Bruegel

Brewed by Brouwerij Van Steenberge
Style: Belgian Ale
Ertvelde, Belgium

Very much like a lighter, dryer version of my favorite Van Steenberge, Piraat. Well balanced and delicious.

Presentation: Poured from a 330ml/11.2oz bottle in to a tulip glass. It has a nice golden amber color with a slight haze. The head was crazy big, white in color and foamy with stiff peaks. It had a very long retention time and left cool lacing on the glass. The aroma is full and has notes of sour apples and pears with earthy/funky Belgian yeast and doughy malts. It has a sour funky favor with some fruity esters as well. The first sip has a puckering affect on the palate. Then there is a dry earthy yeast flavor with some doughy malts and light fruity esters that give it some nice complexity. The body is light to medium with a somewhat thin texture that is alive with carbonation. Overall I really enjoyed this ale. It had a nice refreshing character that would work very well with a light lunch, sea food, mild cheese or fruit.

Great version of an Amber. Interesting taste, not too bitter, not too dry. Great balance, good head.

Bottle. Hazy orange-yellow, huge head. Slightly woody aroma followed by an excellent and straightforward flavor but with some nuances in there if you taste for it. This is like "The Simpsons" of beer; I can see appeal on many different levels. Some fruity flavors, mild holiday spice, crisp. Very good and satisfying finish; this would be a great fridge beer if I could get some of it around here.

I found this to be an outstanding beer, but I had it after an especially bad stout so my vision may be tainted.

What a head. I had to wait ten minutes just to make the second pour. Very smooth. Nose is reminiscent of Unibroue beers. Same yeasty profile as the brewery from canada. However a better malt presence and with less yeasty dominance. Slightly dry. I could drink this in volumes. G-rat

Big, frothy head that leaves nice lace on the glass; watery start, grape and apricot palate, a bit of a thin finish. Nice tight carbonation.

330ml bottle served in a Chimay chalice. Aroma is mild to moderate brett (barnyard), citrus, and light honey/caramel. I think it smells great, akin to Orval. Gold colored with a wispy head and light, but persistent carbonation. A small amount of yeast stays with the bottle. Tatse is tasty brett (barnyard/horseblanket), citrus (lemon), mildly earthy, minerally taste along with some nice, firm malt backing. Finishes dry, somewhat thin, but not too bad at all. My rating appears to be much higher than most, maybe I got an infected bottle? If so, thanks!

I seem to get brett character out of several Van Steenberge beers.