7.6

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 8.5

One of several new Brouwbar beers, a sour saison. Off-white, thick but uneven-bubbled and slowly breaking head on a cloudy peach blonde beer with somewhat bronze-ish tinge. Aroma of overripe pineapple, pear juice, dried flowers, soggy rusk, apple peel, dust, a whiff of strawberry, yoghurt, clove, bread crust, violets. Sweetish fruity onset but in a clean and slender way, hints of pear, pineapple and strawberry with a distant hint at guava, and indeed a refreshing, light and elegant sourish streak running throughout, gently lactic, reminiscent of sour berries but remaining subtle and mild, always subordinate to a sweeter main flavour; supple, medium carbonated mouthfeel – carbonation actually being on the soft side for a farmhouse ale. Soggy rusk- and bread-like malt body, graced by phenolic spicy accents towards the end (clove) and a soft, floral, slightly tropical-fruity hoppiness which provides only very light end bitterness; the sourish element as well as some breadiness linger in the end. Light-footed, almost ‘feminine’ summery little beer, graceful and easygoing, with all the parameters remaining light and ‘soft’: softly carbonated, softly sour and softly hop bitter, perhaps a bit too softly so in all those three aspects. I do get the general idea of creating a simple yet elegant quencher, though, and in that sense this brew qualifies.

8.1

Appearance - 9 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5

The fifth session IPA (not counting their first "session ale" SA12) created by Brouwbar, the brewpub in Ghent's old Patershol quarter. Sold during the lockdown period linked to the coronavirus pandemic - thanks Steve for getting me a bottle straight from Brouwbar. Snow white, medium sized, mousy, slowly dissipating, shred-lacing head on a misty warm 'old gold' coloured beer with somewhat greenish edges, turning a bit deeper and becoming a cloudy apricot blonde with sediment. Aroma of dried lemon peel, bread crust, toasted pumpkin seeds, grapefruit pith, bitter green weeds, sunflower seeds, dry crackers, white pepper, vague hint of dry cheese rind faraway in the background. Crisp, cleanly fruity onset, hinting at green banana and unripe peach with a touch of apricot, remaining very subdued in sweetness; medium carb, just about right for the intended style but adding minerally effects nonetheless. Dry cracker-like, cereally body, slender but by no means thin, evolving into a grassy and leafy hop bitter finish with aspects of dried orange peel and grapefruit pith, but remaining mostly focused on drying bitterness and much less on retronasal aromatics (contrary to most of its predecessors); long, peppery bitterness in the end, but still with a very light juicy accent. Hoppy golden ale (even in the English sense of the word) more than a 'true' ISA, more focused on bitterness than on New World aromatics in the hop department, but very quenching and refreshing on a hot spring day - which is the ultimate function of a beer like this, I suppose. Enjoyed it, cheers Benjamin! --- Beer merged from original tick of SI45 Session IPA on 27 May 2020 at 01:01 - Score: Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5. Original review text: The fifth session IPA (not counting their first session ale SA12) created by Brouwbar, the brewpub in Ghent's old Patershol quarter. Sold during the lockdown period linked to the coronavirus pandemic - thanks Steve for getting me a bottle straight from Brouwbar. Snow white, medium sized, mousy, slowly dissipating, shred-lacing head on a misty warm 'old gold' coloured beer with somewhat greenish edges, turning a bit deeper and becoming a cloudy apricot blonde with sediment. Aroma of dried lemon peel, bread crust, toasted pumpkin seeds, grapefruit pith, bitter green weeds, sunflower seeds, dry crackers, white pepper, vague hint of dry cheese rind faraway in the background. Crisp, cleanly fruity onset, hinting at green banana and unripe peach with a touch of apricot, remaining very subdued in sweetness; medium carb, just about right for the intended style but adding minerally effects nonetheless. Dry cracker-like, cereally body, slender but by no means thin, evolving into a grassy and leafy hop bitter finish with aspects of dried orange peel and grapefruit pith, but remaining mostly focused on drying bitterness and much less on retronasal aromatics (contrary to most of its predecessors); long, peppery bitterness in the end, but still with a very light juicy accent. Hoppy golden ale (even in the English sense of the word) more than a 'true' ISA, more focused on bitterness than on New World aromatics in the hop department, but very quenching and refreshing on a hot spring day - which is the ultimate function of a beer like this, I suppose. Enjoyed it, cheers Benjamin!

