Alvinne Eycken Balthazar

Poured up on tap at the Oldsmar Tap house brownish amber with nice off white head. The aroma has mostly dark fruit as well as a subtle layer of sourness. The taste starts smooth and neutral then quickly picks up a wave of modest tartness and apple to cherry fruitiness. A slight white wine note comes to the surface to help dry out the experience. Pretty nice stuff. This is oak aged? Hmm?

33cl bottle at home, 2008 vintage: Dark polished mahogony with a fading thick and creamy tan head. Pretty big eastern spice aroma full of ginger and cardamom. Gingerbread cookies come to mind. Light cola mixes with dark malt just under the surface of the spice. A very welcoming lactic character can be swirled up, instantly causing my mouth to water. Oak and some vanilla get dragged up from the bottom along with the lactic acid. Starts to turn musty as the spices blow off. Medium bodied with a certain slickness. Upfront spices and malt lead you straight towards a lactic streak. Mild lactic rides along an edge with fresh oak chips and ginger. Ginger and cardamom start to take over and turn the lacto towards an green herbal twang. Long finish with that same green twang, oak and ginger. Malt plays more of a backing role the closer to the finish you get. Ginger and cardamom a bit too dominant for me.

A beer I have wanted to try for a long time, shared by Beastiefan2k. Dark red color. some carbonation on the palate. Malt, lots of it, like the regular version. I don’t get as much anise or cardamon as in the regular version, rather, there is sourness and oak. The coriander is there as well. I am not sure if this is meant to be sour or not, but either way, it is really good, like pretty much everything from Alvinne.

Sampled during MN Gathering 2.5 and shared by Beastiefan2k as Alvinne The Oak Balthazar. Pours a clear dark brownish amber colored brew with a fast dissolving off-white head that dissipates clean. Aroma of roasted caramel malt, some light vanilla, figs and a touch of tart fruit. Taste is medium bodied, some fruity caramel malt, some spice and a touch of mint. Finish is slightly tart with some fig and caramel aftertaste with very little bitterness.

Sampled at Skyview tasting 2009. Tart aroma. Some oak. Vinous qualities. Muted sourness. Pretty decent.

Skyview Tasting 2.5. Courtesy of Beastiefan2k. Brown color with no head. Aroma like stale and old oak with a light sourness. Lightly tart flavor. Dry malt, a bit of fruit and something resembling spearmint.

On tap. Pours a hazy brown with no head. Nose is dry wood, some lactic sourness. Flavor is roast forward with subtle but pleasing sour tartness. Some nuttiness, raisin and fig. Loads of fresh dry wood. Finishes dry. Body is slightly thin.

Botella. Hazy mahogny colour. Spiced sweet caramel malty aroma. Sweet caramel tart malty flavour.