweet but also quite spicy with notes of ginger and lots of cardamom. There is a subtle and refreshing acidity in there, too. The beer is smooth considering its strength and strong spice flavors; alcohol is well-hidden. The mouthfeel is full in body with an almost soda-like spritziness. Overall, a very intriguing spiced beer - much better than I expected. I wish I could have had a few more sips.

Bottle on 10/31/2008. Clear deep amber brown body wtih ruby highlights and a medium creamy yellowish tan head. Sweet ginger and spice aroma with molassas, rum-soaked fruit, and hints of sour. Big ginger, spice, rum-soaked fruit, caramel and ligth sour flavor. Medium body with fizzy carbonation.

(33cl bottle, stamped Okt 2011) Small beige head atop murky dark brown body laden with yeast particulate. Aroma is moderately sweet, yeast, molasses/caramel, ginger, raisin, some alcohol. Taste is moderately sweet, raisin, brown sugar, ginger, some yeast. Smooth medium-full body.

Tap at Ginger Man. Pale golden beer. Aroma is lightly fruity, orange, apple, apricot and a soft herbal hoppiness. Lightly fruity, some peach and light nutmeg character. Lean body but with a sweetness that gets a bit cloying. A bit of pine on the back.

Bottle. The best of the wise men offerings. Pours a brown body with ruby hues and a creamy tan head. Sweet spicy fruity nose of honey, ginger, citrus, and marmalade. The ginger and citrus come together to create a menthol cooling sensation. This is truly unique and i must give credit where its deserved. Very drinkable at 9% with lots of minerals in the finish. Im very satisfied to taste something so bizarre.

Bottle from Liquid Solutions. Started quite the gusher. Very dark brown color with a huge frothy head. Very spicey aroma over a dark malt. Flavors of chocolate and ginger come forth. Not much sign of heat. Amazingly different and wonderful. Another example that Alvinne is at the top of the ale game. Have no clue why so many don’t get that. The ginger blends so well with the malt. Something like Westy12 with ginger. What a concept. What a flavor.

Explosive head, dark brown murky color. Aroma of alcohol and cotton candy. Sugary flavor with spice finish when the coriander and ginger come through. Too sweet for me.

Erupts like a porn flick into a Trappist glass. Massive brown cola-like foam. Settles rather quickly to mottle the surface. Spicy ginger and coriander aromas. Sweet and tasty with ginger and spices from front to back. Looking at other reviews, it appears that quality control is not a strong point.