Leireken Dark (Buckwheat Bruin Ale)

Brewed by Brouwerij Strubbe
Style: Specialty Grain
Ichtegem, Belgium

Bottle, 6%. BB 2006, last year. Roasted aroma, slightly creamy. Very dark brown colour. The flavour starts off sweet, and has a distinct iron/vitamin drink flavour. Creamy mouthfeel. Coconut aftertaste. Actually not too bad.

250 ml botte. Frothy tan head with excellent lacework. Muddy reddish brown body. Modest and soft aroma of sweetish malts and yellow fruits. Scents of dry grassy/herbal hops. Sharp grainy and light sweet flavors are dominating the taste. Light to medium body. Dry and clean mouthfeel. Dry light bitterish end. Quaffable.

From a brwon 750ml bottle. Pours a dense gold color with a full white head. Floral aroma with a unique spicy character. Light-bodied and effervescent. A full mouthfeel with a slightly wheaty character and slightly sweet finish. Refreshing.

250 ml bottle, as "Leireken Bio Boekweit Bruin / Sarasin Brune", now available in Norway (Vinmonopolet, bestillingsutvalget), at an outrageous price. ABV is 6%. BB date end of 2007. Organic beer. Dark brown coloured beer, huge tan head. Moderate aroma of malts with hints of red wine vinegar, caramel, oak and spices. Moderately malty flavour but fairly dry, with hints of oak and spices. Decent enough, but not worth the high price in Norway.

A Mes rate: Bottle from Del Haize. In all honesty it’s pretty poor. The more I drink the worse it gets. As it warms all that is coming through is more alcohol. Ok, I’m doing it an injustice there are other things there; old bacon fat, soap and erm... erm... oh sod it. ***Rate cut short to pour down the drain***

Bottled at the Belgian Embassy in Oslo. A bit unclear, brown body, topped by a beige head. Caramel-sweet nose with roasted malt as well. Sweet flavor too, with caramel and a weak spicyness. Medium body and a sweet finish with some caramel and spices. I think this is the best of the Leireken series, the others I sampled were a bit too special. (070103)

750 ml bottle. Dark brown body with a beige head. Aroma is sweet caramel malt, maybe some candy sugar and overripe apples. Flavor is mild, malty, slightly roasted, not very bitter with a fruity freshness. Not bad, but not to exiting.

Bottle: Poured a dark black color and thick creamy tan head. Sweet caramel and metallic aroma. Gritty sweet candy malt.