Brugse Zot
I nearly didn't write this blog, thinking that perhaps this beer is a bit too well known and you've all tried it before, but it might just be me who's been drinking this for years. Plus the fact that I visited De Halve Maan brewery on my honeymoon means this beer's often at the forefront of my mind.
Regardless, let's get on with it. I must start with my oft-included label review. Zot has one of those crap-but-I-like-it labels. 'Zot' means 'fool' and there's a fairly crummy picture of a jester chap prancing about and the typeface is pretty cheap. It's a mystery why some cheap labels have charm and others fill me with exasperation. I think in Brugse Zot's case it looks like a genuine attempt to come up with a great label but it hasn't quite worked. Setting up a brewery's expensive enough so you can't blame them for not forking out on snazzy labels.
Zot is a Blonde beer coming in at 6% so it's walking on steady shoes, but also a very well-trodden path. I find some Blonde beers like this can offer very little and come across as just a strong glass of Stella. Of course, Zot isn't, otherwise I wouldn't be wasting my time writing this.
It comes across very well with an alluring syrupy, lightly malted aroma. A distinct melon whiff was a nice treat; it's not something I usually find. Bread and butter came through too. It's not often that I get such specifics so it made me feel as though I had an accomplished nose. Whoever thought a beer could flatter you!
In the mouth, its texture is good, with I'd say a perfect level of carbonation (though we all like different things). There's a coriander flavour to it with a hint of hop and a gorgeous round sweetness to it.
The finish is fairly ordinary but very clean and balanced with just a short bitter moment. I even drank the yeasty bit at the bottom of the bottle because I wanted just that little bit more! To be honest I think some people (not all mind!) get a bit too flustered about a bit of yeast in the glass. I find it harmless, and even have it on good authority that it'll help prevent hangovers!
Anyhow, this was a beer that I hadn't in a long while as it was so good at the brewery I worried it'd live up to it. It did. Op uw gezondheid!
Brugse Zot - 8
http://www.halvemaan.be/index.php?id=15&L=2
Tuesday 28 February 2012
Friday 17 February 2012
Flowery Bloomers
Bloemen Bier 7%
From Proefbrouerwij, a craft brewery that takes itself very seriously (see their website), is a rather fanciful offering. Bloemen Bier is brewed with flowers and plants to give it a unique taste. They've also presented it in a fairly original fashion, wrapping in paper: something you only really see in fruit beer. But, I suppose, flowers and plants are getting in that direction. There's something of a hand-drawn element to the design on the paper which gives it a friendly, approachable air. Of course, once you take it off you're left with a plain bottle and the beer needs to start speaking for itself.
Once poured, the beer has a rich, cloudy and golden brown appearance. If you're familiar with Anchor Liberty Ale then you'll know what I mean. The head is tightly packed and has a cream-coloured froth to it.
Once you pop your nose over the glass you know this beer is a bit of something different. Those flowers and plants (god knows what type though) are doing their stuff. It's a skippy, light and heady aroma which, in fairness to Proefbrouerwij, is reminiscent of summer. Whilst there's no fruit in it (I presume, anyway) it's a very strawberry-like smell with delicious floral hops involved. It's really special.
However, all good things.... Unfortunately, when you start to drink it, it's very sweet. There are sweet beers, and then there's this one. Compare it to, for example, a fairly sweet raspberry lambic like Timmermans or Lindemans might make; the difference is that these, and all fruit lambics, have a sour base to them which counterbalances the sweetness, making them quite refreshing. Bloemen Bier is fermented with more traditional ale yeast which means the 'flowers and plants' and sweetness make it a bit cloying.
In your mouth it's quite syrupy and fairly pleasant at first but as time goes on it's fairly difficult to get through. The aftertaste doesn't help as it's virtually devoid of bitterness.
It's difficult not to enjoy this beer in some respects, but it's also quite difficult to finish a glass! Perhaps it's a good idea to try on someone who's not convinced on beer. If they're into sweet white wine this might be more palatable.
Bloemen Bier - 5
http://www.proefbrouwerij.com/index.aspx?lng=en
From Proefbrouerwij, a craft brewery that takes itself very seriously (see their website), is a rather fanciful offering. Bloemen Bier is brewed with flowers and plants to give it a unique taste. They've also presented it in a fairly original fashion, wrapping in paper: something you only really see in fruit beer. But, I suppose, flowers and plants are getting in that direction. There's something of a hand-drawn element to the design on the paper which gives it a friendly, approachable air. Of course, once you take it off you're left with a plain bottle and the beer needs to start speaking for itself.
Once poured, the beer has a rich, cloudy and golden brown appearance. If you're familiar with Anchor Liberty Ale then you'll know what I mean. The head is tightly packed and has a cream-coloured froth to it.
Once you pop your nose over the glass you know this beer is a bit of something different. Those flowers and plants (god knows what type though) are doing their stuff. It's a skippy, light and heady aroma which, in fairness to Proefbrouerwij, is reminiscent of summer. Whilst there's no fruit in it (I presume, anyway) it's a very strawberry-like smell with delicious floral hops involved. It's really special.
