Alengrin (11609) reviewed American Master from De Meester 5 months ago
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7
Bourbon-infused barleywine with an unmistakable nod to contemporary American politics, a creaton by De Meester, enjoying quite a lot of popularity among the somewhat more educated beer drinker in Belgium. Thick and frothy, sparsely lacing, beaten egg-white, pillowy and fluffy, remarkably stable head on a misty deep mahogany brown robe with purplish-burgundy glow, looking much more like a quadrupel than a barleywine. Strong aroma of blueberry crumble, freshly baked cupcakes, raisin bread, sweet and clearly vanilla-tinged bourbon indeed but not too overwhelming, toffee, even a whiff of milk chocolate, nougat (strong even!), amaretto, 'broodpudding', cookie dough ice cream, pear, clove. Sweet onset, brown sugar sprinkled over ripe pear, blueberry and raisin flavours with a dash of baked banana, soft carbonation with indeed rather vinous, very full mouthfeel; slick, 'heavy' toffee-, nougat- and croissant dough-like malts with a thin chocolatey edge and a touch of sweet (Brazil) nuttiness, but also a quite pronounced toastiness, reminiscent of a Scotch. More bitterness comes from leafy hops in the end, adding something earthy too, and of course the bourbon, which eventually cannot resist to display everything I find annoying about this liquor-infusing hype (other than it being a cheap shortcut for actual barrel ageing), namely by being too present, adding an astringent booziness to the root of the tongue and overpowering the other elements in the finish. Sweetness does, however, linger, almost cola-like at a certain point, but certainly nougat- and caramel-like. I guess in respecting brewer's intent, one could show the kindness to call this a dark barleywine, but to me it feels much more like a quadrupel or even a Scotch (albeit in the maltier, fruitier, yeastier Belgian way) - if this deserves to be called a barleywine, then that goes for Gulden Draak, Kasteelbier or Verboden Vrucht as well... Other than style discussions, though, I must admit that this is a surprising ale, packed with taste, but absolutely one for those with a sweet tooth; the sweetness even cloys a bit, and the overdose of wry bourbon cannot cannot prevent that, it seems. Needs a bit of downtuning in sweetness and especially in bourbon, but with some refinement this could admittedly become a truly good slow sipper. Shows potential, I guess is what one says in such cases.
Bierridder (4318) ticked American Heaven from De Meester 5 months ago
Gerbeer (8214) reviewed Meestereske Kinky Tripel from De Meester 5 months ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7.5 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
On tap. Pours a hazy amber with light foamy head. Aromas of creamy malts, a bit of Belgian yeast and candied fruit. Flavors follow same with more pronounced fruit and yeast. Fuller, maltier and fruitier than standard Belgian Triple but very nice.
EvNa (6056) reviewed American Heaven from De Meester 5 months ago
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7.5
Bottle. Color: Hazy copper, beige head. Aroma: Malty, dark malt, caramel, subtle Bourbon. Taste: Dark malt, caramel, some dark fruit, subtle fruity Calvados, hints of Bourbon. Medium body, thin bodied for this style. Below average carbonation. Moderate to over moderate sweet, light to moderate bitterness. Alcohol is well hidden. Reminds me of a dark Bockbier somehow, although it has a bit more complexity. Mwah. Ok overall, but not what I expected. Maybe I'm spoiled with better beers by De Meester...
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8.5 | Texture - 9 | Overall - 8.5
330 ml bottle. Pours a very dark brown with moderate head. Aromas of musty white wine, old oak, caramel, dark fruit and soft toasty malts. Flavors of sweet white wine, grapes, dry caramel, dark fruit and toasted malts. Excellent.
Benzai (24515) reviewed Maître Tripel - Bourbon BA from De Meester 5 months ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7.5
Bottle at home shared with Laura and Thompson. Clear amber color, full sized off-white head. Aroma is malts, some spices. Flavor is malts, sweetish, again some spices, bourbon notes, solid bitter finish. Quite nice.
EvNa (6056) reviewed Maitre Brut Barolo BA from De Meester 5 months ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8.5 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 9 | Overall - 8.5
Bottle. Color: Hazy purplish red, pink head. Aroma: Sweet and tart, red wine. Taste: Far more sweet than tart, red wine, red grape, a lot of tannines and oak wood. Some bitterness. Dry-ish finish. Brut, a bit Champagne-like. Medium body, below average carbonation. Unusual. Very nice one.
Benzai (24515) reviewed Cuvée Jerome from De Meester 5 months ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7.5 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Bottle shared with Thompson. Clear light golden color, average sized white head. Aroma and flavor are malts, sweetish, somewhat herbal / spicy, finishes somewhat spicy bitter. Quite nice.
Pinball (15907) reviewed Dark Master Imperial Stout from De Meester 5 months ago
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 9
Really nice aroma dominated by licorice, roasted malts.
Flavor is tons of licorice , different kinds of licorice, licorice, licorice roots , salty licorice from Finland.
Roasted malty balance , a unique belgian imp stout that is more or less creating its own new style.
Benzai (24515) reviewed Grain Master #02 Tokaj BA from De Meester 5 months ago
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 6.5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Bottle at home shared with Laura. Unclear red-brown color, average sized beige head. Aroma and flavor are malts, some red fruits, some sweetness, a bit boozy. Something distinctly sweet in there which I assume must be the Tokaj, but I don't know that wine personally so I can't really tell. Okay beer overall.