Ciney Speciale

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

The beer after its defection from the 330ml brown bottle sets up its temporary residence in my glass a luminous deep ruby red with a portly light tan frothy head, and after its erosion, the resultant lace forms a thin skirt to surround the glass. Nose is loaded with the aroma of over ripe fruit, plums comes to mind, sweet malt and a molasses like tone with some peat and smoke a complex nose to say the least, the start is sweet and thick with malt the top is middling in its feel. Finish is stinging in its acidity, the hops pertinent to the style and the 9 percent ABV, leaves a nice warming sensation in the tummy, quite dry aftertaste that sticks to the palate, a most enjoyable beer.

(on bottle) ciney - chimey? Being a newbee, I´m having a hard time not comparing this one to the chimey bleu. And this one comes out on the flipside. A very heavy floweral aroma almost make me hold my breath before drinking. Some sherry notes, but most baked aple and dates in the mouth. end as sweet as it began. maybe will it be good for the celler?

Sweet malts, some lactic quality, Belgian yeast, pear. Coppery red-brown, light haze, off-white frothy lacing head. Medium-heavy body with medium carbonation, light alcoholic burn. Sweet malty start, light acidity, and some mustiness. Alcohol, warming sweet malt finish. Light metallic taste, too. Sweet lingering after. Strong Belgian yeast flavor, too.

Intens redbrouwn color with fluffy ivory colored head.Rich fruity aroma’s off dried stonefruit and fine hints off black chocolate and asian spice.Fullbodied beer with nice roundness and a rich mouthfeeling.The afthertaste is bittersweet.

Bottled: Redbrown coloured. Huge brownish head. Fruits (plums), chocolate, caramel, light spices in the aroma. Flavour is sweetish, fruitish and has a alcahol touch. Has a nice creamy aftertaste with a vague alcahol bite.

Dark amber color; giant thick head. The malt aroma is lightly sour (and quite poor). Good body balance, dryer than the Brune and with an alcohol punch more; malt, a lot of caramel; the mouthfeel is more persistent, the final less strong. Pleasant, but the Brune is more interesting, this one is more ordinary.

Small light brown head and dark body. Sweet, rum/alcohol, and not much else!?! Gentle, drinkable, 9% abv should offer something more... Re-rate: 2 year old bottle; same as above but pleasently aged with notes of fortified wine, vinegar and that marzipan Joris mentions. (3,5).

Brown with orange highlights. Big foamy tan head, fades rather quickly. Typical Belgian strong aroma, Malty with fruit and alcohol in the nose. Rather thin, not as sweet as expected. Alcohol warms all the way down but doesn't bite too harshly. Not a bad beer but one I'm not sure I will look for again.