Beer!

Beer

Here's what I think of some particularly fancy beers that I've tried recently.

Table 1: Belgium

Brewer Name Style How Happy? Description

Hapkin Hapkin blonde 9 Honey on the nose, big-time. Up-front strong hop character, very dry. Smooth honey aftertaste lingers a while. Invites comparison to Duvel, of course.

Moortgat Maredsous 10 Belgian Tripel 8 Rich golden color, quite a rocky head. Sweetness on the nose. Nice up-front hop character, very dry; lingering caramel aftertaste.

De Proef Rheinhardt Gran Cru Belgian Strong Brown 8 Not too sweet, as I'd feared it'd be. Caramelly

Manneken - Brussel Urthel Amber Belgian Amber 5 Not bad, but watery for a Belgian Amber

Caracole Saxo Wallonian Blonde 6 Watery for a Belgian Blonde. Tastes an awful lot like a witbier

Chimay Grand Reserve Trappist Ale 9 Strong raisin in the nose and in the taste. Perfect hop-malt balance. Slightly thinner than I would find ideal. Not too sweet. A beautiful beer, my favorite of the three Chimays

Liefmans Jan van Gent Blonde? 7.5 Medium head, perfect brussels lace. Nose of candi sugar, very floral. Rather thin in body; sweet and sour but not too much of either. Aftertaste quite tart.

Rochefort Rochefort 6 Trappist Ale -- dark strong ale 8 Rocky head; cool, slightly sweet nose; medium body. Up-front bitterness, not too much sweetness; slightly sour. Dryness on the aftertaste lingers on the back of the tongue.

Westvleteren Westvleteren 12 Trappist Ale -- dark strong ale 9.5 Firm head, not too rocky. Deep ruby color. Huge caramel, floral nose. Surprisingly full-bodied. Sweet but dark, perfect hop balance; caramelly bitterness in the aftertaste. Superb!

Table 2: America

Brewer Name Style How Happy? Description

Dogfish Head Midas Touch "Phrygian Cocktail" 7 Sweet, complex, lots of honey flavor. Almost too complex!

Hair of the Dog Fred Triple 4 Sweet, syrupy, too hoppy for the style

Victory Moonglow Weizenbock 5 Sweet, and very sour! Acidic, lactic flavors very strong. Lingering sour aftertaste

Table 3: Germany

Brewer Name Style How Happy? Description

St. Georgen Brau Keller Bier Keller Bier 7 Tasty! Very fizzy flavor.

Table 4: Britain

Brewer Name Style How Happy? Description

Belhaven Wee Heavy Wee Heavy 9 Everything I love about Scottish ale is in this bottle. Enormous maltiness, just barely enough hop character to balance the sweetness.

Harvieston Old Engine Oil Scotch Ale 9 Very little head, very dark in color. Raisin and caramel on the nose. Full-bodied; dry, roasty sweetness with a good hop balance. Long aftertaste of caramel.

Table 5: Everywhere Else

Brewer Name Style How Happy? Description

Unibroue (Canada) Blanche de Chambly Belgian Wit 7 Very little head, elusive nose, high carbonation; not much sweetness, orange peel flavor on back of tongue. Light body.

? (Italy) Super Baladin Belgian-Italian Trippel 2 Bubblegum. Big bubblegum flavor. Too wacky.

? (Italy) Nora "Egyptian" 9 Enormous ginger flavor. Sour, sweet, complex... very satisfying!

Brewer	Name	Style	How Happy?	Description
Hapkin	Hapkin	blonde	9	Honey on the nose, big-time. Up-front strong hop character, very dry. Smooth honey aftertaste lingers a while. Invites comparison to Duvel, of course.
Moortgat	Maredsous 10	Belgian Tripel	8	Rich golden color, quite a rocky head. Sweetness on the nose. Nice up-front hop character, very dry; lingering caramel aftertaste.
De Proef	Rheinhardt Gran Cru	Belgian Strong Brown	8	Not too sweet, as I'd feared it'd be. Caramelly
Manneken - Brussel	Urthel Amber	Belgian Amber	5	Not bad, but watery for a Belgian Amber
Caracole	Saxo	Wallonian Blonde	6	Watery for a Belgian Blonde. Tastes an awful lot like a witbier
Chimay	Grand Reserve	Trappist Ale	9	Strong raisin in the nose and in the taste. Perfect hop-malt balance. Slightly thinner than I would find ideal. Not too sweet. A beautiful beer, my favorite of the three Chimays
Liefmans	Jan van Gent	Blonde?	7.5	Medium head, perfect brussels lace. Nose of candi sugar, very floral. Rather thin in body; sweet and sour but not too much of either. Aftertaste quite tart.
Rochefort	Rochefort 6	Trappist Ale -- dark strong ale	8	Rocky head; cool, slightly sweet nose; medium body. Up-front bitterness, not too much sweetness; slightly sour. Dryness on the aftertaste lingers on the back of the tongue.
Westvleteren	Westvleteren 12	Trappist Ale -- dark strong ale	9.5	Firm head, not too rocky. Deep ruby color. Huge caramel, floral nose. Surprisingly full-bodied. Sweet but dark, perfect hop balance; caramelly bitterness in the aftertaste. Superb!