Horse-Ale

(Bottle 25 cl) Classical, pretty amber colour with a fairly small head. Some roasted notes, some caramel and a faint touch of hops in the finish. Not a bad brew, but it doesn’t contain the same warmth, body and distinct aromas as for instance a De Koninck. 300598

Now here’s a rarity. Not a surviving traditional rarity - but a nearly killed nationwide brand that fell afoul of the High and Mighty at InBev. Once, "Horse-Ale" could be found in the smallest local supermarket, as in every second "café" - and, surprising for any other Walloon beer but Jupiler, as much in Flanders as south of the language divide. We Flemish even had our own word - we asked for " a perdje" (=little horse). Now it is all but gone. And I wonder how different it still is from a Vieux-Temps, or the (already killed?) Ginder Ale... Copper coloured, clear with big bubbles; and a very light-yellow tinted, rather persistent head. Quite leafy nose, bit of greenmalt, grassy, and I’d venture German hops. Touch of caramel and carboard. Caramel flavour, but not overly sweet. Again a bit sharp leafy taste. Light bodied, with a not really pleasant viscous streak at the back of the tongue. Bit burning sensation. This beer, with its neighbours as Ginder Ale, Vieux-Temps, but also Palm, Op-Ale, De Koninck, Speciale De Rijck etc. is real "Belgian ale", whereas the "Belgian Ale" by Ratebeer rather designates every top-fermenting, not overly strong beer from Belgium. The exact style designation is "Spéciale Belge". It’s a dying breed.

Slight straw and banana aroma. Amber, creamy head. Somewhat fruity, but pretty lightbodied. watery finish.