Signature Ale

Brewed by De Proefbrouwerij
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Lochristi, Belgium

Thanks to JCB for the bottle. Mostly clear amber/orange with a large head. Brett stands out the most at this point. Apples, hard candy, and tangy citrus were tasted also, as well as some floral/perfume hops.
The funky brett has really taken over this beer since I got my first taste last summer.

Shared by turd (thanks sam!). Nice honey gold with a one finger white head. The aroma is very citrusy, lemon zest, hoppy, Belgian yeast, very lively aroma. The flavor is spicy and zesty, nice citrus, hops, Belgian, waxy when warm. Waxy carbonated palate. Nice warm finish.

My Bottom Line:
Exotic citrus fruit swirl around copious honeyed, biscuity malts, embracing this Belgian Strong Ale’s sprightly coniferous wild yeast in a most lustful manner. Its inherent spiciness and heavenly harmony make this continental collision of brewers a decidedly unforgettable occasion.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A layer of foam coats the deep golden mist.
-The citrusy fruitiness could be redolent of lime zest and lemongrass.
-The lively effervescence accentuates drinkability.
-Alcohol does not play a significant role in the flavor profile.
-Brettanomyces, malt character and hop fruitiness are all perfectly balanced.
-A light citrusy tartness wanders within.
-Sandy hop resins colour the finish, blending in the wild yeast idiosyncracies.
-The rich base malts are heftier than the usual Belgian Strong Ale, but they are crunchy, not heavy.

Bottle; thx Jason!

Thanks to KingG for hooking me up with this 750ml. Strawberry-blonde beauty with a hint of honey color under a bright white head of fine bubbles and lace. Very delicate floral hoppy aroma, slight honeyed nose. Very fresh smelling. Biscuits and honey with spicy floral hop bitterness. Light, yet complex and refreshing with the hint of dry funk. Slightly sweet, but pretty clean finish. Dangerously drinkable. Very memorable.

2007 bottle sampled Feb ’08

Pours a deep golden orange with a modest head. Spicy-hop aroma, floral, pepper, bready tripel notes, and then this american IPA citric undernote - relatively subtle - that is quite nice. The beer really comes into its own as it nears and reaches room temperature. Dusty floral flavors, very soft brett, pear, pepper, mild tropical fruit (papaya, pineapple), small measures of candied orange rind, bready malts. Not exactly dry, just dusty, some sweetness throughout but with citrus-peel oils on the tail. Nice mouthefeel, small bubbles emerging to form a gentle but full body.

I like the beer a lot. It’s interesting but not self-absorbed or ostentatious, it’s quite drinkable (could be 6.5% instead of 8.5% for all I can tell), and it’s just very nicely crafted. I hope I have another bottle or two in the cellar because I’ll be interested to try it with a bit more age.

2007 bottle May ’09 Not sure the age has been entirely kind to this one. The citric hops have faded to an aged-barleywine style, which is nice but a bit out of place in this particular beer. At the same time, the banana esters have come forward, again a bit misplaced. I think I liked this one better fresh, but it’s still in the 3.8 range.

Deep golden to orange in color this poured a thick head of fine bubbles that dissipates steadily. The aromas were of flowers, yeast, coriander seeds (lemon), orange pulp and spices. The palate was medium-bodied with a bit of funk showing through the midpalate and finish. This seems a bit disjointed now and in need of a bit of aging. As a side note, the sample tried last month at Port Brewing Carlsbad was more in synch with a balance midpalate and finish. It also showed a bit more sweet malt which led to this balance. Note, the score is a balance of the two tastings.

Bottle from Winking Lizard. This beer is a lightly hazy amber-yellow color with a medium thick off-white head that diminishes steadily. Earthy hops, spice and citrus in the nose. Medium-bodied with a flavorful array of herbs/spices, fruits (banana and citrus), hops and malts. The finish is spicy and floral with a lingering citrus and yeast aftertaste. Overall this beer was a pleasant surprise.

Big thanks to BeerZach for sharing this bottle.
Pours a light hazy amber to golden color with a white head. Smell is honey-like floral and floral hops. Light pollen like smell along with a hint of funk. Very delicate, soft flavors and the 8.5% was hidden very well. Pretty nice.