Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
(First an observation. The label clearly speaks about 6.5% ABV. The brewer assured me personally 9 à 9.5%) Fluffy, rather big dark-beige head; hazy chestnut colour. Sweet nose, slightly spicey, gingerbread-like; piney aroma's, dark malts. Very malty taste, typical combination of sweet and herbal bitter. Definitely quite spicey, but (good point), no spice really springs out, above identification treshold. Quite highly carbonated, medium to full bodied. The mouthfeel:palate hints rather to 6.5 than to 9.3 ABV - unless the alcohol is very well hidden. I like the spicing as extremely well-balanced. Typical X-mas ale, but I keep wondering about the ABV.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
(Brewed at De Graal for the beginning Kleinbrouwerij De Glazen Toren.) Pale hazy orange; yellowish thick head, dissipating, lacey. Nose with crystal malt, cookies, citrussy hops. Quite bitter taste. Both pale and coloured malts very obvious but the refreshing, again citrussy bitterness is clearly hoppy in style. Fruity finish with also a sweetish peanut-like flavour. Well-bodied. Alcoholic mouthflavour and aftertaste, orange-liqueur like. A rather typical strong Belgian ale. The citrus hops at the start stand for the individual Jef van den Steen touch. Yet, it is a beer where I like the individual things, and less the overall result.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Hazy orange-amber; lively pearling to huge yellow head, very regular and good lace. Grassy, very hoppy nose. Again grassy taste, "spaghetti-water", grainy but not wheaty. Quite hoppy, dry palate. Light to medium bodied. Aftertaste is vegetable garden aromas in the best possible way. Nice - a willfully hoppy "Spéciale Belge" (historic revived name for amber-coloured Belgian ale).
Sloefmans (15519) reviewed Scotch from Kleinbrouwerij De Glazen Toren 22 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
(Beer is based upon a historic recipe by the defunct Aalst brewery Burny Bros.) Tasted very young without refermentation. Deep brown with amber shine, no head. Nose gives caramel, some hops, liquorice, brown candi sugar. Taste is liquorice again, very outspoken, dark malts and ending in very typical caramel taste. Medium bodied. Nice try, quite sweet but it has a true historical ring to it.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Yellowish, with greenish shine, hazy; huge white head, very lively carbonation and unbelievable lace. Nice leafy smell, fresh aroma hops to the fore as well. Sugar is perceptible, honey just as an aroma, taste as the drashes aroma, grassy, cattle feed. End perception is slightly acidic - great! Treacherously light mouthfeel. I love this beer, young as it is. A great, exciting new tripel.