Tasting Notes

Gouden Carolus Noel Tasting: January 31st 2006 Appearance: Dark amber. Head faded quickly. Cloudy but inviting, an elixir! Smell: Malt, chocolate, nuts. Flowers and honey. A hint of berries Taste: Beautiful balance, nice volume and finish. Awesome Licorice!! A hint of raspberry and cherry comes through that is really pleasant Mouthfeel: Superb, the body is chewy yet delicate, aromas linger pleasantly Drinkability: Amazing!! Get More Notes: "Gouden Carolus Noel brewed exceptionally for Christmas by the Anker brewery, established in Mechelen since 1369, and one of the classic Belgian breweries. This very special Belgian ale is brewed using traditional methods and a recipe with top fermentation. Its high gravity gives this ale its warmth and body. It improves with and will charm you with its warm, coppery colour and its rich bouquet. Refermented in the bottle. Alc. 10% Vol."

Corsendonk Abbey Pale Ale Tasting:March 1st 2006 Appearance: slightly cloudy tripple, the head forms loosely and fades rather fast. The color is that of a third seep of green tea. Smell: Hops and lemon seeds, a real pleasure. A hint starchy. Taste: Vanilla, violet. Malt in the background...definitely not dominant. Mouthfeel: Great balance, slightly bitter finish, a little similar to a semi sweet champagne. Floral finish with hints of honey and tobacco. Drinkability: A please, wonderful tripple with great flavors and a great balance. Notes: 7.5% A pale golden abbey ale brewed by master craftsmen in the classic Belgian tripel style. Dry and delicate, with a distinctive hop bouque and palate character, this bottle conditioned ale has the finesse of method champenoise and will mature in bottle, becoming softer and smoother. Best stored and served, at 45 and 55 degrees F.

Delirium Tremens Tasting: March 8th 2006 9:20pm Appearance: Yellow straw with very foamy "coarsy" head Smell: Lemon seeds and lemon zests dominate. Overtones of wheat and grains. Taste: Slight astringence, the lemon of the smell turns slightly into bitter orange zest. A background of ssweet honey underlies the stronger impression of roasted grains. Mouthfeel: Leaves a clean finish and a dry mouth, not very long. The feel is pleasant and direct. Drinkability: An anytime drink, but not very complex in tastes. Notes: 8.5% Vol. Family Brewery brewed&bottled by the Huyghe Brewery Mellle/Ghent, Belgium. Since 1654.

Mc Chouffe Brown Ale Tasting: March 15th 2006 Appearance: redish brown with a loose tall head that dissipates in a matter of minutes Smell: (rasp)berries, spicey (cinnamon), yet sweet with a powerful honey character. Taste: malty, syruppy as in maple syrup (rather than the honey on the smell), a little overtones of wood (cedar ?), the spice is found again on the palate. Mouthfeel: good balance, dry despite the sweetness, a great finish that goes on and on. one can recall tastes at will for a good minute. Drinkability: IMO this brown ale is much better than the "blonde". It's reminiscent of the gouden carolus brown ale but not as complex, yet more approachable initially I think. Notes: 8.5% alc/vol McChouffe is brewed by the brewing Artisans of the 21st century at La Brasserie D'Achouffe deep in the heart of Belgium's Ardennes mountains. Inspired by the tale of a Scottish Chouffe who along with his Belgian friend created an eccentric "new style" Scottish Ale/Abbey Ale. This Belgian micro brewery crafts McChouffe with local Ardennes spring water, top fermenting yeast and pilsner malts. McChouffe is spiced with English Golding&Saaz hops. Double fermentation produces natural carbonnation and a small yeast deposit (lees) on the bottom of the bottle. Enjoy the dark earthy color and spicy flavors of McCouffe. Seve cool between 50-55 degrees F and pour carefully into a tall McChouffe glass to fully enjoy the full flavor and aroma of this truly innovative Belgian ale. McChouffe won the Top Award at Eurobiere in 1999. Strasbourg, France, in the category "Abbey Style Ale".

Three Philosophers Quadrupel Tasting: March 18th 2006 Appearance: Red goldish Smell: cavendish, malt, hops, and a hint of berries Taste: berries come forward, chocolate Mouthfeel: very pleasant and refreshing, no aftertaste, a really nice balance. The finish is very simple and straightforward. Drinkability: It's good and cheaper than the ones from Belgium. Although not as good as a West Mall Notes:9.8% Alc/Vol. Belgian Style Blend top fermented and bottle conditioned at the Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, NY. Postulating flavors of sweet caramel malt and dark cherries, Three Philosophers will confound your tongue and inspire your mind. Created by blending a rich, malty Belgian-Style ale with Lindemans Kriek, a classic cherry-Lambic from Belgium, our Quadrupel is cultured yet wild, curious yet wise, and the preferred drink for all mental travelers. And remember: "Philosophy Begins in Wonder. (Plato)"

La Fin Du Monde Tasting: March 30th 2006 Appearance: Foamy thick head and a pale wheatish gold like opaque color. Very beautiful to look at actually, with a slight glow to it. Smell: Nature. That's not very descriptive is it ? well, it smells of the yeasts eating out the sugars and pissing off the alcohol what can I say...Don't get me wrong this isn't an unpleasant smell, it's just pretty organic. Besides that, citrus fruits and flowers come through Taste: The Citrus is definitely confirmed, a lot of it, limes and peaches, with some apricots and even an overtone of mango (don't ask me where I got this one from). Mouthfeel: Great on the palate, finish is rather short. Drinkability: Any day, just not too early, this beer gives a pretty serious kick! Notes: 9% Alcohol/vol The excellence of triple fermentation through a blend of special yeasts gives this malt beverage LA FIN DU MONDE an exquisitely robust flavour of exceptional refinement.

Konings Hoeven (Blond) Tasting: June 1st 2006 Appearance: cloudy wheaty amber-orange. The head disappears very fast but is nice and thick on pour. Smell: yeast, fresh (cut-grass), herbacious. Very fresh and pleasant Taste: slight bitterness, fenel/licorice, malty. Mouthfeel: I really enjoy it, although can see why some could find it too bitter or sour on the finish Drinkability: I might have found my all time best price-quality ratio, for just $3.50 this is unbeatable!! Notes: Product of Holland. Since 1884, the monks of Koningshoeven have brewed Koningshoeven Trappis Ales to support themselves. Made with traditional ingredient and age old recipes, Koningshoeven Trappist Ales use the most modern quality-control methods to produce beer that is the perfect marriage of the old and the new. Fermentation takes place using a type of yeast which is most active between 62 and 68 degrees fahrenheit. This type of fermentation carefully selected malts and hops and fermented with a strain of yeast unique to Koningshoeven. Each of the Kningshoeven Trappist Ales bottles is conditioned for a full complex flavour and long shelf life. Unlike commercially produced, filtered and pasteurized beer. Koningshoeven Trappist Ale can be aged like fine wine. Taste the Silence. www.latrappe.nl