Alvinne Melchior Bourgogne Barrel Oak Aged

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

Re-tasted with friends @ HIC-tast evening last friday, 19.06.09. From bottle 75 cl. Hazy amber color, and a little off-white head. Aroma bit complex, sweet, malts, fruits. Medium to full body. Taste sweet, dried fruits, alcoholic. GOOD.

Bottle from De Bierloods, Adegem. Pours quite clear, shiny orangey amber and has a healthy white head. Fantastic aroma: berries, marzipane, oranges, alcohol, port. Sweeter flavours, dried fruit, very noticeable alchol, orange zest. A bit sirupy texture. All in all, a great late night treat.

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!

A Mes rate. Draught at Pre ZBF.
Darkish murky amber with a slight white film top. Not the best looking beer from Alvinne. Should this matter? I care, I can’t help it, it’s all part of the experience. Aroma, jesus... this smells fantastic to me. Big wine notes, obviously but there is some desert wine and vintage port in there too. Whiffs of resinous wood and sharp but elegant alcohol too. A glorious smelling beer. The flavour can’t quite keep up but it’s still pretty bloody good. If you concentrate I can pick out all that I like about the aroma but they just seem to mash together in the mouth coming up with a result that is slightly lesser than the sum of its parts. Excellent dried fruit, rich caramel and more wine barrel in the finish. A rewarding experience and I’m glad I have some of this tucked away for another sample.

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

Tasted at 1st Borefts Beer Festival, Bodegraven. Amber coloured. Fruity notes, a bit sour. Better than the bourbon barrel version. And that’s about all my notes say.

Tasted at the first, great, Borefts Beer Festival 2009 @ De Molen. Amber colored brew. Very nice aroma of bourgogne wine. Flavor has got the vinous tones too, some sweetness, fruits and a bit oaky. Nice.

Bottle @ Alvinne. Pours a slightly hazy dark amber color with a small fast disappearing off-white head. Has a malty caramel aroma with hints of wine and hints of wood. Smooth malty caramel flavors with hints of dark fruit vanilla and wine. Has a malty finish with hints of dark fruit and hints from the wood. A nice one.