Alengrin (11609) reviewed Ad Vitam Triple from Brasserie de Flandre 2 months ago
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7
The tripel in a series of three beers issued by the "Brasserie de Flandre", a very 'commercial' project intending to make money rather than to add something substantial to the Belgian beer culture, I have the impression - with all three beers seemingly commissioned from Boelens nowadays. This tripel, moreover, seems to appear here under different brand names, the other ones being Eagle and Quinks (the latter referring to the 'locofaulism' for the inhabitants of Gavere, where this fake 'brewery' is situated); doubtlessly these all need to be aliased to one and the same beer. In any case my sample here, purchased at the Carrefour supermarket of Sint-Denijs-Westrem, clearly says Ad Vitam (and mentions Boelens as the executive brewery - I know Boelens insists on being mentioned, which I think is a good thing, but apparently they no longer force their commissioners to use the Boelens crown caps nowadays...). Very thick and frothy, snow white, uneven-bubbled and irregularly shaped, shred-lacing, pillowy head, sitting stable on an initially near-clear, deep orange blonde beer, almost amberish, with tangerine glow (though calling it 'red-brown' as in the commissioner's own description is clearly taking it too far - and may mislead the consumer into thinking he is going to get an "oud bruin" or something); turns into a murky terracotta brownish-blonde with sediment. Aroma of ripe persimmon, old stale biscuits, raw radishes, pear, dust, coriander seed, dried hydrangeas, glazed beetroot, a side note of honey to even brown sugar but subtle, banana peel turning brown, clove, dried apricot, roses, tulips, vague bergamot tea and even something liquorice-like popping up every now and then, as well as a distant smokey accent somehow. Estery onset, sweetish but not too cloying, impressions or pear, medlar, persimmon and (dried) red apple, touch apricot perhaps, medium carbonated with smooth, full mouthfeel; some very light honeyish sugars linger over a rounded bready and biscuity middle, while clove-like phenols abound retronasally (4-vinyl-guaiacol) and an earthy, leafy hop bitterness builds, eventually 'gripping' the root of the tongue and lasting for quite a long time. Meanwhile these pear- and persimmon-like fruity-yeasty notes, along with certain herbal aspects (withered parsley) proliferate along with the clove phenols - helping in a kind of 'soggy breadiness', verging on dirtiness and almost feeling 'Wallonian' (which I mean in a positive way, to be clear). The alcohol remains very well hidden and has not bothered me anywhere; something thinly honeyish lingers at the back, overwhelmed by this earthy hop bitterness. A tad messy, overly yeasty and earthy, but technically correct and interesting for a tripel in being not too sleek, more malty and less simple-sweet than so many others; the earthy, floral and herbal notes here strongly remind me of Boelens's own classic honey beer Bieken, though, and so do the colour and ABV... Too many coincidences in one beer? I will not go as far as to state here that this is simply an alias of Bieken, primarily because I have not had any Bieken for at least fifteen years, but I remain suspicious. The Eagle and Quinks versions listed on this site, on the other hand, are very obviously aliases of this one and should be treated as such.
Alengrin (11609) reviewed Ad Vitam Stout from Brasserie de Flandre 2 years ago
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 6.5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7
Export stout of sorts by an oddly French-named new brewing company south of Ghent, which I suspect commissions all of its beers from Boelens rather than actually producing everything themselves - something which warrants further investigation. Slow gusher so be ware. Huge and foamy, cobweb-lacing, pale greyish beige, uneven-bubbled head, collapsing quickly but still remaining thick after a while in a somewhat disorderly manner (a typical 'gusher head', I would say); misty dark chocolate brown robe, as good as black, but still with mahogany edges when fully poured. Aroma of very strong 'drop' (sweet liquorice) and even salmiak candy, sweet cicely, molasses, melting caramel, 'Koetjesreep', clove, moist white pepper, pear, some Ersatz coffee but very little roastiness, chewing gum, vague whiff of espresso still appearing when warming up but remaining all too subtle. Sweet onset with very strong 'drop' (liquorice) from the start, lighter notes of pear, fig and banana peel, soft carbonation, weirdly thin mouthfeel especially for a stout; bubblegummy edge round a caramelly malt core with some toasted bitterishness but in a very mild way, nevertheless ending on the dry side, with phenolic clove- and nutmeg-like elements joining in on the liquorice, before a deeper, somewhat earthy spiciness of hops comes to the foreground - but it too remains soft and superficial. Some light roastiness in the finish (burnt brown bread) but remaining engulfed in this sweeter, spicy and somewhat salty liquorice and salmiak flavour, though this effect admittedly is toned down in the finish. Odd, thin, unbalanced stout, with an almost 'medicinal' degree of liquorice replacing all the black chocolate and roasted coffee beans that should actually have been there; clearly what these guys set out to do, misses the point entirely. Not undrinkable once you get used to it, but if you do not like liquorice flavours in your stouts, stay clear from this one. Bizarre - I do not think I will go out to seek their blonde and tripel if this is their average quality level...
Hrabren (9642) reviewed Eagle Triple from Brasserie de Flandre 4 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 3 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 3
0.33 l bottle thanks to the people from the brewery who gave them away at the B2B Belgian beer presentation by Belgian Embassy in Zagreb. Shared with Marko and Ogi. Clear dark golden, small off-white head. Raw paint, lacquer, burnt plastic. Fruity candy and perfumy touch underneath. Some bubblegum or fruity toothpaste. Medium body, quite sharp phenolic, aggressive burnt plastic, metal. Lasting finish. Unpleasant.
ogivlado (19466) reviewed Eagle Triple from Brasserie de Flandre 4 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Bottled 330ml. -Courtesy of hrabren, shared with him & Marko, thanks! Golden coloured, small to medium sized white head, dry yeasty nose. Sweetish malty, herbal, meaty, touch of fruits and alcohol with short bitterish sweet finish.
Marko (22181) reviewed Eagle Triple from Brasserie de Flandre 4 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6
Bottle, thanks Hrabren for sharing with Ogi and me. Dark amber body, a bit hazy, off-white head. Interesting aroma, a bit woody, caramelly, light fruity fig esters, malty. Soft taste, light light esters, woody, weird, light meaty touches, odd. I don't dislike it, it's just weird.