Urthel Hop-it

Brouwerij De Leyerth
Brewed at De Koningshoeven (Bavaria - Netherlands)
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Ruiselede, Belgium

On tap at Volo - shared with a friend. This one was a surprise. I showed up late and saw a small unhappy pool of this sitting in the bottom of my friend’s glass. Before leaving, I decided to give it a shot, and am Ii glad I did. Probably the only Belgian ale I have had that tastes like a lager - but in a good way. Quite a whollop of spice in this brew, cardamom, coriander, fennel, cinnamon, you name it. Not among the best in the world, but a very nice brew anyway.

Draught at Smokeless Joe, Toronto. This is transparent golden in a ’Urthel’ goblet (shape is a bit like karmeliet) with a large foaming white head. The head really lasted until the beer was finished. There were some fresh hop notes in the aroma, some yeast as in many Belgian style golden ales. I don’t get too much of the alcohol in the flavour. There’s plenty more hop bitterness in there, Belgian golden ale yeastiness; I taste some wood, pine, citrus, especially light lemon, pineapple. Mouthfeel is smooth: light to medium in body.

Bottle, Very hoppy, spicey, a long bitterness in the finish but not unpleasant. Small bubbles in the glass.

Bottle from under the stairs. Brilliant lager gold with a dense white collar, plenty of ominous grey floaties left swirling around at the bottom of the bottle. Juicy peach yeastiness over ripe tanging hop aroma with grass, clementine and juniper. Almond and alcohol as the head dissipates, mellowed beautifully by floral hop and honeyed malt. Mightily hopped for style, and tanging like Poperings Hommelbier. Soapy citrus with bright savoury grass and satsuma tones over a big warming biscuity malt base. Honey, blossomy herbal notes, peach and occasional solvent all in there. Some shampoo and lingering spiritous booze.Quite something.

Bottle - 330ml. Pours a hazy golden body with yeasty flakes and a thin white creamy head. Enjoyable malty/hoppy aroma with honeyish and biscuity hints. Good hoppy taste that carries herbal notes. Alcohol is well hidden. Ends with a sharp hoppy finish. Very enjoyable!

from tap at Volo
Appearance: Bright , clean golden ale with medium plus white top.4-
Nose: Mid , rich nose , wheat like feel , mushy with hopped notes.
Flavor/Palate : Very smooth , light silky body. Yeasty character , Belgian ale … very drinkable. Light spice with warmth. Good.

Looks like molten glassy sunlight in the glass with a heavy bone white head and tons of sediment. Banana on the nose. Very heavy presence of alcohol on the tongue. Burns out any of the hops that I should be tasting. Could detect a little of apple and some more banana. Heavy boozy stuff!

Pours hazy golden color with lots of carb bubbles. Has nice half finger creamy white head. Smells of sweet lime and english hops. Taste is sweet and slightly hoppy with hints of what I would call spearmint. Ok, but I am not all that impressed. Belgians and hops are like oil and water.