La Binchoise Biere des Ours

Brewed by Brasserie La Binchoise
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Binche, Belgium

Frothing white head on a hazy golden body. The honey makes this beer very smooth and drinkable, lots of fruity hints. A pleasure to drink, with some bitterness but not too much.

Bottle. White creamy lasting and good looking head. Yellow unclear body. Barley aroma. Smooth hops flavor.

I bought this bottle from The Epicurean about a month ago and I just looked at the cork before opening...you’ve got to be kidding me. It says ’96 on! WTF is that about? Anyway... Appears a hazy gold with a mild white head that slowly fades out. Smell is of honey, cloves, clay, earthyness, funk, grass. Taste is grassy, honey, and earthy. Mouthfeel is full of junk containing the grassy, earthyness that sticks to the palate with soothing honey to make you forget how badly this one aged.

Poured a hazy, golden color with a small, off white head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of grains, honey, caramel malt, oxidation, some skunk, and cork as well. Taste was much of the same, with citrus fruits, some light bitterness, and alcohol in the finish.

Thanks to weeare138. Pours a hazy golden with a small bubbly white head. Aroma of honey and a bit old and musty. Some yeast, caramel and butter as well. Flavor was lots more of the honey with not much else. Sweet and watery.

’96 Bottle thanks to Dickinsonbeer. Hazy golden color with almost no head. Sweet floral and honey aroma with some wet cardboard and stale bread. Sweet and musty flavor of oranges, honey and yeast that I liked. The beer was past it’s prime but I still liked the flavors that came through.

01.21.06 Bottle dated 1996, thanks to Dickinsonbeer @ HW open house. For some reason, Paul decided that he dislikes us all and offered this bottle as a taste of that proof. The beer pours mostly still, languishing golden-yellow. The beer smells and tastes old and odd, beer that never lets you forget? Indeed! The stuff reminds of melting rubber bands and cork soup laced with bready yeast. There are some dry sherry notes far in the distance and oxidized sweetness. I can find honey, too, but it’s taking an unfortunate backseat. All that said, I found a horrible and unhealthy attraction to this beer that made me ask for a second sample. I’m fascinated by the course of beer over time.

Bottled:
Aroma is sweet with intensive notes of honey and honeycombs. Dark golden color with slight yeast sediments and a big, fast diminishing head. The flavor has sweetness, light spicy with honey notes and mead flavor in the end. Dry finish with sherry notes. All in all a bit to light bodied.