Bruegel

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

11.2 oz. / 330 ml. brown Belgian stubbie bottle. Cryptic date code on the back label, and that’s about it for a freshness date. Part of a Belgian six pack sampler I got at Rips. Poured out a dark caramel color, with a decent, but short lived white head. The head slid back to a decent matting of lacing floating on top of the beer. Thick aromas of malts along with the spicy Belgian yeast makes for a delicious experience. This is a decent beer, even though the ABV is lower than it’s bigger brothers. The tastes are definitely there, and leave you wanting more. More than decent in my book. Try some for yourself.

The first time I tried this, I wrote the following: Big, billowy, creamy white head, cloudy pale amber color. Aroma is fresh and slightly spicy, taste is blase. A fine, easily drinkable ale, but nothing to shout about. Is this the sort of thing that the revellers in Bruegel’s paintings were drinking (as represented on the label)? Did they have to drink a lot of it? 5.2%, with very little spark or flavor. On my second visit with this beer, my opinions didn’t change much. I discerned a fruitiness in the finish, found the palate to be smooth and refreshing, and complimented the balance. Moreover, I recognized the folly in my facetious remark, and realized the beer for what it is meant to be : a light "peasant" beer. Your party’s over pretty quick if your beer is something like Gulden Drak, and same for your aspirin supply! Of course, they drank a lot of it, they’re REVELLERS. At least they had better beer than you’d find at a contemporary American house party, where you’re likely to guzzle on a High Life, or sumpin’.

Tap: An average Belgian ale. Appearance is pale yellowish. Tastes kinda like a mild Chimay Blue. Not bad.

This one has been sitting around for awhile but still in it’s prime. Very head pour, sour/sweet aroma akin to a flemish sour. Not so heavy on the port aroma, but more floral/spicy like a typical belgian beer. Smooth flavour, at first taste is similar to a dubbel but then mellows out to something closer to an english ale. Slight bitterness. Sweet malt notes, full body. Cheers!

Bottled (BB 07/2006)
Clear amber brown, small firm creamy head. Berries, rye, hay in the nose. Very malty, medium-bodied. Crisp carbonation. Long barley/rye aftertaste with some brown sugar notes.

Pours out a light brown, thin medium sized head. Caramel and sweetness on the nose. Watery mouthfeel with caramel, honey and maybe a bit of bitterness on the finish. Aftertaste isnt’ good

33cl - Aroma is stank. Wet grain, rusty water and caramel. Pours transparent brown with a small head and good lacing. Flavor is not as offensive as the aroma. Very sweet malts, caramel and toffee and that’s about it. Sticky palate. Nothing special but not a drain pour.

Poured a clear effervescent amber with a small fizzy white head. Sweet aroma of butterscotch and bubble gum. Taste is butterscotch, toffee, some mild acidity and some light dry grassy hops. Bland finish. OK I suppose, but a blah session beer.