Leireken Dark (Buckwheat Bruin Ale)

25cl, brew with buckwheat, from Bio-Planet Gent, easy to drink, not complex, cloudy, rocky head, nice brew, but nothing special

Poured with a tan head that somewhat quickly dissipated and effervesced. The appearance is very dark brown if not almost black with light garnet highlights. Almost like a blackberry. Aroma is light and fruity, almost champagne or winelike in its soft grape-like character. Some raisin-like aromas are present. Mouthfeel is highly carbonated with light mouthfeel. No astringency and no alcohol warmth. The flavor is also quite mild but has some nice fruity character that brings it together. Light spicy yeast character with some light raisiny esters. Bitterness is medium low but no hop flavor or aroma to speak of. The finish is dry and again, like champagne, though finishes with a nice mild sweetness that lingers for a bit. Overall, very drinkable and digestable given the dry finish. Interesting and worth trying if you can find it. This version wasn’t marketed as "dark", but it probably was the same thing...

25 cl bottle. Dark brown color, frothy beige head. Aroma is malt, fruit, some sourness. Flavor is fruity with sourness, sweet malt. Very carbonated.

Fruity aroma almost bubble gummy. Pours cloudy dark brown with a thick tan head. Dry, cereal grains, there’s a slight tartness in the middle, then stale cereal finish. Not great. the aroma is better than the flavor.

750 ml. bottle, overflowing head with a wheaty bread nose, buckwheat soba noodle and soy flavor is overwhelming with fizzy thin finish, pretty one dimensional