De la Senne Taras Boulba

Trionfo di luppolo nell’aroma e nel sapore, questa ottima e coraggiosissima ale si distingue proprio per il suo carattere fortemente citrico, floreale e amaro. Bevuta al Duca insieme ad un piatto di ravioli di branzino.

Bottled(330ml). -Cloudy yellow coloured, huge white soapy head, hoppy spicy nose. Extremely lively carbonation. Citrusy hops, buttery and light wheaty taste with herbal (nettles) and spicy notes. Bitter and peppery finish, lots of sediment. A bit unbalanced belgian ale.

Thanks to Glouglouburp for giving this to me as a last minute extra. When i open the bottle (33cl), i see loads of bubbles rising and not long after, it starts foaming out of the bottle. No time like the present to pour... Appearance: Hazy, golden body with massive foam that doesn’t take to long to form a nice 2 finger head which is fluffed like a cloud as if it were whipped. Aroma: A sweet aroma that i can’t put my finger on (at first). Bubblegum? Not quite, more like a natural sweetness, sugar cane? Closer but not quite. More of a fresh dough smell, bordering on a fresh donut. Flavor: I like it right off the bat. First thing i taste is hops. mixed with some dry fruit maybe? Malt rounds it off quite nicely. Extremely well-balanced. Palate: Carbonation is low. Bitterness felt throughout the palate. Hops are always present but never dominant. Some find of rind-like feel (lemon?). A floral/grassy character is felt which reminds me of a meadow or pasture with are the aromas linked to that. Very easy to drink with enough taste to match. Seriously, this beer puts to shame all beers that sacrifice taste for ease of consumption. The most flavorful beer with a lower ABV i’ve had to date. A beer i would have again in a heartbeat. Definitely put one on the top of your list.

My Bottom Line:
A colourful hop bouquet explodes into citrusy and spicy fireworks, falling back onto mild but crisp hay before sticking for an everlasting spicy, herbal bitterness. Lively and boastful, this Belgian Ale sure knows how to please the hop lover.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A sumptuous head of foam decorates the hazy yellow beige.
-The big-bubbled carbonation is frothy and expansive, which might hinder drinkability early on.
-That nose is something else!
-A lightly fruity, bready yeast flavor accompanies the prevalent hoppiness in the last half.
-I see this in the same family as Rulles Estivale and De Dolle Oeral (to name a couple). I must say I’m quite fond of this family!
-While this is not immensely complex, it remains highly quenching and satisfying.

Bottle; best before May ’09.

Bottle. Hazy orange with a white head. Citrus, fruity aroma with a hint of yeast. Hoppy flavour with some fruits, yeast and bitterness. Mouthfeel is very smooth. A bit bitter aftertaste. This beer was surprisingly good, very smooth and tasty.