Malheur 12

Brewed by De Landtsheer
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Buggenhout, Belgium

12% vol.alc. – re-fermented and bottle-conditioned Rich, dark coloured beer, with a wonderful hoppy, floral nose and well-balanced flavours, making it easy to drink - thats what they say and I can’t disagree. plenty of alcohol warmth after just a few sips.

330ml Bottle Pours out a hazy brown with plenty of yeast floating around topped with a small sand head. Aroma is great tons of sweetness pitfruit, candy, brown sugar. Taste sweet all around. The brown sugar, pitfruit and light spice make it up. Pretty good I think it hides the 12% pretty well.

Bottle from the Lake Saucer poured into a Malheur stem glass. This one is significantly darker than the 10. Dark brown; almost muddy pour that lightens towards the edges. Smaller head response than the 10 but holds just the same. Dark fruity malt aroma. Fairly fresh with some amount of sweet caramel. I also smell cologne but I’m not sure if that’s from the beer or from me as I smell so damn good tonight. Solid flavor by far. Taste has some dark Belgian fruit with dry earthy flavors. Feelings of subtle caramel and fading clay malts appear and subsequently fade into the swirling mist. Finish is almost neutral. A bit of heavy soil bitter remains but only in trace amounts. Would this have had a larger fruit profile it would rival the Bernardus.

large light-brown head. mostly diminishing. frothy. dark brown body. aroma: milk chocolate, caramel, toffee and alcohol. IF: moderate bitterness and sweetness. FF: moderate bitterness and light sweetness; long duration. Palate: medium-full body, lively carbonation, medium alcoholic and metallic finish, watery texture. forte aquecimento alcoolico. aumenta bastante o dulçor a medida que esquenta. 120s

Wow. What an excellent beer. Very sweet like a barley wine, but without the bitterness. Somewhat thick palate. Job well done.

Bottle - 330ml. Pours a dark brown body with ruby glints and a thin beige foamy/creamy head. Well balanced malty/hoppy aroma with vineous hints. Alcohol is well hidden. Its complex taste carries sweet, plummy, and roasty notes. Ends with a decent, warming, bittersweet finish. Good winter warmer.

If only they knew how fitting the beer’s name is. Malheur, indeed! It begins with an insanely big, uncontrollable head that overflows the glass immediately (1/2 of the 33cl bottle poured into a pint glass!!!). Yecccchhh! Pours a cloudy dark mahogany with the abovementioned insane, offwhite head. Aggressive carbonation, another minus! Aroma of prunes, yeast and lemon. Taste is like something from the medicine cabinet - certainly not like beer! Malty, oppressive lickerish-caramel flavour with prunes the dominant fruit - but all very artificial and alcoholic. Bitter finish and alcoholic, lingering after taste. Belgian beer at its worst - obtrusive, artificial, oppressively alcoholic. Avoid!

Light sediment, light coffee colour, minimal bubbles. Smells like a Quad; musty dark fruit and alcohol. Intoxicating alcohol and rich grain flavour. Sweet dark fruit and alcohol reminds me of a rich alcohol based sauce for a winter pudding.