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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fiulijn (28377) reviewed
Judas from Brouwerijen Alken-Maes
23 years ago
5/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 4 Flavor 4 Texture 6 Overall 5
Hazy golden color. Sweet aroma, with a hint of sourness. Can't really get to it, still some sweetness and alcohol, without a good malt or a hop character; cloying.
Tried from Can on 08 Apr 2003 at 18:37
diabel (1874) reviewed
Postel Tripel from Brouwerijen Alken-Maes
23 years ago
7.4/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Golden brown beer, white foam. Sweet aroma. Sweet, malty flavour. Nice ending. Nice beer.
Tried on 08 Apr 2003 at 12:24
diabel (1874) reviewed
Faro Alken from Brouwerijen Alken-Maes
23 years ago
2.5/10 — Appearance 4 Aroma 5 Flavor 1 Texture 2 Overall 1
Botled. The colour is very dark, although e.g. Westvleteren Abt is also very black, this black reminds me of Cola. Little bit sweet, bit malty aroma. When I thougth it looked only like Cola, it even tastes like. But yeah, it's a table-beer ...
Tried on 10 Mar 2003 at 10:08
Sloefmans (15815) reviewed
Hapkin from Brouwerijen Alken-Maes
23 years ago
7/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
Clear golden ale. Thick white head, big bubbles. Nose is dry, hop-bitter, spices, maybe medicinal. Taste is quite dry, but underlying sweetness. Spicey, fruity, yeast. Mouthfeel dominated by the dryness, not very full. No adstringency. Aftertaste consists of restrained bitterness, building up, without ever fully losing the sweet founding. One of Belgiums' better Duvel challengers. With the takeover of Louwaege by ScotCourage, probably due for extinction. See also Thouroutenaere. This bottle BBd: 5/04
Tried from Bottle on 05 Feb 2003 at 12:07
Sloefmans (15815) reviewed
Thouroutenaere (2003 - 2013) from Brouwerijen Alken-Maes
23 years ago
7.3/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
Thouroutenaere is probably the same as Hapkin. Webbs' GBG calls it an organic version. Highly unlikely - this would be mentionned on the label. With the closing of Louwaege imminent, this beer is supposedly still brewed in Kortemark (BBd: 11/03) Pale golden with greenish shine (Chablislike). Very thick, white head, big bubbles. Nose is yeasty, banana, honey-ish, edicinal. taste is very dry, then a sweetness develops, slightly spicey, a bit fruity. Mouthfeel characterised by the dryness, nearly dusty. A bit af adstringency even develops. Alcohol. Aftertaste is bitterness becoming pronounced - in a very dry way. Intersting, complicated 'taste-traject'.
Tried on 05 Feb 2003 at 11:59
diabel (1874) reviewed
Grimbergen Cuvée Ambrée / Double / Dubbel from Brouwerijen Alken-Maes
23 years ago
6.1/10 — Appearance 10 Aroma 7 Flavor 5 Texture 4 Overall 5.5
Botled. Very clear and bright colour. Between red wine and whisky. No intense aroma. The flavour isn't very clearly pronunciated either. Little sweet. And where did the palate go to? I expected more of this beer.
Tried on 03 Feb 2003 at 10:48
Oakes (34715) reviewed
Grimbergen Cuvée de l'Ermitage from Brouwerijen Alken-Maes
23 years ago
7.4/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
1994 vintage, sampled 2003.

Hazy light copper; aroma shows apple fruitiness, brandy, lots of malt. Sweet, plums, apples, oxidized malts. Herbal, dry finish still manages to show some more sherryish malt notes.
Tried on 20 Jan 2003 at 22:43
diabel (1874) reviewed
Ciney Brune from Brouwerijen Alken-Maes
23 years ago
7.3/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
Malt aroma. spicy and malt flavour. Very good 'drinkable'.........
Tried on 15 Jan 2003 at 15:47
diabel (1874) reviewed
Grimbergen Optimo Bruno from Brouwerijen Alken-Maes
23 years ago
7/10 — Appearance 4 Aroma 6 Flavor 9 Texture 6 Overall 8
Looks like mixed with grenadine. Little bit sweet flavour. In despite of this, the flavour is apalling. Sweet, malt, bitter, it''s got almost everything.
Tried on 13 Jan 2003 at 10:11
diabel (1874) reviewed
Grimbergen Triple / Tripel from Brouwerijen Alken-Maes
23 years ago
7.1/10 — Appearance 4 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 6 Overall 7.5
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Tried on 12 Jan 2003 at 14:02