Signature Ale

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

Bottle. Pours a clear golden color with a small off-white head. Has a fruity malty spicy and slightly yeasty hoppy aroma. Warming fruity malty hoppy bitter flavor with some yeasty hints. Hasa fruity malty spicy yeasty finish with lots of hops in the aftertaste.

Big thanks to Old Mr. Crow for this one. 750 ml bottle. The pour is turbid deep golden with 2-fingers of off-white head and great lacing. This one looks great. The nose is very complex; floral, spicy, malty, with white pepper, limey citrus, rock sugar, honey-dipped peaches, hops, cobwebby yeast, mild Bretty funk. Amazing aroma that I sniffed for minutes. The taste is floral, fruity, with spicy peppery hints, some limey citrus, hops, tangerine, Bretty funk, and earthy yeast. Stays semi-dry, and acquires more funky, spicy, yeasty, and peppery notes as it warms, while never losing the fruit and citrus. With a little age, I have no doubt this would be a perfecto robusto.

Bottle. Head is initially average sized, frothy, white, mostly lasting. Body is hazy dark yellow, bottle conditioned. Aroma is moderately malty (toasted grain, cookie), moderately hoppy (flowers, apricot, grapefruit, resin), lightly yeasty (mold), with notes of cotton candy, band-aid, alcohol, perfume, hint of detergent. Flavor is moderately to heavily sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly to moderately sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, moderately bitter, slightly unclean, slightly husky. Medium body, velvety texture, lively carbonation, lightly to moderately alcoholic. A mix of good and bad elements, resulting in a somewhat average result. The aftertaste is unpleasant, a bit saccharine and slick/coating along with some grainy roughness. Not elegant. Some off notes in the aroma, but some pleasant things in there too. Neither a success nor a failure.

Thanks for sharing general_gao. The body was medium gold colored with a light khaki head. The aroma was funky with notes of hay, apricots and carmel. The taste was leathery with some carmel. There was also apple core and notes of apricots. This is a strange brew, but part of my problem is that I do not like apricots.

750 ml. bottle. Aroma of spice and yeast with floral/fruity hop. Hazy ripe apricot color with a decent white head. Medium bodied with moderate, almost creamy, carbonation. The flavor is lighter stone fruits, like peach and apricot, with tingly spice. Seems a bit funky like something from Russian River. It’s lightly sweet, but the finish turns dryish with a earthy, tart finish. The mouth tingles in a way. Could be a bit woody. Very different; very, very good.

Corked bottle and served in big ole snifter: Pours a clean initial golden hue with a fading frothy head and spotty lace. The aroma has notes of light brett and cheesy yeast funk, herbal and aromatic hops, hint of bready and pils malt, touch of honey and apple esters and some wood.

The taste starts with equal amounts of sweet malt and wild yeast characteristics backed by lovely acidic fruit and some sublime leafy hops. What I like is the sudden rush of pepper, clove, and lime leaf towards the finish. The mouth feel is sprite and lively dancing across the palate and oh so refreshing with just a hint of alcohol noted. Could stand to be a bit dryer but I think that will come with time.

Seems a bit of a hybrid to me, part Biere de Garde, part Saison and part Tripel. Think a slightly young and funked up Duvel...Whatever it truly is, I like it and need to get more. Sorry Vinnie, Ron, Phil, and Steve but Tomme is still the best American brewer I know (you guys are still pretty good in my book).

Tap @ Falling Rock. Hazy golden orange color with an off-white head. The aroma was very floral and herbal, yeasty, earthy, and some leather. The aroma was nice and complex. The flavor was fairly herbal with some leather and yeasty notes. The finish was very dry. Too dry for me. Herbal/spicy bitter finish.

Sampled at Heritage Liquors Inauguration beer tasting in Maplewood, Minnesota. A 750 ml bottle shared by Eddieb23 and Joebrew, pours a semi-clear golden orange brew with a thick off-white head that quickly dissipates to a fine film and thin ring. Aroma of fruity and golden grain malt with wheat, some candi sugar, banana esters and a touch of dry hay. Taste is medium to full bodied, very light carbonation with flavors of yeasty golden grain malt, some light citrus and barnyard funk. Finish is slightly dry, a tad spicy with a tart golden grain malt and banana aftertaste. A statement rather than a signature would be appropriate for brand name.