Bavik Pilaarbijter Bruin

Brewed by Bavik-De Brabandere
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Harelbeke, Belgium

Bottled. Amber coloured. Unclear. Fluffy light brown head. Fruits and berries in the nose. Some light alcoholnotes. Flavour has berries as well. Light spices notable and some fruits as well. Medium bodied. Ends on a sweet and sugary note.

The aroma holds sweet candy sugar and fruit notes with a rich sweet maltiness and mild dirt/dust notes. The body is a cloudy and ruddy brown and holds a massive three finger thick tan head that is both bubbly and diminishing. Low intensity flavor on the initial sip. There are some muted apple notes and mild fruit peel tinged sweetness. It feels spent like it once had flavor and couldn’t hold onto it. The carbonation is tongue tingling, but not out of control and the lacing is non existent with foam left from sips quickly sliding down the inside of the glass. Ho-hum.

Dark amber color; huge frothy head. Aroma of sugar and caramel, with a sour touch. Medium body structure, with a residual malty sweetness, caramel; at the end there is an ordinary bitterness and some light burnt sugar. Obvious.

Bottled - De Zolder - Brugge. A chestnut brown coloured beer with a large pillowy off-white head. The aroma is nutty with caramel and sweet malty notes. The taste is nice and malty. Nutty and brown fruits. Very tasty and easy to drink.

Bottle at De Zolder, Bruges. Reddish brown, lasting beige head. Some red berry aroma. Caramel in mouth. Strawberry flavours. Yeah, pretty good.

From a 330 ml bottle I bought at Benz Beverage Depot in Cedar Rapids, IA. This poured with a muddy dark brown and copper colored body. The large head was a medium khaki color. The aroma was leather with some sour apples. The taste was apple chips with some hints of cinnamon in the finish. There was also a little bit of roasted peanuts with some toffee. This is interesting, but the sharp carbonation and off flavors bother me.

A Mes rate: 33cl bottle from The Belgian Belly. Interesting bramly apple and brown sugar nose. In fact it’s more like candy apple. Red brown translucent body with no head. Flavour is not as entertaining as the nose. Hints of orange with some lemon grass and caramel. Strange salty notes too. Finish is it’s least redeeming feature following the palate which is much thinner than you would hope for. Not great but drinkable.

From a four-pack that includes a glass. Pours chocolate brown, with a tan head that fills 70% of the glass. And, the head lasts for minutes, making filling the glass difficult. The aroma is wheat and yeast, with a bit of fruity hops. The body is medium, with an oily/smooth mouth feel. The malty flavor ends with an alcohol warmth.