(Bottle 33 cl) This is the original version from "Brij Crombé" in Zottegem. Beautifuly golden with a pretty decent head. Some caramel-like notes, yet rather dry, light-bodied and pleasantly refreshing. An imperial beer indeed... 230297

(Bottle 33 cl) Original version from "Brouwery Crombe" (yes, it’s actually spelled that way!) For some reason I had expected a pale Tripel, but instead I get a deep golden, bittersweet beer. Very full-bodied and potent with lots of nice malts. Nice if not really exceptional. 030296

(Bottle 33 cl) This original version from "Brouwerij Crombe" called "Oud Zottegems Bier Hergist" at 6,8% ABV. Hazy, amber coloured with a small fine head. Yeasty nose, some slightly roasted malts in the flavour with an indefinable spicyness - licorice? Very bitter finish. 280398 (Bottle 33 cl) An old sample from the original "Brouwerij Crombé" in Zottegem comes as "Oud Zottegems Bier Speciaal", vintage unknown. Label: http://home.tiscali.be/proud2b/breweries.htm. Reddish brown, fruity nose, rather flat. In spite of the age this is pretty fresh with a dry finish. 7/3/7/3/14=3,4

(Bottle 33 cl) Deep orangey golden with a huge, pretty head. Again lots of yeasty, fruity esters. Very dry and hoppy - especially in the finish. Nice and quenching. Mine was from Brij Crombe at 7% ABV. 151293

Bottled, old Crombé version. Cloudy amber, small head. Oxidized arma of tofee and paper. There’s Caramel and roasted malt, velvetty mouthfeel and notes of fruit. The finish bears signs of aging - citric and fizzy.

Bottle. Hint of white wine in the aroma. Amber colour, small head. Malty bonbon flavour. A little watery for its ABV. (Rumoured to be 8% as opposed to the 6.5).

Hazy orange; slim whitish head. Dusty nose, wood, dash of lemon. Again dusty - old cookies, in a nice way set the tone for the taste. Pale malts, not sweet. I suspect quite some candi sugar. Medium-bodied, thinned by the sugar. Restrained slickness. Strange dusty taste (my brewing co-taster suspects the cork) - got nothing to do with ageing. OTOH, Strubbe has made this beer remarkably close to the original.

Bottled. Clear deep golden, rich head. Sweet, syrupy and malty with some grassy hops. Fruity and slightly raw mouthfeel.

0.33 l bottle, BB 04-08
Honeyish and citric nose, adding the yeast sediment gives it a bready note. Amber, quite carbonated, fluffy head. Sweet cane sugar notes, some butterscotch and noticable citric acidity. Surprisingly lightbodied, slightly overcarbonated mouthfeel. Butterscotch and metallic citrus aftertaste.

Light amber beer with slight greenish shine; huge yellow head, dense, collapsing and leaving lace. Initial powerful vanilla-like smell, touch woody and some solvent; then a nose as from grapefruit, and lots of citrussy hops. Bitter taste, but more than just hops. Also some roasted malts and burnt caramel (this characteristic was there already in the original Crombe version - the Strubbe seems more and better hopped). There is a slight-sourish, citrussy component, as much part of the taste as from the mouthfeel. Light bodied. Surprisingly well-hopped, and the grapefruit touch makes me wonder whether these might be American hops... Again! I seem to like the Strubbe version better than the Crombe. I’ll have to try the "Strubbe" kriek after all.