Hoegaarden

Today's is a classic Belgium witbier ideal for summer.

 

Appearance:

Pale and cloudy yellow brown with large white head

Aroma:

Slightly citrusy but mainly soapy due to the coriander with a hint of ripe bananas and malt

Taste:

Chew malt comes first then that hint of wheat bananas but the finish is where this beer excels, the citrus balanced by the coriander and hint of cane sugar with out the sweatiness

Overall:

A great summer beer that is perfect for this summers day. I find this more refreshing than Germany wheat beers. I would liked to have tried the original with oats in.

8.5/10

Achel Trappist Bruin Bier

Today's is a beer is a trappist brown beer or a double

 

Appearance:

Russet reddy brown with large off white head

Aroma:

The aroma start with a toasted malt but rapidly fades with a slight peppery hops then becomes like malt loaf.

Taste:

Malt loaf with soft peppery hops and a nice sweatness that is kept in check by peppery bitter hops. The finish is roasted malt and spicy hops and is long and smooth and just well balanced with also a nice warmth from the alcohol.

Overall:

Very nice beer very well balanced and smooth, a bit hard to get but well worth it.

9.0/10

De Dolle Arabier

Today's bonus beer is De Dolle Arabier a Golden Belgium Ale or a dead parrot joke

 

Appearance:

Hazy bronze rather than gold with large white fluffy head

Aroma:

Plum like fruitiness with a spicy/peppery hops.

Taste:

Tart fruit fill the mouth at first which fades to a mix of rich malt and peppery bitter hops. The finish is long and dominated by bitter peppery hops and some tart fruit with a hint of malt in the background, it is more complex then it sounds as you have the heat of the alcohol and also the pepperiness.

Overall:

Very nice and different I don't think I have had such a peppery beer before very unique and I like that it is lively beer so pour slow. It was original a summer beer and I can see why as it is very refreshing.

9.0/10

Pauwel Kwak

Today's offering a strong  Belgium beer which translate as Fat Paul.

 

Appearance:

Dark amber which a pale brown head that soon disappears.

Aroma:

Spicy hops with cane sugar and a touch of vanilla and banana and a slight hint of malt

Taste:

Malt starts the flavour and the it is quickly overtaken by over ripe bananas and vanilla with hint of spicy hops. The finish long and strong is spicy hops and a touch of malt and lasting bananas and vanilla

Overall:

This is a beer I drink quite a lot and it is a lovely beer it is a classic strong Belgium beer and very good in the autumn and early spring

8.5/10

Pilsner Urquell

Today's offering a proper Czech Pilsner

 

 

Appearance:

Pale gold with good lasting white head

Aroma:

Lightly toasted malt with a touch of citrus and wood? I can't quite put my finger on it

Taste:

Ferric Bitter is the overriding taste with malt in the background with an earthiness. The finish is like  ferric bitter with grass in the background with a bit of earth and wood.

Overall:

Nothing special quite bitter compared with Amstel, nothing to recommend it look like this will be dropped from the next edition of the book.

6.5/10

Jever Pilsner

Today's offering a German Fries Pilsner

 

 

Appearance:

Very light pale gold with good lasting white head

Aroma:

Lightly toasted malt and fresh cut grass come over in the aroma.

Taste:

Bitter is the overriding taste with a slight hint of malt in the far background. The finish is like Guinness or blood a very ferric bitter, with a small hint of grass in the far far background.

Overall:

Very very bitter would go will with a Chinese meal imo. I am a little unsure I have I like this but it does clear the palate.

7.0/10

Palm

Today's offering is a Belgium Amber beer

 

 

Appearance:

Clear mid amber with fast disappearing head

Aroma:

Malt with a touch of almost soapy coriander

Taste:

Very dry with malt underpinned by peppery hops and a touch of orange fruitiness. The finish if dry and mainly malt and is quite weak and short.

Overall:

Good for a change when drinking in Dutch bars but not one for me.

6.0/10