7.4

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7.5 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

The newest Brouwbar beer to date, released during the 'second lockdown' in the Covid-19 pandemic in Belgium; a kind of Hopfenweizen, using Hallertau Blanc, one of those German-bred hop varieties in New World style catering to the still relatively few (but quickly increasing) German brewers that tackle American craft beer styles; released in 2012, this hybrid of Cascade and Hüll Melon (or something very close to that) is typically marketed as a highly aromatic, fruity variety. Thanks to Steve for fetching the bottles at Brouwbar! Egg-white, mousy, medium thick, slowly dissipating and opening head on a cloudy apricot blonde beer with ochre-ish tinge. Delicate aroma of ripe peach, honeydew, camomile tea, drying lemon zest, jasmin blossom, lemongrass, damp straw, banana bread, biscuit, powder sugar, grass, clove and a touch of chewing gum. Sweetish, fruity onset, banana ester and cooked pear but in a rather restrained, streamlined way, softish in carbonation with a slick, bit soapy body; white-bready core, well-edged with a slight biscuity touch and a sourish wheatiness to it, aromatized by very fruity, delicate hoppiness from the Hallertau Blanc, bringing back the associations with white and yellow fruit retronasally. Some grassy bitterness lingers, along with that banana effect and slick, thinly biscuity maltiness. Well, this is Hopfenweizen indeed, but in a rather innovative way (as compared with the archetypical Hopfenweizen - see Schneider's TAP 5) by shifting the emphasis from hop bitterness - not traditionally present in Hefeweizen - to hop aroma, which in today's beer world offers sheer limitless possibilities. Could just as well pass for an American style wheat ale in my opinion, it has a lot more in common with those than with true Bavarian Hefeweizen, but a smooth, streamlined, elegant and delicate little beer nonetheless. I would not have minded a tad more actual bitterness, though. --- Beer merged from original tick of HW54 Hefeweizen on 20 Nov 2020 at 22:45 - Score: Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7. Original review text: The newest Brouwbar beer to date, released during the 'second lockdown' in the Covid-19 pandemic in Belgium; a kind of Hopfenweizen, using Hallertau Blanc, one of those German-bred hop varieties in New World style catering to the still relatively few (but quickly increasing) German brewers that tackle American craft beer styles; released in 2012, this hybrid of Cascade and Hüll Melon (or something very close to that) is typically marketed as a highly aromatic, fruity variety. Thanks to Steve for fetching the bottles at Brouwbar! Egg-white, mousy, medium thick, slowly dissipating and opening head on a cloudy apricot blonde beer with ochre-ish tinge. Delicate aroma of ripe peach, honeydew, camomile tea, drying lemon zest, jasmin blossom, lemongrass, damp straw, banana bread, biscuit, powder sugar, grass, clove and a touch of chewing gum. Sweetish, fruity onset, banana ester and cooked pear but in a rather restrained, streamlined way, softish in carbonation with a slick, bit soapy body; white-bready core, well-edged with a slight biscuity touch and a sourish wheatiness to it, aromatized by very fruity, delicate hoppiness from the Hallertau Blanc, bringing back the associations with white and yellow fruit retronasally. Some grassy bitterness lingers, along with that banana effect and slick, thinly biscuity maltiness. Well, this is Hopfenweizen indeed, but in a rather innovative way (as compared with the archetypical Hopfenweizen - see Schneider's TAP 5) by shifting the emphasis from hop bitterness - not traditionally present in Hefeweizen - to hop aroma, which in today's beer world offers sheer limitless possibilities. Could just as well pass for an American style wheat ale in my opinion, it has a lot more in common with those than with true Bavarian Hefeweizen, but a smooth, streamlined, elegant and delicate little beer nonetheless. I would not have minded a tad more actual bitterness, though.

8

from a trade with tderoeck

7.9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8.5 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 8

One of Brouwbar's latest beers to date, a quadrupel intended as a winter warmer; rating from one of several bottles picked up at the brewpub. Medium thick, mousy, creamy, pale yellow-beige, dotty lacing, opening head on a dark chocolate brown beer with ruddy-burgundy, hazy glow. Aroma of caramel sauce and even caramel liqueur, almond, clove, ruby port, wood glue, camphor, paraffin even, gingerbread, rum-soaked raisins, bayleaf, rainwater, apple syrup, candi sugar. Sweet onset, candied figs and dates, sweet ripe apple, medium carb with full, bit glueishly smooth mouthfeel; candi sugar sweetness lingers all around but does not become overpowering anywhere, leaving enough room for a slick caramelly maltiness to pass through with a brown-bready core and pecan-nutty edges, feeling a tad resinous in the end. Phenolic effects turn out quite strong in the end, reminiscent of clove, dried ginger, camphor and even aniseed, before a mildly leafy hop bitter note and some background toastiness set in, pairing up with a rum-like alcohol glow, which does not, however, betray the considerable ABV in this beer. The candi sugariness, still present, sweetens up the tail, but in a non-cloying way. Impressive creation: I did not expect Brouwbar to come up with something as traditionally Belgian (and Dutch if you count the inventors of the term, the La Trappe monks) as a quad, but Benjamin pulled it off and achieved a warming, soothing, yet still supple and streamlined example, strangely fitting in the Brouwbar's house style. Still has a few sharpish (solventy) edges at this young age, but those will certainly decrease with age - fortunately I bought enough of these to cellar a few... Intense and restrained at the same time, good job for a first attempt at this highly exposed style.

