6.3

Appearance - 5 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

One of the newer additions to this Smash series by Brasserie {C} in Liège, brewed with barley, wheat and oat malts as well as three hop varieties - but these are not mentioned on the can, which would have been handy; they are, however, disclosed on the brewery's website as being Idaho 7, Citra and Nelson Sauvin (oof). Can of nearly half a year old, found at the Delhaize supermarket at the Sterre in Ghent. Thinnish and open, very loosely structured, very irregular, off-white, bubbly, shred-lacing 'head' eventually dissolving all but completely on a hazy pale yellow blonde robe with vague apricot tinge. Aroma of overripe papaya, withering kitchen herbs, starfruit, vague mandarin, old onions, dock leaf, nettle soup, spoiled lemon flesh, pond water, rotting grass, egg yolk, diesel. Fruity onset, prickly carbonation (too much for style), impressions of papaya, starfruit and apricot, sweetish with a soft bready to doughy malt core, a bit brioche-like, soaked in this aromatic hoppiness bringing forth retronasal withering kitchen herbs again as well as something (cooked-)oniony and a clear 'spoiled' effect (rotting weeds, spoiled leek soup). A fine yet 'stubborn' peppery hop bitter trace lingers. Clearly well past its prime - I think this one can only have tasted good when it was 'farm fresh', though I doubt it was a truly convincing example of a NEIPA back then. Too bad, I guess I will have to revisit this one when I stumble upon a fresh sample.

5.8

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

6.3

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 5.5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 6.5

On tap at Brasseries de Liege. Unclear golden coloured, medium sized off-white head, some odd apricot and alcohol in the nose. Sweet malty, fruity, candy, notes of apricot and light alcohol with sweet finish. Not so fresh.

6.8

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

On tap at Brasseries de Liege. Hazy yellow coloured, medium sized white head, citrusy and light oranges in the nose. Citrusy, fruity, light grapes and touch of grass with short sweetish finish.

6.6

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

330 ml bottle. Pours a dull amber with moderate head. Aromas of fruity bananas and doughy malts. Flavors of same. Big and off style but enjoyable.

8.1

Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Nous ne sommes pas réellement loin d'un Black IPA avec cette Curtius Black qui est un stout bien houblonné. Je la trouve de fait avec une bonne buvabilité même si le pendant est qu'elle manque de plénitude et d'ampleur dans ses arômes. Si vous aimez les stouts à la De Moerseutel, il est certain que celle-ci ne vous siéra pas réellement. Sur le visuel, jolie robe noire avec une très fine effervescence soutenue et une mousse brune de 5 mm. Le nez est sur le café, le chocolat et la noisette mais avec une fraicheur amère aux notes d'agrumes. L'ensemble fonctionne bien. En bouche, la première chose qui me gêne quelque peu est l'effervescence trop poussée qui ne permettent pas aux arômes de bien se fixer. Cette effervescence renforce toutefois l'impression de fraîcheur amenée par l'amertume. D'ailleurs, l'attaque est en premier lieu sur l'amertume et c'est davantage en deuxième bouche que les arômes torréfiés ressortent davantage. L’arrière-bouche est également plus sur l'amertume. L'alcool, à 8% est efficace. Le final, est relativement long mais moins intéressant. La corpulence est moyenne. Une légère astringence est également présente. Un stout houblonné à tester.

7.8

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7.5 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

75cl bottle.
F: big, tan, good retention.
C: coppery, light hazy.
A: malty, mellow fruity, pears, banana, apples, caramel, toffee, spicy.
T: full malty base, banana, toast, toffee, bit herbal, spicy, pears, nice balanced long lasting bitterness, medium carbonation, bit warming alcohol, quite nice for the style, fully enjoyed.