Winning innovator on the Belgian beer market with brands such as Maes, Cristal, Desperados, Grimbergen, Affligem, Strongbow and Mort Subite.
De “Brouwerijen Alken-Maes NV” ontstond officieel in 1988, als gevolg van de fusie van de brouwerijen Maes en Cristal Alken. Maar de roots van beide entiteiten gaat terug tot omstreeks 1880. In Waarloos kocht Egied Maes toen nl. de brouwerij Sint-Michaël, terwijl korte tijd later Arthur Boes een brouwerij startte in Alken, zo’n 100 km verderop.
Beide brouwerijen ontwikkelen zich stelselmatig, met bv. Cristal dat in 1928 als eerste Belgische pils het licht ziet. Maes Pils volgt in 1946. Nadien vervoegen Grimbergen, Ciney en andere bieren de portfolio, tot aan de fusie in 1988. Na onderdeel te hebben uitgemaakt van Danone en Scottish & Newcastle, wordt Alken-Maes in 2008 eigendom van Heineken.
(Bottle 25 cl) Golden, very hazy with lots of floating yeast in the bottle. Very sophisticated - almost perfumy - spices. Looks innocent but has loads of alcohol. A nice surprise. 101094
Bottled (BB 11/2006) Golden color with big white head. Fruity and yeasty nose with notes of leather. Carbonated, medium-bodied - finishes thin. Citrusy bitter flavor. Aftertaste is bitterish with some alcohol bite. Balanced straightforward blonde.
(Bottle 33 cl) Golden, nice and pretty stable head. Very full-bodied with quite some sweetness and a very dominating alcohol. Not the most sophisticated of strong, golden Belgians but this will do... 150893
(Bottle 25 cl) Dark brown, pretty tall head that collapses though. Very malty notes. Both fruity and spicy in a good balance between sweetness and bitterness. A very decent dubbel indeed. 040893
(Bottle 25 cl) A slightly sour nose, but far from sour in flavour where the sweetish malts dominate. Beautiful golden colour. Long lasting palate. Nice abbey beer. 020893
(bottle) Light & hazy yellow colour with a fizzy medium white head. Slight aroma of citrus fruits, spice and yeast. Clovy citric taste, light bodied, spicy, yeasty refreshing finish.
(botlle) Clear red to amber colour with medium foamy white head. Malty aroma with a fruity and liquorice note. Also sweet initial taste but a bitterhoppy finish. Well balanced strong brew.
(bottle) Red to amber body with a small frothy off-white head. Aroma is quite musty, vinous and a bit sour. Sweetish flavour, medium bodied, soft carbonated. The taste is malty, slightly fruity with dry plums, a bit sour (vinegar), but also sweet, which is all well-balanced and makes this beer an experience. The high ABV is not detectable.
(Bottle 33 cl) Amazingly rocky head which never really dies. Lots of malt and lots of sweetness. Actually this is cloyingly sweet which makes it a hard-to-drink beer in combination with the 9%. 240593
(Bottle 33 cl) Dark brown, filtered. Very malty and sweetish. Brownish head. Perhaps a bit too much carbonation. Very nice although perhaps a bit too mainstream Dubbel. 200593