Ciney Speciale

Brewed by Brasserie Union (Alken-Maes / Heineken)
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Jumet, Belgium

Bottle. [vintage 1996]. Bought @ Kulminator, Antwerp.
Pours a dark brown with a creamy yellowish head. Aroma is sweet, spicy with loads of rye bread. A sticky oily substance. Flavour is Belgian sugars, rye bread and a light vinious streak. A little too sweet and christmassy for its own good.

Bottle, 25 cl. Very dark brown color, beige medium head. Aroma little yeast, spice, caramel malt. Medium body. Taste is very roasted malts, bitter, a bit sweet.

Bottled at Belgobaren, Stockholm. Mahogany colour, rich firm head. Caramelly aroma with lots of red wine. Sweet and caramellym, fruity with some cinnamon. Full bodied and very rich in flavour, also intensely sweet. I really like the flavour of full bodied red wine. Finishes with spun sugar sweetness. Really good to be a macro.

There is a nice and lasting head on this dark brown beer. The flavour has notes of malt, hops, plum and spice. The mouthfeel is rather oily and the alcohol gives a warm feeling. The flavour is sweet with notes of port wine, candy sugar, dark fruits and alcohol. The sweetness is rather heavy in the finish. It’s the best of the three Cinay’s I have tasted.

(Bottle, Monk’s Café, Stockholm) Dark brown, mahogany colour with pale brown head. Malty nose with spicy notes of chocolate, gingerbread cake and dark fruit (raisins, prunes). Full, malty taste with dried fruit (raisins, prunes) and herbs. Rather sweet with vinous notes (Madeira?) in the finish. Firm body with smooth mouthfeel. Chewy and very tasty beer.

Bottle. Excellent large creamy head with very good duration. Color is brown with a ruby tan. Aroma is good with lots of dark fruits and spices. Taste is rich, malty and complex. Semi alcoholic finish.

(Bottle, 9%abv) Pours a burgundy body with a medium-sized beige head. Aroma of light sourness, dustiness, and dark fruit. Flavor of malt and dark fruit.

Bottled. Clear, well-sparkling, dark reddish brown, with a large, dense, beige head that lasts. Lots of blackcurrant in the aroma, along with brown sugar, dried fruits and some cellar. Sweet flavor with berries, dried fruits, some yeast, spices and sugar. Medium to full body, and a finish with sugar, alcohol and spices. Nice one! (060807)