However, all good things.... Unfortunately, when you start to drink it, it's very sweet. There are sweet beers, and then there's this one. Compare it to, for example, a fairly sweet raspberry lambic like Timmermans or Lindemans might make; the difference is that these, and all fruit lambics, have a sour base to them which counterbalances the sweetness, making them quite refreshing. Bloemen Bier is fermented with more traditional ale yeast which means the 'flowers and plants' and sweetness make it a bit cloying.
In your mouth it's quite syrupy and fairly pleasant at first but as time goes on it's fairly difficult to get through. The aftertaste doesn't help as it's virtually devoid of bitterness.
It's difficult not to enjoy this beer in some respects, but it's also quite difficult to finish a glass! Perhaps it's a good idea to try on someone who's not convinced on beer. If they're into sweet white wine this might be more palatable.
Bloemen Bier - 5
http://www.proefbrouwerij.com/index.aspx?lng=en
Wednesday 1 February 2012
Inconspicuous Delight
Witkap Pater
On first inspection this bottle of beer looks like any other Abbey-style Dubbel brown beer. In fact, it's so inconspicuous, you may be forgiven for thinking you can see the bottle of beer that's sat behind it on the shelf (yes ok I buy online but I'm trying to paint a picture here, people). It looks cheap. Very cheap. But, what's that!? Is it a... No! It can't be. It's a monk on the label! Well blow me down. In fairness he looks a little Robin Hood-y and he's got a white hood on. He's not fat, bald or cheery so I suppose I'm being harsh.
Ok, you guessed it, I wasn't really expecting any great shakes from this beer. But, hey, you've got to give everything a chance. That's what I'm doing: sifting the wheat from the chaff.
Pouring this beer presents no surprises; there's a fairly deep brown colour and a nice, tightly bubbled head which sticks around for a bit. The aroma is what takes you back; this beer must have been dry-hopped with some very citrussy hops. Think Sierra Nevada, think Little Creatures. Amarillo, Centennial hops and the type have been used. You wouldn't think it'd go in a Abbey-style Dubbel but it does, except that, in my opinion, it kind of stops it being an Abbey-style beer. Nonetheless, it's a hybrid of some kind that really works well.
It retains the thick, creamy texture you'd associate with Belgium. It's still got the sweetness which is just right, but in this beer's case, the hops give it that dry, refreshing sensation you'd associate with US brown ale. It really goes down easily!
Of course, there are sacrifices. You don't get the sweet banana aromas and certainly none of warm, malty goodness that you'd expect. But as an alternative it certainly shines as an experiment gone very well. Its also got its own idiosyncrasies; there's a very gentle, smoky, musty aroma to it as you go down the glass. The sort of smell that reminds you that it's handmade, with a kind of barnyard feel to it. More your Nan's cellar as opposed to funky goat's cheese.
This is an every day drinker that won't disappoint your taste buds or your thirsty mouth. The bottle certainly doesn't make it stand out from the pack but its well-put-together character means it should. Oh, yeah, the brewery's called Slaghmuylder (snigger).
Witkap Pater 8.5
http://www.witkap.be/witkap/witkap_eng/Home.html
On first inspection this bottle of beer looks like any other Abbey-style Dubbel brown beer. In fact, it's so inconspicuous, you may be forgiven for thinking you can see the bottle of beer that's sat behind it on the shelf (yes ok I buy online but I'm trying to paint a picture here, people). It looks cheap. Very cheap. But, what's that!? Is it a... No! It can't be. It's a monk on the label! Well blow me down. In fairness he looks a little Robin Hood-y and he's got a white hood on. He's not fat, bald or cheery so I suppose I'm being harsh.
Ok, you guessed it, I wasn't really expecting any great shakes from this beer. But, hey, you've got to give everything a chance. That's what I'm doing: sifting the wheat from the chaff.
Pouring this beer presents no surprises; there's a fairly deep brown colour and a nice, tightly bubbled head which sticks around for a bit. The aroma is what takes you back; this beer must have been dry-hopped with some very citrussy hops. Think Sierra Nevada, think Little Creatures. Amarillo, Centennial hops and the type have been used. You wouldn't think it'd go in a Abbey-style Dubbel but it does, except that, in my opinion, it kind of stops it being an Abbey-style beer. Nonetheless, it's a hybrid of some kind that really works well.
It retains the thick, creamy texture you'd associate with Belgium. It's still got the sweetness which is just right, but in this beer's case, the hops give it that dry, refreshing sensation you'd associate with US brown ale. It really goes down easily!
Of course, there are sacrifices. You don't get the sweet banana aromas and certainly none of warm, malty goodness that you'd expect. But as an alternative it certainly shines as an experiment gone very well. Its also got its own idiosyncrasies; there's a very gentle, smoky, musty aroma to it as you go down the glass. The sort of smell that reminds you that it's handmade, with a kind of barnyard feel to it. More your Nan's cellar as opposed to funky goat's cheese.
This is an every day drinker that won't disappoint your taste buds or your thirsty mouth. The bottle certainly doesn't make it stand out from the pack but its well-put-together character means it should. Oh, yeah, the brewery's called Slaghmuylder (snigger).
Witkap Pater 8.5
http://www.witkap.be/witkap/witkap_eng/Home.html
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