Top-fermenting hoppy saison or Belgian IPA (what is the difference anyway) from a normally bottom-fermenting lager specialist, the only one in Belgium to my knowledge, at least on a 'craft' level; apparently made for a boardgame designed to promote knowledge of Belgian beers and their breweries in and around Brussels. Thanks tderoeck for sharing this Mule rarity. Snow white, moussy, medium thick, bit irregular but stable head, initially clear pale yellowish blonde robe, turning hazy and a tad more ochre-tinged with sediment. Aroma of fresh lemon peel, green apple slices, sulphur in some or other way, unripe banana, damp straw, cava, sourdough, old potatoes, grass. Spritzy green-fruity onset, unripe banana and green apple returning, minerally and fizzy carbonation; supple and lean bready and cereally pale malt core, dryish with clove- and lemon peel-like spicy notes, eventually switching to a grassy, peppery, drying hop bitterness, a tad citrusy without evoking true New World associations. Sleek, dry and crisp quencher, IPA-ish perhaps but in fact much more a (non-sour) saison à la Mule; I still prefer what they do with German and Czech style lagers, but this is admittedly well-made and accessible without giving in on the general 'craft' idea too much. 'Balanced' is the right word here, I guess...

20/I/23 - 33cl can as a gift, shared @ Wim’s place, BB: 3/X/23 (2023-83) Thanks to Fre for the can!

Clear pale blond to yellow beer, huge creamy off-white head, stable, adhesive, leaving a nice lacing in the glass. Aroma: very lemony, a bit floral, spicy, fruity notes, some sulphur. MF: soft to no carbon, medium to light body. Taste: nice fruity start, herbal, little malty, grains, pretty bitter, citrus notes, zesty, bitter grapefruit. Aftertaste: fruity, a little spicy, herbal, some coriander, a bit watery, nice and fruity finish, peaches, like it!

7/I/23 - 33cl can as a gift, shared @ home, BB: X/2022 (2023-52) Thanks to Fre for the can!

Little cloudy yellow beer, small creamy white head, little stable, non adhesive. Aroma: fruity, some citrus, grapefruit, a bit earthy. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: very bitter, a little fruity, grassy, banana, spicy, yeast, some cloves. Aftertaste: bitter, floral, a bit soapy, dry, very bitter, more soapy, herbal, a little minty, ok, not bad, not great.

27/XII/22 - 33cl can from De Hopduvel (Gent), shared @ home, BB: n/a (2022-1777)

Clear gold yellow beer, creamy irregular white head, pretty stable, a bit adhesive. Aroma: quite some banana up front, a bit malty, floral notes, banana peel, grains. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: malty start, good biscuit malts, nice bite, little spicy, almost fruity touch, quickly running into a hoppy bitterness that is very dry. Aftertaste: herbal notes, bitter, hoppy, a bit chemical, banana peel, metallic touch, slightly malty in the finish, decent beer, but is this a real Vienna lager? Way too bitter and not enough caramel malts, if you’d ask me.

Bit thin