Grottenbier Flemish Ale

Brewed by St. Bernard Brouwerij
Style: Belgian Ale
Watou, Belgium

(750ml bottle) Purchased at Whole Foods in Seattle for $12. Pours a very cloudy, light orange body with a constant carbonation. Nose is mildly marshmallow, citrus and tart. Flavours of lemon, yeast and mild grains. Good.

Pale golden colored beer that started with a thick dense head of foam. Some alcoholic warmth but not too much. Starts sweet and finishes with some herbal qualities.

750 ml bottle. Pours golden with a thick, white, chunky head. Nose is bit soapy, spicy, floral and hoppy. Taste comes off as very spicy, somewhat bitter but mildly hoppy, very effervescent. Nice body and flavors that linger long after the beer is gone. Really a smooth drinker-almost session-like in it’s drinkability. Alcohol is hidden/diminished in the taste. Would be a great summer quencher too. Very good beer. Too bad this one is going away-get it while you can.

Bottle. Pours a hazy pale golden with a one finger lasting white head that leaves good lacing. Aroma of pepper, brett, citrus, and floral hops. Taste is the same as aroma. Medium mouthfeel that finishes dry and lightly spicy with a mild amount of brett character, moderate bitterness, and very mild acidity. Tastes like a really well done traditional Saison. Very good.

750 bottle. Hazy orange-yellow pour with a moderate head. Apple cider aroma with yeast and musty apples. The flavor is similar with musty apples and….that’s it I guess. Just a must apple aroma and flavor. I suppose there is a touch of wood and pear, but nothing really stands out other than the apple. Wet mouth feel. Generally boring.

Carbonated like pop rocks, fizzing and crackling if I inhale through an open mouth with a quaff still on my tongue. Didn’t taste really any sourness at all, the taste being dominated by caramel and yeast. Despite that, it doesn’t feel heavy in the mouth and the xXxtreme carbonation makes me want to chug it like root beer. Head was good, lace florid and better than average, but who cares about such slow sipping pleasures when you’re drinking the ale version of soda pop or sparkling cider? Must buy more.

Bottle 75cl. Golden colour with a huge white head. Aroma of yeast, honey, caramel and a bit banana. Once again a masterpiece from Mr. Celis.

Pours deep golden with a thick lacing left behind by a tall, frothy white head. Plentiful yeast leads into a nutty and lightly tart array of malts and acids. Lemon zest, underripe mango and orange blossom water are noted. Light grain and miniscule hints of caramel and sugars bring up the rear. Mild sourness is a bit of a surprise, but pleasant bacterial character and wood and funk notes from yeast are pleasant enough. The tastes are repeatedly soft and intriguing. Sweetness is high and is barely offset by soft acidity and very light bitterness. The finish is soft and airy, moderately sweet and quickly fading. Light-medium bodied on the palate with polenty of velvety bubbles. Tasty but weird.