St. Paul Special

Formerly brewed at Brouwerij Sterkens
Style: Belgian Ale
Meer, Belgium

Wow! This one I really like. Lots of bread in the aroma. Lots of flavor too. Fair price.

(Bottled) Hazy darkish amber color with big yeast clumps and a very small head, plus some lace. Very pleasant and quite complex, sweetish-malty, raisiny aroma with rye pudding hints and strong, hoppy and vineous berriness. The flavor is much like Westmalle’s (sweeter, though), with plenty of hops, malt, yeast, orange-peel, and raisiny-rye-pudding. Medium-bodied, soft palate with very balanced carbonation. Slightly sugary-slicky and bitter. An extremely pleasant, easily drinkable and wonderfully balanced brew, that I could drink all night long (it even has a low ABV)! Forget all the watery British ales - here’s the (almost) perfect session brew!!!

Bottle. Clear, dark amber colour with a slim off-white head. Aroma is spice, malts and fruit. Medium bodied. Light carbonation. Taste is hoppy, fruity, malty, orange peel. A lightly bitter finish with some alcohol in it. Very drinkable and good.

Medium creamy tan head. Dark amber body. Aroma is malt and some yeast. Flavor is definately liqourice with a "burnt" twist. Sparkling palate. Sweet aftertaste. Nice.

The beer extracts from the 330ml dark green bottle luminous deep amber or copper color with a husky head that is semi-creamy in texture the color a nice light tan and as it slowly depreciates the leftover lace forms a velum like curtain to drape the glass. Nose is fruity, fresh and clean, hints of bubble gum, the start is sweet with a personable malt presence, the top light to moderate in feel. Finish is delightfully acidic, the hops delectable in their spiciness, very dry and long lasting aftertaste, nice and pleasant to drink.

Hazy golden - light amber color; generous head, beautiful lace. Very nice hop aroma, herbal, deep. Good hop character, not enough body to support it.
A kind of IPA, with dryer body; actually the most interesting of the St.Paul’s, but all of them miss some stronger body.

Date: 05/11/1997
Mode: Bottle
Source: Total Beverage, DC

hazy dark amber, thin fine head leaving behind a dripping lace, strong aged malt aroma with sweet fruity character, strong malt flavor with subdued spices and slight floral hop flavor and bitterness

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.8/5.0
Score: **4
-------- /> The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.

Bottle odd shaped long neck: Poured a light clear brown amber with a copper rust hint to it, seems very carbonated and bubbly. Very reactive to form a huge cream filled head. Aroma is sweet fruit. Nice sweet malt flavor with a nice alcohol zing, finish is tingly and a bit hoppy on the tongue. Very impressive for a retired beer!