Clear reddish brown beer with a beige head. Aroma of intense caramelized dark malt, some red fruits, dark bread. Taste of dark caramelized malt, chocolate, nuts, brownies, nougat, some raisins.

Reinaert Grand Cru, Fläschchen aus Tausch mit JefVerstraete - thanks, Jef! - Kastanienrotbraun, trüb. - In der Nase warmes dunkles Malz, belgische obergärige Hefe, reiche rote Frucht (Waldbeeren), Bitterorangenschale, Likör. - Antrunk sahnig weich und satt röstmalzig mit reicher dunkler Frucht (Brombeere), Brotkruste, Mokka und Bitterschokolade. Etwas zu deutlich zuckrige Süße geht in solide krautige Hopfenherbe über. Milder rezent, vollmundig bis mastig, wärmend alkoholisch. Im Abgang leicht trocken, fein malzbitter und solide hopfenherb mit Noten von Anis. - Dieses belgische Starkbier gefällt mir besser als erwartet: es ist füllig, komplex bittersüß und erstaunlich aromatisch gehopft. Bloß die Fruchtigkeit ist mir etwas zu penetrant. (18.1.2024.)

0,33 l bottle. Pours hazy amber with medium light tan head. Head retention is good. Aroma of honey, flowery, malt base. Taste is heavy sweet and light to medium bitter and slightly acidic. It is a sweetness bomb. Finish starts sweet that slowly, slowly fade. Too sweet for my taste, but it's bold and different...

Bottle, 2012 from Todd. Pours a amber hue with almost no head. No carb really. A big sour woody nose, quite nice. Light sour cherry, funk, some sour sawdust. Smooth. Way past its prime.

27/X/23 - 33cl can from Geers (Oostakker), shared @ home, BB: 25/V/24, 09:48 L4 VF3066 (2023-863)

Clear pale blond beer, creamy solid white head, unstable, falls down quickly, adhesive, leaving some lacing in the glass. Aroma: wort, a bit metallic, slightly fruity, some citrus, hay, grains. MF: ok carbon, medium to light body. Taste: a bit malty, quite some citrus, a bit metallic, sweet touch, green apples, pretty bitter. Aftertaste: malty, some grapefruit, hay, more fruity, a little sugary, sweet apples, more metallic.

Pours light amber, semi transparent with a touch of haziness. Forms a not too big but densely pillowy white head. Shows quite good retention, scarce lacing. The aroma is dominated by honey and chamomille, among a soft feel that reminds of something in the middle between dough and shortcrust pastry. Has a nice sort of intense softness and is not at all bad, but also quite monotonous. Starts very sweet in the mouth with dough, shortcut pastry, strong flowery (mostly chamomille) and honey notes, even sweeter (a sticky stay there forever sweetness) in finish and aftertaste, with a strong half earthy/half muddy taste. Ok entrypoint, very bad finish. Medium to dense bodied, perhaps denser than i expected for the abv, with medium to high carbonation; feels quite full and slightly creamy. Could use an easier, more lively mouthfeel to compensate for sweetness, but actually gets even stickier this way. Had this out of nostalgia for my youth: bad decision.

Bottle @ home. Almost clear, amber/brown body under a huge, creamy pale beige head. Aroma has lots of caramel malt with some toasted bread, and spicy esters. Taste is sweet caramel malt, toffee, brown sugar, spicy yeast, hint of dry fruit and alcohol. Balanced body and same aftertaste. Highly drinkable, but not particular exiting nor complex really.

21/VIII/23 - 33cl bottle @ home, BB: 15/IX/25 (2023-496) Thanks to Filip for sharing the bottle!

Pretty clear red brown beer, big creamy beige head, pretty stable, non adhesive. Aroma: quite some chlorine up front, a bit malty, ripe banana, a bit roasted, dark chocolate. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: bitter start, a bit hoppy, little soapy, banana, yeasty. Aftertaste: banana peel, lots of yeast, bitter, soft roast, a little malty, some banana peel, very bitter finish.