Rubin77 (10187) reviewed Papy Jean from HopSaSam 1 year ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
33cl bottle from Struise Beershop Woesten e-shop. F: medium, white, good retention. C: gold, hazy. A: malty, banana, wheat, nice hoppy, bit spicy, floral, saison style touch. T: medium malty base, banana, lemon grass, coriander, spicy, long lasting bitterness, 75 IBU so pretty bitter, medium carbonation, enjoyed for sure.
Alengrin (11609) reviewed Echt Belgisch Krekelbier from HopSaSam 1 year ago
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7
Belgian blonde containing pale barley malt, wheat malt and - you are reading this right - house crickets, which were once an invasive species in Belgium but now far less common, yet still readily available in pet shops as living food for reptiles, amphibians, tarantulas and other terrarium pets. Having owned such pets in a gradually more distant past, I am very much familiar with this insect species (including the sound they make), but I never actually considered them fit for consumption, even though I am well aware that they belong to the very few insects deemed edible by the European Union - and that insects like this are eaten in many parts of the world... A curiosity to say the least, but oddly not even my first 'insect-flavoured beer' (ignoring the gazillions of fruit flies I must have consumed, adding themselves to beers after pouring), as I recall a grasshopper saison by De Molen I tasted many years ago. Slow gusher, so be ware. Egg-white, medium thick but thinning and opening, lightly membrane-lacing, ultimately stable head on a slightly misty, pale ochre-tinged yellow golden robe, turning hazy apricot-gold further on, with tiny dots of uncertain nature floating around - broken down remainders of the crickets, who knows? Aroma of toasted peanuts, old crackers, young wormwood, a hint of the boxes with sawdust I kept my living house crickets in thirty-odd years ago, dry whole wheat pasta, strawbales, hints of dried sage, withering cut flowers, pan-fried potato peel, grilled parsnip, wrinkled old storage apples, natto, egg yolk, flour, bergamot tea. Crisp onset, fruity hints of apple peel, unripe pear and a dash of apricot but fairly low in sweetness, with a vague sourish edge enhanced by lively, sparkly carbonation; smooth, soft mouthfeel, clear wheat slickness but also pronounced barley breadiness, a bit 'powdery' but remaining 'juicy' in some way, with a weird retronasal aroma feeling as 'protein-rich' as a freshly grilled house cricket - indeed this egg yolk-, natto- and fried soy bean-like scent must represent the crickets because if this is not it, I have no idea where to look for it. Yeasty notes in the end, dryish with a late but lingering, bit leafy, mugwort-ish hop bitter note. I have never tasted a fried cricket so far but if I ever do, I hope they taste better than this beer - which is essentially correctly made and obviously very original, but more than anything, a gimmick, even if I respect (and share) the brewer's love for insects. One of those beers seeking originality above anything else - but while you are here, do seek out HopSaSam's stout and barleywine variations, because those are absolutely delicious.
jefverstraete (7489) reviewed Blue Seadragon from HopSaSam 1 year ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
@ Kwatrechts bierfestival. Dark brown colour, beige foam. Nose of dried fruit, raisins, plums along with vanilla sweetness, calvados. Sweet and warming.
jefverstraete (7489) reviewed Q que le Q from HopSaSam 1 year ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
@ Kwatrechts Bierfestival. Almost black colour, dark brown foam. Very roasty, dry and bitter with sweet whisky notes.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
@ Kwatrechts Bierfestival. Murky brown colour, almost no foam. Very soft carbonation. Tart, woody, with vinous notes. A bit vinegary, notes of vanilla and calvados.
jefverstraete (7489) reviewed De Roe from HopSaSam 1 year ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
@ Kwatrechts Bierfestival. Dark brown/almost black colour, beige foam. Lots of walnuts in the aroma. Taste is roasty, sweet malty, nutty, woody.
Alengrin (11609) reviewed 10-Eyed Dragon from HopSaSam 1 year ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Whisky barrel aged quadrupel by this still largely undervalued brewer in the Oudenaarde region, thanks to tderoeck for sharing. Thick, membrane-lacing, pale yellowish beige head lacing in shreds over a hazy deep mahogany-bronze brown beer. Aroma of vanilla-breathing oak wood, pecan nut pie, Irish whiskey or even bourbon, pear syrup, dates, toast, caramel, some beef broth and nail polish. Sweet, dense onset, fig compote, dates and medlar, touch blueberry perhaps; soft carb, full, ‘fluffy’ body. Toffeeish, hazelnutty and Pumpernickel-like malt layers fill the middle, with a slight toasty edge and soft woodiness, paired with a bittersweet, warming whisky effect and retronasal ‘oaky vanillin’; light herbal hops in the finish, as well as some bready yeasty accents. Very rich, layered and entertaining quad, one to sip slowly and enjoy as the flavours shift – another meritorious HopSaSam creation indeed. I love this brewery.
tderoeck (22711) reviewed 10-Eyed Dragon from HopSaSam 1 year ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
23/VII/24 - 75cl bottle, shared @ Alengrin’s place, BB: VIII/2022, lot: 2202P119 (2024-592)
Clear dark brown beer, big creamy to little aery beige head, stable, a bit adhesive. Aroma: very yeasty, banana peel, malty, grains, more yeasty, alcohol touch, grains, hay, ok-ish. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: nice, alcohol, caramel, sugary, a little oxidized. Aftertaste: malty, caramel, some chocolate, sugary, alcohol, more chocolate, pleasant one!
jefverstraete (7489) reviewed Echt Belgisch Krekelbier from HopSaSam 1 year ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
Hazy blond colour. Very malty and bready, a bit nutty, bitter and light roasty. Good but not outstanding
jefverstraete (7489) reviewed Super O.P.A. from HopSaSam 1 year ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9
Hazy blond colour. Nose of citrus, tropical fruit along with wood, some tartness, jenever. Vinous and woody, even more complex when warming up. Great beer!