A bit of something different, that's what I'm on the lookout for. Sure, a bit of class and finesse goes a long way but every now and then you want something to make you sit back and say 'wow'. Enter Guido. It's made by Smisje brewery who claim to be the smallest commercial brewery in Belgium, with an output of 200 hectolitres of beer per year. That's 20,000l to you and I (or 35,000 pints). It makes you realise the scale that even 'micro' breweries put out, if these guys are the smallest. Anyway, enough of stats. This beer has a name: Guido. I like it. It's a shame the others aren't called Filipo and Ignacios or something, but they're not. Still, there's a drawing of this Guido chap on the bottle; I'm sure it's in honour of him but who cares, this beer's made with RAISINS. Yeah, raisins!
It's dark, it's rich, it's big! The smell is unsurprisingly fruity but it still takes you back to sniff again. The spicy, sweet maltiness rounds it off. Appearance-wise, it's dark and fairly forboding, with murkiness and floaty stuff in it (great!). Some people are put off by this sort of stuff but I think it really reinforces that beer can be a crafted drink which is living, breathing and changing like we do. Besides, beer with a bit of muck in it is usually tastier too.
If you can finally get round to trying it you're in for a treat. Everything you've smelled you've got in your mouth. The aftertaste is long like a rich sherry and it's a very sweet beer. It's certainly not a fruit beer though, it's completely different. Most of the genuine fruit beers are formed from Lambic beer, made from wild yeast and this is certainly not, which makes it pretty unique, I'd say (although I'm sure there are other raisin beers out there).
My main concern though was how rich it was. Would a bottle be too much? It's got such big flavours and it was incredibly rich; I thought it might be one of those dark beers which taste amazing for the first few sips but become difficult to finish a glass. Wrong! So very happily wrong was I. It got easier and easier as the glass got emptier and I was pretty bummed out once it was over. Ah well, there's always next time!
If you're searching for a challenging beer that isn't too over the top, this should definitely be on your list.
Smisje Guido - 10
http://smisje.belgianbeerboard.com/images/bieren/guido.jpg
Friday 27 January 2012
Tuesday 17 January 2012
Super Fagnes
You may think that as I title this post 'super' Fagnes I think it's pretty great but that's simply it's name. Super Des Fagnes Blonde to be precise. Is it aimed at homeless alcoholics you cry? Well, no, although I'm sure they'd appreciate its 7.5% strength; to be honest I'm not sure why it's called Super; maybe that's what they think of it.
I bought it because of its mildly peculiar name. Certainly not because of its forgettable label or diminutive size (why 250ml, chaps?). You won't find any extra fluff on their website, either. This is clearly the product of a very small operation and it shows in the beer.
It's a lovely blonde colour with a good head which sticks to the side of the glass on the way down. The fizz level is spot on and feels great in the mouth.
Aromatically it ticks boxes. Citrus, fresh barley, honey, mild zingy spice with a touch of booze saying hello. I didn't get any of the liquorice that was promised on the website I bought it from. Maybe my palate isn't up to scratch. I couldn't give a monkey's though because it has pretty much everything I want in a blonde (ale).
Take a sip and it keeps giving. All the aromas are represented in the taste and the texture rounds it off as a really good beer. The aftertaste is also very good with lovely initial sweetness but a good bitterness to keep it rounded.
It's a lively beer with plenty going on and lots to like about it. There's not an awful lot to say against it, really. If you've tried Tripel Karmeliet (you should if you haven't), this beer is not dissimilar to it. It's less cloudy, less alcoholic and is a more smoother, rounder beer. It's not life-changing, more life-affirming. Definitely one to buy again.
Super des Fagnes Blonde - 9
http://www.fagnes.com/
I bought it because of its mildly peculiar name. Certainly not because of its forgettable label or diminutive size (why 250ml, chaps?). You won't find any extra fluff on their website, either. This is clearly the product of a very small operation and it shows in the beer.
It's a lovely blonde colour with a good head which sticks to the side of the glass on the way down. The fizz level is spot on and feels great in the mouth.
Aromatically it ticks boxes. Citrus, fresh barley, honey, mild zingy spice with a touch of booze saying hello. I didn't get any of the liquorice that was promised on the website I bought it from. Maybe my palate isn't up to scratch. I couldn't give a monkey's though because it has pretty much everything I want in a blonde (ale).
Take a sip and it keeps giving. All the aromas are represented in the taste and the texture rounds it off as a really good beer. The aftertaste is also very good with lovely initial sweetness but a good bitterness to keep it rounded.
It's a lively beer with plenty going on and lots to like about it. There's not an awful lot to say against it, really. If you've tried Tripel Karmeliet (you should if you haven't), this beer is not dissimilar to it. It's less cloudy, less alcoholic and is a more smoother, rounder beer. It's not life-changing, more life-affirming. Definitely one to buy again.
