The current castle Ter Dolen (De Dool) in Helchteren dates back to the 16th Century, but the estate’s history draws back much farther. In the Middle Ages, it served as summer residence, and later as refuge, for the abbots of the Abbey of Sint-Truiden. Its first recorded mention dates back to 1282. Throughout the centuries, the castle had a turbulent history. By 1977, the castle was uninhabited and started to decay. In 1993, Mieke Desplenter purchased the castle and its estate, and started a renovation project. A year later, the Ter Dolen brewery opened its doors with great acclaim.
In 1994, a hypermodern brewery was installed in the coach house of the medieval castle. The brewery comprises six stainless steel cilinder-conical yeast and lager tanks. The brew kettle has a capacity of 25 hectolitres per brew. Since 2013, the brewery disposes of its own bottling plant and a new warehouse with hothouse, so that the entire process from brew to bottle can now take place in-house.
Bottle from Beers of Europe. Light cloudy gold with big white foamed top. Aroma is drying and spicy with a fairly standard Belgium malt yeast combo. Taste has a sweet malt and is very herbal with light spiced notes. Medium bodied, semi-drying, chewy. Its decent if a bit unexciting. [#3640 #48 Belgium Brewery]
Õlle on selline jook, et iga uus kord kui klaasi või pudeli suule tõstad, siis leiad midagi uut, sõltuvalt tuhandest-miljonist pisiasjast, mis hetke olukorda mõjutavad. Seega piirdun iga õlle juures selle tekstiga.
330ml bottle at the Belgian Monk, Norwich.mid-golden with a little bit of haze and a smallish off-white head. Aroma of candy sugar, honeyed yeast rolls. Only a slight sweetness in the taste; its defining character is a medicinal bitterness and a lingering drying finish. More honey in the aftertaste. Medium body, heavy carbonation. Interesting stuff.