7.3

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

Kettle sour (allegedly inspired by Berliner Weisse) flavoured with vanilla, an unusual concept even in today’s craft beer times; from a longneck bottle with ‘film noir’-like front label. Thick and foamy, egg-white, firm, dense head over a hazy apricot-tinged golden beer with lively – indeed somewhat ‘champenoise’ – sparkling. Aroma of dried apricot, honey more than actual vanilla (which remains subtle – probably already faded by now since I have been keeping this bottle for quite some months), apple peel, hint of peanuts, yoghurt, cava, banana peel, brioche, cheese spread, dust. Fruity onset, sweet with a very mild sourish edge; impressions of banana, ripe yellow plum and Durondeau pear. The sourish aspect, clearly ‘lactic’ and yoghurty in nature, grows a bit stronger further on but always remains gentle – more so than in true Berliner Weisse and to that extent that this honey- and ripe pear-like sweetness remains the dominant flavour. White-bready malt core with very light peanutty edge somewhere, finishing with a citrusy accent and mild floral op bitter notes, as well as a champagne-like effect from relentless sparkling; the vanilla, though effectively used, remains very faint. A rather odd construction, this Champagne Charlie, but not unpleasant: I guess this can be described as a kind of hybrid between a Belgian strong blonde (or ‘edelbier’) and a Berliner Weisse adorned with an extra flavour added to the mix – a flavour which in my sample was already faded to a very large extent. Took me a while to get used to, but essentially a decent ‘bière d’apéritif’ and quite original – better than I was expecting, to be honest.

6.4

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

33cl bottle from Bierwinkel De Hopduvel in Gent. F: big, white, good retention. C: deep gold, hazy. A: banana, apricot, coriander, floral, mellow fruity, honey, bit bready. T: full malty base, banana, coriander, red apples peels, honey, bit alcohol, bit spicy, curacao, medium carbonation, enjoyed yet nothing really special for the style.

7.3

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

6.6

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

33cl bottle from Bierwinkel De Hopduvel in Gent. F: huge, white, long lasting. C: pale gold, hazy with tiny UFO´s. A: malty, floral, bit lemongrass, citrus, yeasty, wheat touch. T: medium malty base, light citrus, bit lemongrass, orange touch, wheat, perfumed, medium to high carbonation, easy drinkable and refreshing, enjoyed.

6.2

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

Bottle from Pede. Hazy blond colour. Nothing special, light sweet, some bitterness, some coriander.

7.3

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

27/XI/19 - 33cl bottle from De Hopduvel (Gent), shared @ home, BB: V/2020 - (2019-1903)

Clear orange beer, lots of debris floating under a big creamy eggshell to light beige head, stable, bit adhesive. Aroma: orange peel, spicy, coriander, bit oxidized, some banana, yeast touch, malty. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: pretty spicy, coriander, yeasty esters, sweet touch, quite some orange peel, soft bitterness. Aftertaste: some caramel malts, soft bitterness, pretty malty, some orange peel, bit oxidized, nice tripel, very warming, soft alcoholic notes, bit spicy, yeast.

Paired with a cheesy baked potato, fried chickpeas and Belgian endives. Call it a leftover supper. :-p

8

Imported from untappd on 02-05-2020

6.9

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

17 August 2019. At Gents Bierfestival X. Cheers to Anke, Kevin & the crew! Named after Karel de Stoute, or Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy from 1467 until 1477; earning his nickname ('le Téméraire' or 'the Reckless') because of his warlike character, untamed nature, as well as extreme austerity and chastity (producing only one child, the lamented Mary of Burgundy). His mad ambition made him perish at the battle of Nancy, courtesy of the Swiss army. Anyway, the story of this beer is less interesting: pours hazy dark brown to black with a very thin, frothy, tan head. Subtle aroma of sweet cherry, raspberry, brambleberry, toast, fondant, red fruit jam. Taste is light to medium malty sweet, restrained chocolate & biscuit supporting sweet cherry & sourish brambleberry, a bit toasty with a powdery effect; ends dryish, slightly tart, very low on (earthy) hop bitterness with lingering cherry & chocolate. Some Maraschino-like alcohol warmth. Medium body, oily texture, soft carbonation. I appreciate the name but I would recommend the patriarch 'Filips de Stout'. I'll welcome a revisit if less restrained.

7.9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8.5

17 August 2019. At Gents Bierfestival X. Cheers to Anke, Kevin & the crew! Named after Filips de Stoute, or Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy from 1363 until 1404, who earned his nickname after the Battle of Poitiers where as a teenager he valiantly defended his father, the French king Jean le Bon. So anyway. Appears hazy black with a lasting, frothy, tan head. Aroma of raisin, raspberry, brambleberry, Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, chocolate powder, toast, red fruit jam. Taste is medium malty sweet, quite fruity, offering raspberry, cranberry & sourish brambleberry mixing with chocolate, bit of a powdery effect, slightly nutty & grape-like perhaps thanks to the wood treatment. Dryish, tart, toasty finish, some earthy hops, very faint wood & dominant red fruits; agreeable warming alcohol hinting at coffee liqueur & Maraschino. Medium body, slick-creamy texture, fizzy carbonation. Sweet fruity & somewhat dry 'powdery' at the same time, I expected a bit more body, although I enjoyed its execution. As a medieval history enthusiast, I might be more lenient because of the name...