De Ranke Guldenberg

Brewed by Brouwerij De Ranke
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Dottignies/Dottenijs, Belgium

The notes above are for a 75 cl bottle, brewed September 2005, tasted on 12th October 2005. Rest see below. A very lively sparkling, pretty abundant and lasting head for this strength. Strong hoppy aroma. Round malty taste with a tart component with hints of grapefruit. Some alcohol and an explosion of hop bitterness in the aftertaste. Mellow, smooth palate. 33 cl bottle, bottled March 2005. Darkish amber, hazy, light sparkling, frothy head (3). An unassertive malty odour, revealing ’rubber candies’ and nuts (6). An initially sweetish-sourish flavour with a hint of liquorice, followed by a good bitterness (7). Somewhat astringent and dry on the palate, hoppy aftertaste(3). (Overall impression 13, total score 3.2.)

Bronze avec des reflets brun pâle. Belle mousse moyennement persistante adhérant pleinement au paroi du verre. Caramel et houblon plutôt cireux comme premières arômes Des notes florales, épicées viennent ensuite nous surprendre agréablement; cumin, gingembre ainsi qu’une note de curaçao. Profil plutôt malté en bouche, le sucre brun, sucre de canne sont omniprésent. Une touche de houblon mi floral, mi épicé (saaz ?) vient faire une tentative de nous changer les idées du sucre, sans succès. Finale sèche faiblement amérisante. Trop sucré à mon goût.

ZBF 2005. Pours a hazy golden with a white head. Aroma is fresh and spicy. Taste is fruity and yeasty

75cl bottle, BB 04/2007, Lot No. 000028. Bronze color, white head leaving lace. Aromas of cork, cashews & other nuts, early morning spring rain on a freshly mown lawn, and something damp cellar as well...Very smooth drinking...Malty with a nicely balanced finish that shows a little saddle leather. Very nice farmhouse triple!

like fresh bread and cookies in one at initial sniff, with a bit of grass. Mild citrus and flowers first palate that gives way to a mildly honeyed malt body. Nice bitterness with good clean finish.

Bottle. Cloudy-straw with nice head. Yeast, a b it of spice, orange peel, dry finish. Highly drinkable and enjoyable. Thanks Jbrus.

Hazy golden; fluffy head; dry grassy nose. Lots of grassiness on the tongue. Good spice. A nice departure form the XX Bitter.

Bottle. Lot number 000039 with a best before date of 12/08. Pours clouded amber with a foamy white head. Nose is fruity and largely floral like a flower bed in early spring. Light yeasty notes and and bread with some mustiness abound. Very odd aroma to me. Sort of a Belgian Strong blended with a saison or lighter gueuze. Taste is very fruity and yeasty. Dry throughout but has some light cobwebby notes and dank basement. More flowery notes and light hop bitterness. Seemingly runs the gamut on flavors. Light spiciness lingers throughout. Light barnyardy notes come through at times as well. Body is lighter and has plently of foamy carbonation to it. The dryness leaks through around the edges and at the end. Finish is light spice, yeast, cobwebs, mild mustiness, damp basement and pollinating flowers. Wow, what a nice surprise!