28/II/24 - 33cl can from Geers (Oostakker), shared @ Schol-a-Bar post rehearsal drink, BB: n/a (unreadable stamp on the label) (2024-121)

Clear yellow blond beer, creamy dense white head, pretty stable, adhesive, leaving a nice lacing in the glass. Aroma: lots of lactobacillus, sourish impression, funky, nice. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: a little bitter, a bit watery, a hint of pineapple, gentle acidity. Aftertaste: pretty dry, acidic, fruity touch, a bit lemony, some pineapple.

Lichtbruin bier met schuim. Smaak is bitter hoppig en fruitig met iets van ananas, mango, sinaasappel en wat houttonen.

Helder donkergeel bier met mooie schuimkraag. Smaak is bitterzoet en fruitig met iets van citrus en mandarijn.

Pitch black beer with a small tan head. Aroma of strong dark roasted malt, whiskey, coffee, wood. Taste of strong dark malt, coffee, wood, whiskey, some dried fruits.

Slightly hazy golden beer with a white head. Aroma of tropical fruits, citra, oranges, grapefruit. Taste of intense citrusy hops, tropical fruits, grapefruit, oranges, some blood orange is present. Moderate to long bitter finish.

New ’wintery’ beer by Stroom in Ghent, a strong stout aged in both whisky and rum barrels; launched only recently, this one was already available – canned – at café De Redding in the Brugse Poort quarter in the northwest of Ghent. Moussy, pale yellowish beige, medium thick, opening head on a jet black beer. Aroma of dry old raisins, melting ‘fondant’ chocolate, cappuccino, old oak wood (even oak furniture), whisky indeed while rum remains less noticeable, fig compote, pipe tobacco, caramel. Densely sweet but ‘rounded’ and clean onset, raisins (or ‘boerenjongens’) again, candied dates, soft carb with full, oily mouthfeel; bittersweet black-chocolatey, dry-caramelly and pecan-nutty core with toasty edges but clearly more sweetness than bitterness, even hints of candied cherries, dark brown honey and latté. Lightly drying tannins with clear ‘oakiness’ retronasally, along with a peppery hop kick and warming, eventually somewhat tiresome and astringent alcohol, again much more whisky-like than rum-like. Bitter chocolate and roasted bitter coffee elements linger, but the sweetness always remains a tad stronger than the bitterness – clearly an American style ‘impy’ was intended here, a mission well executed, even if still a bit crude and boozy perhaps. Probably improves with more age on it so stack a few of these cans away in a cellar and see what becomes of them in a year or so. For now: indulgent, sweet, boozy stout, solid enough and fit for this gloomy time of the year.

Helder goudgeel bier met weinig schuim. Smaak is bitter hoppig en fruitig met iets van citrus, wat houttonen en hars. De echte koffiesmaak heb ik niet kunnen ontdekken of dat moet het houtachtige in de smaak geweest zijn. Desondanks goed drinkbaar bier.