7.9

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 8.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5

One of two new Brouwbar beers created during the 'second lockdown' in Belgium, along with a quadrupel. Bottle from the brewery, cheers Benjamin! Medium thick, egg-white, irregularly membrane-lacing, creamy, slowly breaking but generally stable head on a warm peach blonde beer with orangey-brownish tinge. Rich and strong bouquet of ripe mango (from half a yard away), orange jam, lychee, overripe yellow kiwi, dough, gin, rosemary, passionfruit coulis, pink peppercorns, mandarin peel and a background whiff of herb cheese hinting at slight oxidation of the hops - but by no means disturbing in my opinion. Lively fruity onset, mango, ripe peach, guava and lychee, softly stinging and somewhat minerally carbonation, full and smooth body, bit 'fluffy'; doughy and sweet-biscuity malt 'soil' soaked in highly aromatic, 'sultry' tropical hoppiness, lots of mango juice, ripe papaja and guava, hints of melon and ripe tangerine, also providing a powdery bitter touch though softly so, while additional pepperiness grows from a gin-like alcohol glow, heating the throat a bit yet managing to stay aside for long enough not to disturb the workings of the hops. Very luscious and generously tropical, notably more so than earlier DIPAs made by Brouwbar - as usual with this brewery, all the preceding beers, though enjoyable enough for what they were, seem to be mere exercises in gradually achieving more and more character. The alcohol is perhaps just a tad too present and the hops seem to be a little bit oxidized, but these factors only help to establish that character and I can only appreciate that. Too bad that this one was created during a period when Brouwbar is necessarily closed - this deserves a second batch, served fresh from tap, when the catering business in Belgium is allowed to reopen. In this bottled form, though: among the better IPA embodiments made by Brouwbar so far.

7.1

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle from take-away. Hazy yellow with a small, frothy, white head. Aroma of banana, ripe apple, apricot, melon, toasted white bread, honey, clove, wheat, vague mandarin peel. Taste has sweetish banana & apple, subtle pear, not overly estery at that, sourish wheat underneath against a bready malty backbone. Clove-like spiciness announces the spicy-earthy hoppy finish where dry yeast & ripe yellow fruit linger. Medium body, slick texture, average carbonation. Elegantly & still subtly hopped Weizen.

7.1

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

25/XII/20 - 33cl bottle from the brewery, shared @ home, BB: 1/VI/21 (2020-1156)

Pretty cloudy amber blond beer, big bubbled but small head, dissipates immediately, leaving no lacing in the glass. Aroma: tropical fruits, some nail polish, orange peel, mango, pineapples, sweet malts, caramel, honey, bit oxidized, hint of rum, some overripe tropical fruits. MF: no carbon, medium to full body. Taste: sweet malts, caramel, quite some alcohol, sugary, rum, soft bitterness, some nail polish remover, ripe pineapple, papaya, guava, overripe fruits, pretty bitter. Aftertaste: rather dry finish, bitter, lots of alcohol warming in the throat, more tropical fruits, dried orange peel.

7.8

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

O, happy days, because Brouwbar has a new Quadrupel! Bottle from take-away. Hazy dark brown, thin, bubbly, off-white head. Aroma - at first impression - of band-aid, fading away in favour of candied plum, orange, stewed pear, red apple, toffee, sugared peanut, vague maple syrup, brioche, something savoury like cherry tomato. Taste has candied sweetness of plum, apricot & red apple, syrupy profile but not quite like 'residual sugar', underlying brioche-like & caramelly maltiness with a herbal bitter & nutty middle. Dryish, earthy hoppy finish, lingering candied fruit & toffee & even vaguely spicy, the hops effectively drying out the candied sweetness nicely before warming brandy-like alcohol kicks in. Medium body, syrupy texture, soft carbonation. Good stuff, thanks Brouwbar for warming the winter days (and our throats)... 30 June 2021. Bottle at cellar temperature. Quite alcoholic, brown rum and caramel, toned down by candied fruits. Less band-aid. Sweet sugary fruits, caramel, phenols. Brown rum alcohol. So good.

6.9

Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

25/XI/20 - 33cl bottle from Brouwbar (Gent), shared @ home, BB: 29/IV/21 (2020-1081)

Pretty clear orange blond beer, big creamy irregular white head, pretty stable, adhesive, leaving a nice lacing in the glass. Aroma: malty, grains, banana, bit herbal, some cow fodder, overripe banana. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: lots and lots of banana, malty, grains, bit herbal, grassy bitterness, some citrus. Aftertaste: yeasty, spicy touch, lots of banana, slightly sweet, soft bitterness, hint of citrus. Not bad, but a bit too heavy on the banana for me.