Castelain ChTi Brune

Brewed by Brasserie Castelain
Style: Bière de Garde
Benifontaine, France

Bottle. Off-white cramy high lasting and good looking head. Clear ruby head. Sweet malt aroma. Sweat malt flavor but some bitterness at the end. The looks is definately the best about the beer. The price is much too high.

Expensive and at the bottom of its style. This was marked down to $7 from $11. It is ok for 7. The beer is dark brown. There is light fruit in the aroma. Somewhat sweet, fruity malt like a dubbel; which is what I thought it was while drinking it. Highly carbonated with a strange spritzy quality.

Bottle. Dark ruby brown colour with a small off-white head. Has a fresh fruity aroma and some malty notes too. Malty flavor with some hints of chocolate and caramel. Has a sweet malty and slightly bitter aftertaste.

Tempted never to touch another Ch’ti Bière de garde again after struggling through the Ambrée, I had to give this one a shot as I was thirsty and the fridge was nearly bare. So here goes. Poured into it’s own bulbous tulip glass, cool but not cold, from the awfully quaint little bottle. 100% on appearance; huge, cappuccino-style tan head rose up a good inch before receding to a firm thin layer that left rings down the sides. Deepest ruby red, almost black in body and shimmering in the light. Disappointing aroma (a trait of these beers?) of oxidised metal shards, driftwood and a touch of oysters in brine. Soft and slick on the tongue, medium bodied and a little watered down in flavour. Oxidation is very subtle; with a mix of goat cheese, burnt sugars, wood, cola soda and musty, staling hops (not all too disagreeable) making for an interesting review. Slightly puckering just shy of the back-end with a touch of cola and coffee beans following into the short, dryish swallow. A lot better than the Ambrée, but that isn’t saying much. Drinkable atleast!!! (25cL, 22/09/06, Int’l Beer Shop, W. Leederville)

This brown belgian ale is syrupy and all malts like most of its counterparts in the north of France. It has a bit of a redeeming chocolate flavor, but no hops worth mentioning. The nose is all musky malts and alcohol.

Dark walnut brown, small tan head. Weak aromas of chocolate, maybe a nutty character too. Not nearly as impressive as the ambree, but not bad.

Deep dark ruby body with a compact, lasting, light tan head. Full malt aroma with notes of broth and caramel. Medium body, smooth taste that is a little nutty, pepper, a little liquorice but not too much more.

Great bottle, looks like its going to be something special. It isnt. Cork came out with a bit of a bang. Dark beer with less body than a Mild.