Liefmans - Fruitesse

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Fruitesse

Brouwerij Liefmans

Aalststraat 200

9700 Oudenaarde, Belgium

Est. 1679

www.liefmans.be

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.2 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 25.4

Postmortem Brew Review

Purple and reddish mix of color; think cranberry.

Sweet summer fruit aromas.

One-half finger, pink-ish color head. Minimal spotted lacing. Zero head remains.

Fairly sweet without bing overly syrupy. Strawberry and cherry flavors permeate.
Moderate amount of carbonation.

Light bodied mouth feel.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy

I have been on a  Belgian kick for a good part of the summer. Partly due to a few promotions by Belgian producers and their distributors, but mostly due to their refreshing qualities. A light, low alcohol Belgian can hit the spot in the dog days of summer.

Having said that, Liefmans Fruitesse is perhaps a stretch for my beer quaffing abilities. While it was not detestable, it was a little too much on the fruit for my liking. Although it is not exactly like other Lambics, it was fun to try and will change some folks minds about what beer can be. It contains very summer-like fruits; raspberry, cherry and strawberry. The color is that of a fruit punch and even the head is a stunning creamy light red. A fellow sitting next to me observed that it smelled like Kool-Aid®. Not the finished drink mind you, but the aroma of a freshly opened packet of the sugar flavored concoction. I nodded in agreement.

The taste was fruity sweet and natural, of course. It was not overly syrupy and while easy enough to drink, this one didn't do it for me. I backed it up by ordering an Imperial IPA. Like a bitch slap to the taste buds!

It's all about balance.

Achouffe - McChouffe Brown Ale

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McChouffe Brown Ale

Brasserie D'Achouffe

Rue du Village 32

6666 Achouffe, Belgium

Est.late 1970's

(2006 as part of Duvel-Moortgat)

www.achouffe.be

Brain Damage Quotient = 8.0 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 25.4

Postmortem Brew Review

Hazy, dark brown color.

Notes of Belgian yeast, dark breads and fruits. Some alcohol noticeable.

One finger, tan head. Disappears quickly leaving little lacing.

Tastes slightly spicy, peppery. Dark fruits; sticky raisin tastes predominate.

Soft carbonation.
Light to medium bodied. Nice flavor complexity.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy

Brasserie D'Achouffe is a Belgian brewer that has been around for several decades. Recently they came under the arm of Duvel-Moortgat, a fine purveyor of Belgian ales. This brown ale (Scottish ale/Abbey ale) is made with spring water from the Ardennes region, long known for their refreshing and restorative powers. English Golding and Saaz hops are combined with pilsener malts and top fermenting Belgian yeast to produce this hand crafted ale. The final touch is double fermentation (bottle fermenting) that features a soft, natural carbonation.

Their gnomes embellish the bottles of all the ales produced from the Brasserie giving its branding a cute and impish playfulness. I was inspired to try this brown ale after not being able to help but notice the decoratively painted bottle. I was hooked on the taste. Since it is a large bottle with a large amount of ABV, you will make many friends with this one!

Don't think you like Belgians? Try McChouffe and see the difference hand crafting and fine ingredients make.

You can catch up with me later, frolicking with the gnomes...

Maredsous - Brune 8

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Maredsous Brune (Bruin) 8

Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat

Abbaye-Abdij

Breendonkdorp 58
Breendonk-Puurs, 2870 Belgium

Est. 1871
www.maredsousbieres.be

Brain Damage Quotient = 8.0 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 11.2 

Postmortem Brew Review

Dark brown pour.
Malty sweetness and dark fruits on the nose.

Light brown head that produces one and a half fingers of head. Sticks around a while.

Draped lacing on glass.

Roasted malts and caramel with some dark frutiness. Tastes consistent with the aromas.

Lightly carbonated. Thin drinking quality with dry malt aftertaste.

Medium bodied. Alcohol is nicely masked.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy

Maredsous is brewed under the Duvel Moortgat family of beers. The tradition of monastic brewing goes back to the 6th century, where St. Benedict encouraged monks to contribute to the local communities and their brewing processes were used. Because of disease and other epidemics, the practice of boiling water had become common and was used in the production of their beer. Yes, the Reaper was on hand during those difficult plague ridden times. Ah those were the days. But I digress...don't hate the player...after all, they learned to survive on beer making practices. So there you have it. The Reaper was the impetus behind beer's ability to flourish. Winning!

