t Smisje Grande Reserva

Brewed by Brouwerij De Regenboog
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Assebroek-Brugge, Belgium

33cl Bel-style bottle. Whiskey with corriander, and grains of paradise. Hazy, yeasty cloudiness appearence. Aroma is a stale musty yeastiness. Flavor is sweet, spicy. Medium bodied.

Not bad for someone that started out as a bee-keeper. This is really nicely done. An example of how to age a beer in whiskey barrels and not let the barrel aging over power the rest of the beer, the whiskey notes are there and present in their own right but in balance with some fruitcake maltiness, with some coriander spices bring some acidity to the forefront. NIcely Done!

11.2oz bottle. Thanks Mike for picking this up for me! Light gusher alert. Poured a deeper and cloudy amber color with a huge sized off white head. Aromas of fruitiness, wood, vanilla, light whiskey adn light spices. Tastes of whiskey (more than the aromas but not overpowering), vanilla, wood, fruity, caramel, yeasty, and citrus. Medium alcohol burn.

Bottle. Pours lightly hazy warm amber, with a creamy and very lacy off-white head. Restrained aroma of toffee, fruit, peat. Medium-to full body and active carbonation. Taste of toffee, fruit, wood. Lingering and warm finish with wood, spice. This beer really seems like it needs to sit around for a couple of years until it calms down.

From miketd, he knows what I like (why the hell this is not in NY yet?). Pours a beautiful dark dark orange with reddish hues color. Cannot see through it yet it radiates. The head is initially small and fades into a small halo lacing. The aroma first of hits you with a sweet, woody, alcoholic barrel. Then you got some sweet candy, and a signature Belgian "airiness." I was very taken back, did not expect such prominent whiskey barrel from this brewer and I actually really liked it. With the taste, I was surprised because it is not cloying and sweet like the regular Kerst. Its really easy to drink, light earthy and doughy yeastiness, some lightly sweet candi sugar and faint orange flavors. Not really feeling anything close to 11% alcohol. The residuals sugar from the regular Kerst are really eaten up here, which I guess bumped up the abv. Very nice beer, it still keeps the Belgian feel while bringing out the barrel.
11.2oz bottle, Rodenbach GC smaller tulip glass, thanks again Mike.

Name: t Smisje Grand Reserva
Date: 03/22/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

Appearance: cloudy dark amber, frothy beige head, streaks of drippy lace,
Aroma: sweet fruity aroma, a little musty with old hops, light earthy spicyness, lots of whiskey mixed with the fruit,
Body: creamy body,
Flavor: lots of fruity flavor, well balanced with an oak laden easthyness, touch of spicyness, long light bitter finish from the oak,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.7/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

Poured a pretty clear amber color with an average white head. Aroma had a little heat to it but was also pretty complex with some spices, maltiness, whiskey, and some fruitiness. The whiskey seemed to add a little smokiness to this as well. Flavor was a little hot also but was actually pretty easy to drink . A little belgian yeastiness to it but not overly belgian feeling. Pretty solid overall.

This was tasty. Murky amber with faint head. Caramel, corriander, white pepper, and grains of paradise. Hints of whiskey in both the aroma and body. Thanks to joebrew for sharing.