Signature Ale

Brewed by De Proefbrouwerij
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Lochristi, Belgium

750 ml bottle: Poured into my Allagash flute: This one pours a very dark golden color, with an orange hue. There was a bit of an off-white head o nit, but it didn’t linger long, and left a minimal amount of lacing. The first this that hits the nose is some spiciness: I get a whiff of cinnamon. There is also some breadiness and yeastiness, as well as some citrus and apple in there. An interesting flavor profile. It has some up-front bitterness. Spicy with citrus notes. Medium bodied, but lacks the normal Belgian sweetness. Very interesting and very good!

750mL bottle poured into a tulip. Pours a hazy amber that shines a very bright orange when held up to the light underneath a big fluffy white head that settles to a thin soapy ring. Lots of sediment in the bottom of the glass. The aroma is light and fruity with apples being the first thing I notice with some spicy belgian yeast and a little sugar. There is a musty character to the aroma overall with the brett barely showing. The taste is more of the same with the apples still dominating up front but the spicy yeast is much more prevalent than in the aroma. I do get some hops in the taste as well, mainly of a lemongrass character. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with strong carbonation and dry and musty in the finish. This is a subtle but complex Belgian pale with a good hop profile considering the age and very drinkable overall.

11.2 oz. bottle from Ludlow Wines. Pours a hazy red-orange-brown color with a huge, active, rocky off-white head. Lots of visible sediment, especially at the bottom of the glass. Aroma of Belgian yeast, malt, honey, mixed fruit (plum, apricot, peach, citrus), and clove. Flavor of malts, plum, citrus, honey, nuts, candy sugar, and a big punch of alcohol that’s nowhere to be found in the nose. Thick bodied, with a malty mouthfeel. Boozy aftertaste. This was a bit of a letdown, an uneven Belgian ale.

Pours an amber reddish colour with a mild white head that quickly diminishes. Aroma is juniper, citrus, wild berry, and molasses. Taste is the same, but with a stronger citrus taste - espescially in terms of the begiining. Overall, an excellent beer.

Orange-amber, small off white head, light lacing. Aroma is yeasty, quite musty, light citrus, perfume, spice. Flavour is a bit hot, lots of perfume and spices, weird. Spicy mouth, med body, high carb. Finishes long, hot, citrus.

Seems old. Hot with way to much perfume.

750ml bottle.
Opened March 2009.
No date.

My second time trying this, 750ml bottle. Pours a clear somewhat dark golden with a small white head. Aroma is a bit appley sweet, light brett, some spicy notes. Flavor follows, apple sweetness, light brett, touch of tongue depressor woodiness, simple but nice. Sparkling airy but sharp carbonation with a medium/light body, fairly juice?... would love to give this another go.

Pours a deep orange-brown with a medium sized ivory head. Aroma is of hearty, heavy malt, toffee, caramel, cloves, cream, and light fruit. Complex aroma. Flavor is again complex; sweet honey, thick malty body, perfect hop counterpoint, and the brettanomyces is subtly, perfectly pronounced. Bitter hops and a lingering sourness give me a shudder as I gulp. Thick mouthfeel, sticky finish. Big, complex, and delicious. About flawless in execution. Perhaps not as exciting as a Ferrari, but indeed as elegant as a Rolls-Royce. Damn. Overall, world class.

17th June 2008. This reminded me a lot of ’Deus’ but fortunately the water chesnut flavour is much pared down here and is balanced by orange and grapefruit. Soft dry finish. A bit different.