Bush Prestige (Scaldis Prestige)

Brewed by Dubuisson
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Pipaix, Belgium

Complex and indulgent beer, a fun experience. Almost worth the price tag. Shared on the sidewalk terrace of Moeder Lambic. Thanks to my friend Chris for sharing this, during the drinking of which birds shat on him three times. True. Poured a golden brown with tight tan head and yeasties swirling around with the bubbles like flakes in a shaken snowglobe. We’re not sure how old the dusty bottle was, but the nose had telltale madeira notes sugesting a couple of years at least. Nose managed to be both malty and vinous, with sherry, dark fruits, calvados (apple brandy) and also light chocolate notes. Inviting. On the tongue, the sweetness blossoms at first then reigns itself in, giving way to a parching dryness carried by very lively, pinprick carbonation. Backdrop is like the aroma: fruity, malty and boozy.

Rating # 700. 750ml bottle from O’Brien’s San Diego. This beer had anything and everything you could want from a great Belgian Ale. First glass poured a mostly clear light ruby amber. The last glass was much the same in color but with chunks of brain in it. Nose was amazing...hints of spice, oak, Belgian yeast and some dark fruits.

Bottle from WBF in Raleigh. Glad this was a few tables away from us, as I got a couple of pours. Golden amber with yeasty chunks and generous white head. Much better this way than paying for it This is a big, over-the-top oaky beer, and quite spicy, too. Got to have lots to cover up that 14%, I guess. Perhaps overcarbonated. A great beer, no doubt, but not really worth the price tag.

Bottle Beer 3 of PP Belgian Fest 08. Thankfully didn’t have to doll out $45 for this glass. Pours orange with an off white ring. Nose of sweet citrus. Taste is sweet and very boozy. Pretty nice.

Thanks to Walt for this beer, which he sent, believe it or not, as a gift. Poured a mostly-clear amber with a fizzy white head. Pleasant aroma of floral hops, fruits including apples and grapes, and a bit of alcohol. Taste is a delicate balance between sweet and dry with notes of spicy cinnamon, apple, pear, white wine, citrusy hops, and alcohol. Finishes fairly dry, though does not betray its strength. Body is fairly full and reasonably carbonated. Could easily replace champagne or serve as a digestif. Nothing original... just skilled craftsmanship. Nice.

(Bottle) Amber colour, hazy, with huge brief foamy beige head. Lively carbonation. Malty, woody nose with notes of ripe apricots and pears, dried fruit (raisins, prunes, apricots), caramel and lots of oak shining through. Malty, powerful, fiery taste with dried fruit, caramel, vanilla, honey, apples and oak wood. Fiery alcohol comes through with a friendly punch in a peppery, slightly acidic finish. Almost full body with prickly carbonation. Alcohol gives it a certain sweetness, but it stays within bounds and never gets cloying. Lovely beer, a combination of power and beauty!

Heavy head with and amber body that absorbs light the way a barley wine should. Heavy on the nose from the botttle. Should be consumed from a tumbler to promote aroma. Strong notes of honey and lemon and a medium body that was almost to faint with an ending that lingered for hours. Fantastic sipping beer and would be easily paired with cheese and crisp fruit.

A very good and smooth sherry or portwine comes to mind when drinking this one. A real celebrater, in this case for a closed mortgage for a nice house in the country, yeehaa!! Nice dryish finish too, although it’s fairly sweet. Good sipper, but where is the cheeseplate....??....