Super des Fagnes Blonde - 9
http://www.fagnes.com/
Tuesday 10 January 2012
Trappist, not bestist
Monks eh? They've got a flippin' racket going on. Only 7 Trappist breweries exist in the world. One isn't in Belgium (it's in the Netherlands) and another you can't really buy from unless you really make an effort (the size of the effort depends on where you live). So the 5 accessible Belgian Trappist breweries lay claim to a large portion of a market that sells itself on tradition and religious affiliation. I'm sure that many a pious deed is completed with the money made but is the beer any good?
I'm returning to Westmalle beer, one of the first Trappists I tried. Their Dubbel to me was the blueprint to which all others were referenced. Surprisingly to me, a lot surpassed it and I now don't really bother with it unless I'm in a bar where it presents itself as the only thing worth buying (not often). It's no bad beer but unexciting. So I move on to their Tripel today to see if that can offer joy.
It's a mildly cloudy and very pale beer with a typical Belgian head; something which can be coaxed into excitement if desired. It's got fizz to give but not too much.
Aromatically, it's got a strong banana side to it to start with. There's a suggestion of allspice too but not a lot going on. Booze comes through to be honest. At 9.5% you'd think I shouldn't be surprised but I do find myself commenting how many Belgian beers seem a lot smoother and tamer than they actually are, but not in this case. It hits you in the face.
Taste-wise, there's nothing earth-shattering here (unless you forgot to check the strength on the label and your nose is broken) as alcohol once shows its tactless face. And not a lot else above that. It's pale and sweetish.
The aftertaste is impressively long. The bitterness goes on and on. And on. It's about 40% hops and 60% alcohol influenced.
The 9.5% steals the show here and doesn't leave much else to show its face. Which is a bit of a shame really as I really want to like Westmalle. There's something very uncomplicated and genuine about the way they present themselves but unfortunately neither of their beers are worth shouting about. Unless you're shouting 'make your ruddy beers better!'
If you're into your blonde beers and really want to try a Belgian Trappist then you've pretty much got Achel and that's it. Luckily, it's very good and worth a go. There is of course the Dutch Trappists, La Trappe, who offer a Blonde, Dubbel, Tripel, Quadruple and Witbier. It's been too long since I've tried them to comment but I remember enjoying them.
On other fronts, Rochefort is always excellent but dark and murky, Orval may be your cup of tea but not mine. Chimay is very unimpressive. Of course, there's the exquisite Westvleteren but you'll do well to find it (but do read my post on it, 'The Holy Grail').
The moral of this story is, if you want excellent Belgian beer, it doesn't have to be Trappist. That just means monks are involved (perhaps sometimes in place of brewers).
Westmalle Tripel - 5
http://www.trappistwestmalle.be/en/page/tripel.aspx
I'm returning to Westmalle beer, one of the first Trappists I tried. Their Dubbel to me was the blueprint to which all others were referenced. Surprisingly to me, a lot surpassed it and I now don't really bother with it unless I'm in a bar where it presents itself as the only thing worth buying (not often). It's no bad beer but unexciting. So I move on to their Tripel today to see if that can offer joy.
It's a mildly cloudy and very pale beer with a typical Belgian head; something which can be coaxed into excitement if desired. It's got fizz to give but not too much.
Aromatically, it's got a strong banana side to it to start with. There's a suggestion of allspice too but not a lot going on. Booze comes through to be honest. At 9.5% you'd think I shouldn't be surprised but I do find myself commenting how many Belgian beers seem a lot smoother and tamer than they actually are, but not in this case. It hits you in the face.
Taste-wise, there's nothing earth-shattering here (unless you forgot to check the strength on the label and your nose is broken) as alcohol once shows its tactless face. And not a lot else above that. It's pale and sweetish.
The aftertaste is impressively long. The bitterness goes on and on. And on. It's about 40% hops and 60% alcohol influenced.
The 9.5% steals the show here and doesn't leave much else to show its face. Which is a bit of a shame really as I really want to like Westmalle. There's something very uncomplicated and genuine about the way they present themselves but unfortunately neither of their beers are worth shouting about. Unless you're shouting 'make your ruddy beers better!'
If you're into your blonde beers and really want to try a Belgian Trappist then you've pretty much got Achel and that's it. Luckily, it's very good and worth a go. There is of course the Dutch Trappists, La Trappe, who offer a Blonde, Dubbel, Tripel, Quadruple and Witbier. It's been too long since I've tried them to comment but I remember enjoying them.
On other fronts, Rochefort is always excellent but dark and murky, Orval may be your cup of tea but not mine. Chimay is very unimpressive. Of course, there's the exquisite Westvleteren but you'll do well to find it (but do read my post on it, 'The Holy Grail').
The moral of this story is, if you want excellent Belgian beer, it doesn't have to be Trappist. That just means monks are involved (perhaps sometimes in place of brewers).
Westmalle Tripel - 5
http://www.trappistwestmalle.be/en/page/tripel.aspx
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