Signature Ale

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

Bottle. Pours a beautiful slightly hazy golden with lively carbonation and a nice long alsting pure white head- great lace. Aroma is a really nice balance of tons of fresh hops- american hops dont overpower, stays spicy and earthy, and then balanced with the nice doughy fresh pils malts, and just a modest amount of brett earthy funk. Light sweetness still in the flavor from some doughy malts, which may give way to more brett in the future- this bottle is still young but has nice fresh hop character, fresh dough, and good farmhouse brett- light on the palate yet full flavored. Very refreshing and easy to drink despite its high abv. This will age nicely and gain more funk and acidity.

Draught. Called "De Proef Signature Golden". Sampled at The Stumbling Monk in Seattle on October 18, 2007. Pours a foamy white head with an orange body. Nose of tart Seville oranges, hops and wild yeast. Very good flavour and texture. Smooth, without burn and nicely balanced. Like a young Big Foot.

On tap @ Falling Rock poured a cloudy gold with a lasting off white head. Aromas of straw, floral, fruitiness, light barnyard and some white wine notes. Palate was light bodied and crisp. Flavors of straw, light apple and a hint of barnyard funk with a crisp dry finish.

750 mL bottle purchased at Liquor Max in Loveland, CO. Pours clear amber with a small, frothy, white head, lasting with spare lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (hay, straw), average hops (grass, citrus, lemon), heavy yeast (horse blanket, barnyard, earth) with notes of coriander and dust. Light bodied, gritty texture, lively carbonation, and an astringent finish. Average duration, moderate sweetness and bitterness, light acidity. Flavor of band aids and plastic mixed with lemons. I was disappointed in this, especially having Tomme Authur contribute.

My bottle (750ml) shared with HogTownHarry, GregClow, tupalev & mds -- courtesy of toncatcher. Pours a cloudy dirty yellow with an average size diminishing foamy white head. Aroma: Wow, that smells great! Fruity, yeasty and floral along with spices and hops. Dry, yeasty, bready flavour with a good amount of spices and citrus along with some sweet malt, light hops and a bit of alcohol in the finish. Medium bodied, nice amount of carbonation. This exceeded my expectations, it’s simply fantastic!

Tastes a bit better then it smells. Highlights are honey, rhubarb, obvious banana, caramel and prickly pear. A beer that’s good now and will only improve with age.

Thanks to mivers for sharing this one. Pours a lightly hazy golden with some orange notes and medium bubbly white head and left some lacing. Aroma was very floral, lots of citrus notes, slight funky notes, perfume, some Belgian yeast esters, bready, dough and some toffee notes. Flavor was bready, lightly tart, grassy, some hop bitterness, various citrus notes, light alcohol and dry.

Bottle - 750mL corked and caged. Pour is gold with splashes of rust and orange. Sort of an early fall sunset. Sticky white head leaves splotchy lacing on the glass. Aroma is hoppy and spicy with citrus notes, pepper, bit of funky Belgian yeast, hints of stale urine, and drying flowers. Nice! The first sip starts bitter but begins to mellow. More yeast notes, citrus fruits, spicy hops, flowers, tart fruits (some lemon juice), cobwebs, bit of earthiness, Belgian yeast, and dusty malts. Body is effervescent and tingly but chalky in spots. Lingering bitterness. Overall medium feel. Finishes with more spicy hops, citrus fruits, mellower yeast, flowers, tart fruit flavors and spotty earthiness. Very nice!