Inspired by American strong ale ‘à la’ Stone Arrogant Bastard and fermented with a kveik yeast strain as the current hype prescribes, this is one of the more unexpected beers coming from Broers; bought at their provisional premises, “De Messe”, in the church of Overslag, Wachtebeke. Medium thick, moussy, snow white, stable head on a misty, ruddy caramel brown beer with coppery tinge. Aroma of brown bread crumbs, old gingerbread, bergamot, red apple peel, tea, medlar, clove, smoked paprika powder, dried orange zest and a strong medicinal-phenolic effect (almost chlorine-like). Subduedly sweetish onset, dried fig, medlar, some vague blackberry sourishness running underneath, medium carbonation, full body; old-walnutty, brown-bready and hard-caramelly maltiness, powdery yeast feel, vague leathery note. A toasty malt bitter edge develops in the finish, aided by a leafy, very herbal and tea-like hoppiness, some warming ‘jenever’-like alcohol (though well hidden), ‘dirty’-bready yeastiness and strong phenolic effects varying from exotic spice to band aid… A mishmash of flavours, including off-flavours, this beer feels unfinished and unbalanced, with a weird phenolic aroma from the kveik having not been treated too well here, I am afraid. Lots of room for improvement!

13/XII/21 - 33cl bottle from Geers (Oostakker), shared @ home, BB: 3/IX/23 (2021-1551)

Pretty clear reddish brown beer, big creamy beige head, stable, adhesive, leaving a nice lacing in the glass. Aroma: caramel malts, gentle roast, milk chocolate, cow fodder, grains. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: gentle roast, milk chocolate, caramel, rather sweet turning bitter quickly, nice hoppiness. Aftertaste: fruity notes, good bitterness, hoppy, dark bitter chocolate, cocoa powder.