The Verbeeck-Back brewery has been around since the end of the 19th century, when it became one of the most beloved independent breweries in the northern region of Belgium. The brewery was, is and remains a family affair: no monks or big corporations in sight. The secrets of its successes were passed on from father to son until they became fathers themselves... and so on. However, the sons of the sixties-generation had other plans. In 1966, the brewery dozed off for a short nap.
In 2015, a new generation has risen and so has the brewery. The Verbeeck-Back family bloodline was reinforced by the De Cock family. Together, they have formed the formidable, reassuringly Belgian-sounding name Verbeeck – Back – De Cock. VBDCK. This new crop of VBDCK heirs to the family tradition of Belgian quality and craft has literally been digging up history by its roots. They are ripping through the nostalgic silence with KEREL, the beer that says it all, and the transformation of the original brewery and family residence into a new place to stay.
330ml bottle from Beru Vykhodnoy in Moscow. Pours hazy brown with a thin beige head. Aroma is rye, dried fruit, raisins, a little boozey. Taste is medium sweet, rye bread, brown sugar, raisins. Sweet finish. Full bodied.
33 cl bottle from Meny supermarket poured in to a Tulip. Bottle neck says Untouched by monks... ha-ha...Slightly hazy dark amber colour with a fluffy lightly tanned head. Fruity aroma with citrus, caramel and chocolate malts, rye bread. Taste is light bitter. Medium bodied. Drying fruity finish with lingering dark malts. Nice, a more pronunsed bitterness would be nice.
33 cl bottle from Meny poured into a Trappist glass. Hazy amber orange colour with a few white floaties on top. Sweet aroma with bitter orange, rather heavy booze, spiced alcohol dense notes, plums and red berries. Taste is sweet. Full bodied. Bone dry finish which is quite remarkable given the high abv. An unusual experience.
Fles gekregen van Kim en Sander. Het is een troebel oranje bruin bier met een volle witte schuimkraag welke snel weg ebt. Het heeft een hoppige en grapefruit achtige geur. De smaak is vol, bitter en grapefruit achtig.
Creamy white good mostly lasting head. Dark yellow colour. Moderate malty and hoppy aroma. Moderate bitter flavor. Average moderate bitter fnish. Oily palate.
Flaska från AH, Amsterdam. Disig gyllengul vätska med medelhögt vitt skum. Doft av vetedeg och banan. Stilmässigt någonstans mellan en wit och en hefe. Saknar witkryddning och lite alkohol slår igenom. Alkoholkryddig medelbesk avslutning. Ok
Flaska från AH, Amsterdam. Disig ljusgul vätska med högt vitt skum. Doft av jäst, örter, gräs och citrus. Riktigt torr och krispig. Mindre karaktärsfull och smak som doften och en för stilen distinkt citrusvitebeska. Gott