Sweet stout with blackberry by one of Holland’s pioneering craft brewers, active since the nineties. Thanks to Craftmember for sharing. Mousy, frothy, yellowish pale beige, rather foamy head, blackish robe with translucent, hazy mahogany hue. Aroma of indeed blackberry but in a sweetish, coulis-like way, caramel, fresh figs, sugared tea, freshly cut red apple, toffee, honey, Liège pear syrup even, walnut oil. Sweet onset, raisins and candied figs, dried blackberries, prune and pear aspects, fizzy carb, full toffeeish-caramelly malt body with a bitterish walnutty edge; light blackberry sourishness is present as well, but softly so and subordinate to the sweetness, yet still piercing through subtly till the end and bringing some refreshment and balance. Ends with lingering caramelly and nutty maltiness, sweet, with a herbal hop note (though very low in bitterness), a slightly warming alcohol effect and lingering subtle fruitiness. I generally dislike fruit stouts because they are either too ‘wild’ and tart (clashing with the roasted malts) or too sweet and candy-like, but this one is admittedly very well-balanced, with restraint in both sourness and sweetness. This brewery rarely disappoints even after having been active for a quarter of a century now.

330ml bottle. Orangey golden colour, whte foamy head leaving lacing and aroma of fruity apricot, yeasty. Taste is sweetish, malty, grain, with some tangy, grassy, metallic bitterness. Medium bodied, soft carbonation, dry metallic bitter finish. Quite drinkable.

As Hillegoms Weizen, apparently the new name of this beer, being intended as a classic Bavarian Hefeweizen (but adding oat to the malt bill, untraditionally). Thanks Craftmember! Mousy, egg-white, medium thick, slowly opening and eventually dissipating head, misty warm pale orange-hued peach blonde robe. Aroma of ripe peach, red apple, soap, cooked pear, vague nutmeg hint, ripe pineapple, some banana, white bread, honey, cloves, very vague accent of cooked meat-like phenols. Sweet, fruity, estery onset, touch of banana but more peach- and pineapple-like, quite pronounced wheat sourishness underneath, medium carbonation, slick bready maltiness, sweetish, touch of floral hops in the finish but remaining low in bitterness, phenolic accents but less clove-like than would typically be the case in this style, lingering sweet fruitiness and wheat sourishness. Refreshing, rounded, fruity-sweetish interpretation of the style, not quite precise in its German Hefeweizen intentions, but quenching and well-made.

23/08/2019 @home - 33cl bottle from Bierboetiek de Zythotheek. Dark brown with yellowish head. Nose is dark malts, mocha, maple, vanilla. Taste is maple, vanilla, nice texture, bit mocha, soft roast. OK.

Coffee and peararoma. Coffee, caramel and pear in the flavor. Alcohol, rather thin with just a bit of roasted malt and blackcurrant. Some sweetness.

Malty aroma with apple and some roasted malt. Caramel flavor with a bit of sourness. Sweetish, rather thin bock beer.Good lacing. Not too bad, but there are much better bocks.

Flowery and citric aroma and flavor with reine claudes. Some sourness. Cloudy appearance with no head at all. From tap: Tulpenbok Orange in the aroma. Orange flavor, flowery, somewhat perfumed bock. Just a touch of sharp citrus. Somewhat yeasty bitter aftertaste.

Just a hint of smokiness, syrup and tropical fruit in the aroma. Very sweet taste and syrupy with some roasted malt and coffee. Onedimensional and a bit too sweet.

Malty pear aroma and flavor. Just a hint of sourness and a touch of toasty bitterness. Rather flat and below average abbey dubbel, although the aroma is nice.

Ruby brown color, creamy head. Just a bit yeasty aroma with hazelnuts and marzipan. Very yeasty flavor with pear and hazelnuts. The lovely aroma is spoiled by too much yeast, especially in the flavor.