Dark barleywine aged on oak chips, created by HopSaSam brewer Sam Vanderstraeten as a surprise gift to his good friend Erwin Plancke, the current president of the Gentse Biervereniging (Ghentian Beer Club), under the slogan that people should be celebrated while they are still alive, whereas in practice words of praise are often uttered with the greatest conviction at their funeral. With this playful idea in mind, the bottles were even equipped with a strand of hair-like fabric representing Erwin’s formidable beard… Tasted at – where else – the surprise party for Erwin where this beer was presented to him and the rest of the club. Medium thick, quite firm and frothy, pale mocha-tinged beige head over a very dark caramel brown robe with ochre-ish edges. Inviting bouquet of dry caramel, vanillin from the oak chips (more pronounced than usual when only chips are used), ground pistachio nuts, almonds, brandy, toasted bread, dried fig, a vague touch of liquorice somewhere, dark chocolate accent, dried apple peel. Sweet onset in a clean, well-measured way, nowhere sticky, dark fruitiness of dried prunes and figs, hint of dates and some baked banana, softishly carbonated with smooth, full body, gliding heavily over the tongue leaving a trace of toffee, nut bread, a bit of toast and a bit of chocolate, with slight tannic oak effects in its wake, along with retronasal vanilla; additional whiffs of strawberry, raisin, liquorice and bayleaf join in, establishing a rich, long finish, warmed up by brandy-like alcohol which nowhere becomes astringent. I have been following HopSaSam with great interest ever since it came onto the market not with the umpteenth blonde or tripel, but with the beautifully crafted, stylishly packed and totally unexpected Nonniversaire barleywines – now that was something else, and Sam has been continuing on this path ever since. As one of the more idiosyncratic and inspired brewing projects in East Flanders (or Belgium in general), it just had to be them to honour the great Erwin Plancke, whom I am lucky enough to have known in person for almost ten years now myself (and at sight over thirty years, as I recall him being quite a remarkable figure when he was a fellow student at the Ghent university). So cheers Erwin, you are already memorable enough without having a specialty beer attached to your name, but this is truly a great gift from a friend and well deserved.

20/VI/25 - 33cl bottle @ Planckgas release party, Baracuna (Gent), BB: n/a, bottled: II/2025, batch #1 (2025-555) Thanks to Sam for sharing the bottle!

Clear orange amber beer, creamy off-white head, very stable, non adhesive. Aroma: sourish impression, a bit fruity, red wine, grapes. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: soft acidity, fruity, sweet, berries, grapes, funky touch, nice! Aftertaste: a little dry, grapes, sugary, pleasant, some tannins, very nice one!

20/VI/25 - 33cl bottle, shared @ Planckgas release party, Baracuna (Gent), BB: 24/IV/30, bottled: 24/IV/25 (2025-551) Thanks to Sam for sharing the new beer!

Clear dark brown to black beer, big creamy beige head, solid, stable, adhesive. Aroma: very malty, yeasty, caramel, ripe banana, gentle roast, nice! MF: ok carbon, medium to full body. Taste: some alcohol, good roast, very yeasty, banana, lots of alcohol, sweet, star anise, lots of liquorish. Aftertaste: very spicy, more liquorish, bitter touch, some dried fruits, very pleasant! Will probably age very nicely in the future!