Alvinne Melchior Bourgogne Barrel Oak Aged

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

From the Hopduvel Gent. Amber colored beer. Malty, sweet-fruity aroma, notes of grapefruit. Sweetish, licorlike flavors. Notes of tartness and dried fruits. Alcoholic ending.

75cl, new exclusive brew Anno 2009, from De Hopduvel Gent, very complex brew, yet heavy, balanced, cloudy, good head, very good brew, but very expensive

Bottled. Amber color. Vinous aroma, like oak aged burgundy wine, hiding the malt. Malty sweetish flavor with hazelnuts, strong notes of red wine, toffee, oak, alcohol and raisin. The burgundy wine barrels dominate this beer, but also add complexity. A very good marriage!

Bottle at the Alvinne pre Zythos event 09. Hazy amber. A bit winey on aroma. It’s ok, bit winey, almost white wine grapey so I’m guessing it’s aged in Chardonnay barrels. Some vanilla. Pretty good. I have another bottle to try at home.

Bottle at Alvinne pre-ZBF09. Cloudy grey amber colour. Almost no head. Good alcoholic flavour, lots of fruit and maltiness. Good peppery finish, slightly rough.

Sample from a bottle at alvinne. Alround rating: Woody, white wine character is key, floral hop, peppery alcohol bitterness. Im not sure really whats going on here, but i couldnt really get into this.

No head - looking for all the world like a 20yr old, forgotten beer. UFO’s abundant. Very old wine/old sherrylike, prematurely oxydized, like sour sherry. Sweet, lightly oxydized flavours, again sherry, but turning out not to be really sour. Completely flat, needs desperately some conditioning (BTW, bottle was filled to less than 1cm from the top). Alcoholburning, very slick, and of course very light-bodied. Impression as from partly dried unripe grapes on sherry. Whatever happened to this one?

bottle at the Pre-ZBF, pours hazy orange with a thin white head. Sweet almost tea and orange aroma. Sweet malt and wood earthyness finish with a lingering wood flavor. Very nice.