330 ml bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 7/30/2012. Pours lightly hazy bright orange color with a 1-2 finger dense white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the head. Aromas of orange, pear, apple, white grape, apricot, light banana, clove, pepper, honey, bread, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast, earthy hops, and pale malt notes; with good strength. Taste of big orange, pear, apple, white grape, apricot, light banana, clove, pepper, honey, bread, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Good amount of earthy yeast spiciness on the finish; with lingering notes of orange, pear, apple, white grape, apricot, clove, pepper, honey, bread, and herbal/yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Nice complexity and robustness of fruity/spicy yeast, earthy hops, and pale malt sweetness; with a nice crisp malt/yeast balance and minimal cloying flavors after the finish. There is a lightly astringent flavor note appearing after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, crisp, and slightly bready mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish. Overall this is a very good Belgian strong pale ale. All around good complexity and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, earthy hops, and pale malt flavors; and very smooth and crisp to drink for the ABV. A nicely enjoyable offering.

Draught @ The Pub, Brugge. Has a cloudy amber colour with a small head and fruity pale malts. It’s steady but not too stated.

Pours a hazy to cloudy colour of a potato chips bag. Plenty of foam, especially when you first open the bottle.

Belgian yeast, candi sugar, caramel malt, fruity hops with a tinge of tartness.

Yeasty taste. Some candi sugar, fruity light tartness, kinda hoppy. Smell is superior to taste but it is still quite drinkable.

Fairly light bodied with light carbonation despite all that foam.

Dated April 23rd 2014. Best by or bottled on?

The new and refreshed Anker interpretation of this Riva classic. Off-white, coarse, thick head and pale golden blonde colour with greenish hue, clear with steady sparkling. Malty aroma with green apple, thyme, cream, whisky; mineral water taste in the onset, then a restrained apply fruitiness, bit granular but otherwise smooth mouthfeel, honeyish malt sweetishness in the middle, finish mildly but spicy hop bitter with some warming gin-like alcohol. Surprisingly light and drinkable for its strength and significantly improved compared with the old Riva version.

Appearance: Clear deep golden color with a fine white head. Ok lacing.
Aroma: Malty, mild spicy and fruity.
Palate: Medium + body. Slightly sweet and a moderate bitterness. Average carbonation. Oily texture.
Taste: Deep malty, some banana, mild spicy and fruity.
Overall impression: Decent evening sipper.
Personal stats: Bottle from Systembolaget web order, Sweden

Duft av plomme, gress, jær og sitron. Dunkel lys gulbrun farge. Dekkende hvitt skum, noe heng langs kant. Frisk smak av frukter og noe syrlig gress. Nydelig og lett drukket.

33cl bottle from Bier&Zo. I can’t believe I’ve not rated this. !Thin white head.; Slightly hazy golden pour. A decent triple.

Strong Belgian blond beer. Bit dryer than usual and a bit high on CO2. Decent.

Bottle from Microbar, Manchester. Gold pour with a white head. Aromas of pineapple, peach, wheat and sweetcorn. Flavours of baked apple, lots of juicy fruit. Dry, fruity finish.