About
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.
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Brouwerijen Alken-Maes owns 3 breweries/brands:
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6.4/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
(33 cl bottle). Golden beer with a slight yeast haziness, large head. Very weak initial aroma, improves as the beer warms up - I get caramel, oak, honey and apricot. Very sweet fruity and honeylike flavour, next to cloying, low bitterness - a dessert beer, I'd say. Overall I'm a bit disappointed with this one, you expect more from the Belgians.
Tried from Bottle on 01 Jun 2003 at 05:53

7.6/10 — Appearance 10 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
(33 cl bottle). Beautiful reddish colour, good head. Surprisingly weak initial aroma, improves as the beer warms up - toffee, caramel and oak. Malty caramel flavour with some cloves, a tad too sweet for my taste. Needs some more hops to balance the sweetness. Malty, rounded aftertaste.
Tried from Bottle on 31 May 2003 at 08:47

7.6/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
(33 cl bottle). Golden colour, good head and lacing. Nutmeg, cloves and oak in aroma and flavour, aftertaste a bit short, but not bad for a blonde. Some sweetness, but not too much. Decent.
Tried from Bottle on 31 May 2003 at 08:02

7.9/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Dark brown colour, brownish head. Spicy and malty aroma. Sweet, malty flavour, little bit sparkles of caramel-flavours. Very nice beer.
Tried on 28 May 2003 at 14:05

6.8/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
An unclear dark orange beer with a fine but fast disappearing head. The aroma is very sweet and slightly fruity. the flavor is sweet, sligthly metallic, and fruity with notes of oranges and other fruits. A really complex beer - especially for a triple. There is no hint of the alcohol content - but no bitterness either - but it still has a nice balance.
Tried on 22 May 2003 at 12:35

7/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
Golden blond colour. Duvel-aroma, but yet a little honey-aroma. The flavour is slighty bitter, slightly malty, also sparkles of fruit-flavours.
Tried on 21 May 2003 at 14:45

6.1/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
Bottled(330ml). -not so good beer I've expected, fruity and smooth, medium white head and a little bit too sweet
Tried from Bottle on 12 May 2003 at 08:31

6.5/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
A clear golden beer with a small but fast disappearing head. The aroma is light with notes of sweetness, a good maltblend, and creamyness. The flavor is a little flat with wheat sweetness. It is very smooth. A really good tasting beer.
Tried on 05 May 2003 at 10:49

6.2/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 4 Overall 6
Hazy yellow color, medium sized, medium lasting head. Spicy aroma, coriander. Belgian white taste, but more sweet. Sticky body, not as refreshing as most other whites. Quite dry finish even.
Tried on 05 May 2003 at 10:31

6.8/10 — Appearance 4 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
A slightly unclear orange beer with a small but fast disappearing head. The aroma is fresh and powerful with notes of sweetness, alcohol, and fruit. The flavor is lovely, containing notes of alcohol, maltsweetness, and ending on a slight bitterness. A beer with a great balance.
Tried on 14 Apr 2003 at 05:35