The blond one in this modest series of Maasmechelen ’streekbieren’ dedicated to the tradition of mining in Belgian Limburg, made at nearby Anders. Medium thick, off-white, audibly crackling, lightly and irregularly lacing, bit moussy head breaking slowly in the middle, over a clear peach blonde beer, showing quite lively carbonation visually; turns hazy and darker orange, almost amberish-inclined, with sediment. Aroma of white bread, honeysuckle flowers and even real ’artisanal’ honey, dried apricots, peach, grass, clay, something vaguely sulfuric but not in the dreaded DMS way (rather medium cooked green cabbage leaves or something alike - not really off-putting, actually), young cheese, (a bit too much) iron, turnip, fried apples, old baker’s yeast, melting powder sugar but not overly so, unripe peaches, pineapple; the classic Belgian banana ester is there, but does not overpower anything or descend into ridiculous ’bubblegum’ effects. Crisp, fruity onset, restrained hint of sweetish banana but much more outspoken sourish-sweetishness of unripe peach, raw pineapple and green pear, minerally carbonation, quite fizzy but not over the top; supple, slightly oily, lean mouthfeel. Slick cereally, bit grainy pale maltiness in the middle with softening caramelly edges, carrying the esters onwards and acquiring quite some spicy phenols along the way; ends in the same malt sweetishness with a dash of floral, mildly bittering hops and traces of phenolic yeastiness, with a light metallic edge to it - which should not have been there. Very simple Belgian blonde as there are way too many already, but decent for what it humbly pretends to be - just a tad too metallic and sulfuric perhaps, but at least it does not go into banana ester overdrive like many of its congeners do. Passed, but without any distinction, so as a general conclusion I’m afraid I have to state the same thing I stated about its "subterranean" brother: decent enough in its completely unambitious, almost shy appearance, but very boring and redundant.

Limburgse Bierenavond van Limburgia en BierKultuur

The dark Kompel, from a 33 cl bottle found at Waasland Drinks in Sint-Niklaas (strangely, because as far as I know, this brand is Limburg through and through, but anyway). Irregular, thick, frothy, off-white, lightly lacing, stable, moussy head over a warm brownish-red copper coloured beer with deep ruby tinge, clear but ’muddy’ and completely clouded, a lot more brownish too with sediment. Aroma of hard butterscotch candy, light banana, damp earth, sweetened beetroot, iron, dried fig, very old raisins, candied cherries, moist toast, sugared tea, gingerbread, liquorish, red apple peel, jute, caramel, sage, cloves, strawberry, honey, hay, old straw, peach. Fruity onset, tad estery with some banana, hints of unripe peach, dried apricot and redcurrant, more sweetish than sourish, minerally side notes, quite spritzy carbo, supple, somewhat soapy mouthfeel, bit thinner than average for a dubbel of 6%, with a slight metallic edge to it. Caramelly, bit resinous malt middle, supporting the dried fruitiness from the onset as well as upcoming clove-like phenols, sweet in its core but with a mildly bitterish toasted edge in the end which actually establishes a bit more body than expected based on the first sip. Finish continues this caramelly malt sweetness with bittering toastedness along with the phenols (bit liquorish-like) and the metallic aspect, but adds further leafy, bit spicy, earthy but quite effective hop bitterness as well, more so than usual for a dubbel. Lacks a bit in body, a tad too metallic and thin for a dubbel, but well-restrained in terms of fruity esters; the phenols on the other hand are quite pronounced, without becoming obnoxious. Carries more hop bitterness in its tail than your average more ’industrial’ or commercial dubbel and the toasted malt bitterness is a nice touch as well. Not a bad effort.

330ml bottle from trade with Benzai. Pours hazed deep amber, large tan head. Aroma is ripe dark stewed fruits. Taste continues, with berries, liquorice, dark fruits. It’s flavoursome alright, but soon becomes a little thin and watered down.

Bottle shared. Near clear golden with a big white head. Aroma of light yeast, herbs, light fruits and light malt. Flavour is light moderate sweet and bitter. Light medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

33cl bottle shared with Kermis at the "Disaster, Trump will be president" tasting :-( Thick white head. Hazy golden pour. Slight bitterness Refreshing.

Bottle shared at the Make Tony The Tiger Grrrrrreat Again tasting. Hazy dark amber with a medium cream head. Aroma of caramel, toffee, light overripe dark fruit and malt. Flavour is moderate sweet and bitter. Medium bodied with soft carbonation.

33cl bottle shared with Kermis at the "Disaster, Trump will be president" tasting :-( Thin creamy off white head. Hazy amber pour. An average dubbel

Bottle from that other slijter in Best, shared by Benzai, small sample. Slight hazy copper color, medium frothy head. Aroma is spicy, caramel, toffee. Sweet in taste, caramel, bit cardboard. Lots of carbonation. Not my favorite style.