Silenrieux Joseph Spelt Ale

Brewed by Silenrieux
Style: Specialty Grain
Silenrieux, Belgium

Saw this and had to buy it... it’s not often you see a namesake brew. Cloudy bright yellow beer, thich white head falling back to a lingering layer of thin white. Yeasty aroma, spciy yeast, bread crust maltiness. Some buttery off-notes that I’m not a fan of. Toasty malts. Flavour of yeasty spice, some light tartness toward the finish. Interesting brew, but the diacety really kills any of the nice spicy subtlety that I think is in here. Lovely soft texture though, with some wheaty malt notes.

Spelt is an import wheat species in Europe dating back to the bronze age through roman times and now survives as a relic crop in central Europe (see wikipedia). This is an amazing beer, at least the bottle I had was. Although it is low alcohol and somewhat tame, it had some wonderful thing going on. Light head. Great pour. Amazing nose with floral/fruit/herb/yeast aromas. Very light palate with subtle citrus, garden, and yeast flavors. Most people seem to put this one down as being weak but I think it had some subtle, but great complexity of flavor. We drank it a little on the colder side, but not too cold, and it was perfect as it warmed in the chalice glass. I enjoyed this one with my friend and his dad who are both major Belgian connoisseurs and they really liked it.

750ml bottle-A light yellow color witha little haze and a small head that disssipated quickly and left a small small ring. An aroma of sour on top of hay or grass like odor. The flavor is light with yeasty characteristics. A light body with a slight sour finish.

(750ml bottle) Pours a cloudy yellow body with a large egg-white head. Aroma of banana, mustiness, toasted malt, oranges, and leather. Falvor of spicy yeast and mild hops with a soft mouthfeel. Nice summer beer.

(750ml bottle) Purchased at Derosier’s in Freeport, ME. Bottle looks more like those of Unibroue than that pictured. Pours a huge, white, frothy head with a clouded, light gold body. The head lasts an obscene amount of time (as head should ;). The nose and flavours are fairly bland. I first thought this to be a French beer because the flavours are so muted. Mild yeast and creamy yet void of interest.

Clear light amber color with a thin white head. Sweet slightly apple aroma. Sweet grain flavor with some apple notes.

From Feb 2006 Indy gathering. Very light golden with white head. The aroma is light, sweet malts, and a bit appley. The flavors are lightly malty, with some yeast and apple character. It is noticabely active as well.

An unclear orange beer with a thin white head. The aroma si ssweet spicy with notes of cinnamon and yeast, which also gives it a slight dusty impression. The flavor is weirdly spicy combined with notes of oranges and yeast.