t Smisje Wostyntje

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

I have nothing to compare this to style wise. I know of no other mustard beer. Prominent pepper spice and mustard on the palate. some earthy, leather hints and candy sugar . very odd finish with some bitterness probably from the mustard.

Bottle conditioned, courtesy of John White. Hazy gold, moderate but lasting white head and good condition. Low spicy, almost wheaty aromas with a distant phenolic trace that could be a slight infection, but then again could be the mustard.Slight fruitiness initially in the mouth followed by a honey sweetness but then a wave of tingling heat develops, presumably from the mustard. Its not an unpleasant sensation and blends well with the sweetness to provide some balance. Sweet and warming finish with some black pepper, a hint of apples, a gentle chalky bitterness and finally there is some retronasal alcohol.

Smells like a standard Belgian -- no mustard here. Dark gold; white head; no lacing. Tastes Belgian with a little different spicing. Still no blatant mustard. Carbonated, thin palate.

Cloudy maize with an ample off-white head. This beer smelled like a foot that had been trampling moldy apricots. The mustard flavor is only slightly apparent and doesn’t get in the way of an otherwise decent, but not thrilling, Beligian golden ale. Not worth a second visit.

Cloudy amber body with small off-white head. Aroma is sweet, raspberry, orange, some candi sugar -- evokes Kool Aid in its sweet fruitiness. Taste is medium sweet, herbal hop, light grassy, honey, fruity. Mustard shows up a bit in the swallow, but only there. Watery, light-medium body, light acidity. Alcohol is well hidden.

A dark cloudy copper and brown coloring. The head is huge and white. The aroma has tart lemons with some sweat socks. The taste reminds me of flat Sprite. Also has notes of lemons and some orange peels. A slightly sour brew that is interesting. I coudn’t pull out the mustard seed notes.

Lots of sediment left in the bottle. Pours hazy orange with a sprity short white head. Lemony, spiced, toasty honey aroma. Tangerine and pepper. Not nearly as much mustard as I had expected. More of a dijon or Keen’s flavour than strictly just mustard seeds. Hot. Caramel and sweet spicey apple cider. Different and fun.

Delirium Cafe, Brussels, Dec 2004: Poured orange with a medium white dissipating head. Hoppy aroma with a bit of malt. Has mostly a fruity taste and more sweet than I anticipated. I can only detect orange and a hint of strawberry maybe. No mustard. Nice.