A little while back I got a beer mail from the nice folks over at Belgianbeerz.com with some lovely Belgian beers. I was thinking of doing separate posts for each beer but as I started reviewing them I though I might as well pack them all up in one big review.
This post contains short reviews of the following beers:
- Brasserie Lefebvre Barbãr
- Brasserie Lefebvre Floreffe Prima Melior
- Cantillon Kriek
- De Dolle Oerbier
- De la Senne Jambe-de-Bois
- Girardin Framboise
- La Ramée Amber
- Oud Beersel Oude Geuze Vieille
- Scheldebrouwerij Oesterstout
- St. Bernardus Wit (Blanche)
- Troubadour Obscura
So, without further ado, here are some reviews of a bunch of different Belgian beers, in alphabetical order:
Brasserie Lefebvre Barbãr, Belgian Strong Ale, 8% ABV
Looks
A golden clear color with an off-white head.
Aroma
Very sweet aroma with hints of honey and sweet malts. There are some yeasty hints as well, and as the temperature of the beer rises some hints of alcohol appear.
Flavor
As sweet as expected with some spicy notes. Perhaps a tad bit too sweet. Medium sharp carbonation and a nice mouthfeel.
Finish
Long finish with some boozy hints.
Brasserie Lefebvre Floreffe Prima Melior, Belgian Strong Ale, 8% ABV
Looks
Clear dark mahogany color with a fluffy off-white head.
Aroma
Brown sugar and caramel with quite an amount of anise present.
Flavor
Pretty much spot on with regards to aroma. The anise is very well represented in the flavor as well. Lively carbonation. The alcohol also comes through nicely.
Finish
Sweet and medium long finish. The caramel flavors stick around for a while, and there is also a small sting from the alcohol.
Cantillon Kriek, Lambic (fruit), 5% ABV
Looks
Lovely red color with a frothy pink head.
Aroma
Tart and fruity aroma with a lot of cherry notes.
Flavor
Quite sour up front, but after a few seconds the fruitiness shines through. The body is medium, and the carbonation is soft, making the beer feel really smooth.
Finish
Medium long finish with a lot of cherries and hints of other red fruits.
De Dolle Oerbier, Belgian Strong Ale, 9% ABV
Looks
Lovely mahogany brown / red color with an off-white head.
Aroma
Some roasted malts and some sourness in the aroma. I’m picking up a malty sweetness and some dark fruits as well.
Flavor
The flavor is pretty much spot on. I’m getting loads of fruity flavors with a delicate sourness lurking in the back. Light body with a medium level of carbonation. Incredibly easy to drink, ABV taken into consideration.
Finish
Long finish with some sourness and fruity flavors. I’m not picking up any booze at all from this beer.
De la Senne Jambe-de-Bois, Tripel, 8% ABV
Looks
Hazy orange color with a frothy head.
Aroma
Sweet malty aroma with some hints of black pepper and pine. Quite fruity.
Flavor
Very fruity with some hints of pear and sweet malts. Perhaps some sugary sweetness as well. Quite soft carbonation.
Finish
Somewhat short finish with some bitterness to it, and some yeasty flavors. Slightly more bitter than many other triples I have had.
Girardin Framboise, Lambic (fruit), 5% ABV
Looks
Light red color with a somewhat peach-like colored frothy head.
Aroma
Strong flavor of raspberries. I’m instantly reminded of my grandmothers home made raspberry jam.
Flavor
The flavor has the same amount of rapsberries, but with some soft vingar-like flavors as well. More sweet than sour though. Sharp carbonation and a medium body.
Finish
Quite short finish with a whole lot of red berries up front, and some sourness lingering for a few seconds more.
La Ramée Amber, Tripel, 7.5% ABV
Looks
Amber color with a beige head.
Aroma
Sweet aroma with hints of caramel, some dark fruits, raisins and some roastiness as well.
Flavor
Lots of sweet malts, and some hints of plums and some red fruity hints as well. Sharp carbonation and medium mouth feel.
Finish
Short finish with some nice spicy notes up front.
Oud Beersel Oude Geuze Vieille, Geuze, 6% ABV
Looks
clear golden color with a lively short-lived head.
Aroma
Fruity and funky aroma. I’m getting hints of apples and some citrus notes.
Flavor
Quite sour with the same fruity notes I found in the aroma. Medium body with a really sharp carbonation, to the point of it being uncomfortable.
Finish
Pretty short lived and really crisp finish. Some sweetness can be found hidden beneath the sour flavors.
Scheldebrouwerij Oesterstout, Stout, 7.5% ABV
Looks
Dark brown color with a big frothy head that disappears quickly. Seems like there is a good amount of carbonation in this beer.
Aroma
Roasted malts and some coffee in the aroma. There is also a slight metallic hint present. I’m also picking up dark fruits. Almost like a blend of a stout and a belgian quad.
Flavor
The flavor is pretty much spot on with regards to the aroma. There are flavors in here that is typical for Belgian quads, and some roastiness and chocolate-like flavors from the stout. The beer has a lot of sharp carbonation present, which I’m not too fond of.
Finish
Long finish with alcohol and some roasted malts, as well as malty sweetness.
St. Bernardus Wit (Blanche), Witbier, 5.5% ABV
Looks
Hazy yellow color with a white head that quickly disappears.
Aroma
Lots of citrusy notes with some small hints of banana. Smells really refreshing.
Flavor
Nice and refreshing flavor with citrus and some hints of pineapple. Strong and sharp carbonation. Mouth feel is smooth.
Finish
Pretty long finish for a wit bier, with mostly malty sweetness and lemon present.
Troubadour Obscura, Belgian Strong Ale, 8.5% ABV
Looks
Dark brown color with a nice red hint when held up against the light. Small beige / off-white head that disappears quickly.
Aroma
Sugary sweet aroma with hints of prunes and raisins. There is a slight hint of booze as well, but it does not ruin the aroma. I’m getting some hints of vanilla as the temperature of the beer rises.
Flavor
Some roasted malts, loads of sweetness, hints of prunes and raisins in the flavor as well. The carbonation is slightly sharp.
Finish
Slightly bitter finish, with some hints of alcohol and roasted malts.
And that’s it for now. Thanks a bunch to Belgiumbeerz for sending me the package!