At that time, these beers were likely to be low in alcohol as a result and reserved for fasting monks that often made their entire diet on these brews. More enjoyably for us now, they are available in higher ABV percentages.

Be sure to also visit the Abbaye's webpage for Maredsous. Beautiful ale with a beautiful website, as a bonus. As if we need a bonus beyond the beer.

Bavik - Wittekerke Wit Bier

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Wittekerke Wit Bier

Brouwerij Bavik N.V.

Rijksweg 33

Harelbeke-Bavihove 8531, Belgium

Est. 1894

www.bavik.be

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.0 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 11.2

Postmortem Brew Review

Translucent straw yellow in color.

Yeasty. Orange zest and wheat grain for aromas.

White bright, fluffy soapy head.

Soft carbonation.

Amazing hanging lacing on glass, though the head dissipates fairly soon.

Crisp, clean taste with slight citrus zestiness.

Light body. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 

The neck of the can states in three languages, "BIRRA BIANCA", CERVEZA BLANCA" and "BELGIAN WHITE BEER". Internationally renown, Wittekerke is a universal word for refreshment. A pale white wheat beer, it is easy to drink regardless of the country you are in, or the language you speak.

Cool witbier in a can. I've also had it on tap. I guess you could say that's just a bigger can.  Wittekerke is equally refreshing and delicious from either can, if you dig a wheat -style beer.

Maredsous - Tripel 10

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Maredsous Triple (Tripel) 10

Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat

Abbaye-Abdij

Breendonkdorp 58

Breendonk-Puurs, 2870 Belgium

Est. 1871

www.maredsousbieres.be

Brain Damage Quotient = 10.0 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 11.2 

Postmortem Brew Review

Deep golden color. Translucent.
Malty sweetness and dark fruits on the nose.

Smallish, light white head. Dissipates over time.

Surprisingly it has long stretchy lacing on glass.

Higher amount of malt than other Tripel's. Fruits flavors seem all over the map; cherry, apple, raisin.

Medium amount of carbonation.

Light/medium body. Alcohol is noticeable from middle of sip throughout finish.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy

Maredsous Triple is like none other that I've tasted in the Tripel style. There is a more pronounced malt presence and the fruits are coming in from all over. Not to say that this is a bad thing.

The alcohol is high at 10% ABV and this ale makes no bones about it. About midway through the sip it comes bang on and sticks around with warmth and booziness. Again, not a bad thing.

Maredsous Tripel/Triple 10. A different Tripel. Not a bad thing!

Liefmans - Cuvee-Brut

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Cuvee - Brut

Brouwerij Liefmans

Aalststraat 200

9700 Oudenaarde, Belgium

Est. 1679

www.liefmans.be

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.0 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 25.4

Postmortem Brew Review

Hazy and cloudy reddish brown color. Deep red color if held up to light.

Tart cherry fruit nose. Rich malt aroma.

One finger, pale rose' head. Minimal spotted lacing.

Slightly, but not overly sweet. Astringent dryness to palate. Good balance of maltiness on finish.
Lots of carbonation.

Medium to light bodied mouth feel.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy

Liefmans Cuvee-Brut was formerly known as Liefmans Kriek.  The Cuvee-Brut starts with twenty six gallons of old brown ale that is macerated  with more than twenty eight pounds of fresh whole cherries. The nearly one-to-one ration is kept in shallow tanks to mature for one year. Then it is combined with Oud Bruin (a Flanders Brown ale) and Goudenband (a brown ale from Liefmans) to produce this unusually delicious cherry flavored brown ale. This process differentiates it from a Kriek Lambic style. The 750ml bottle itself is a bit bland and perfunctory. So to add a bit more flourish, the whole thing is wrapped in fancy cherry red colored paper.

The care, expertise, the time and the patience these brewers use in creating these ales has had a profound impact on my palate. I'd originally been dismissive of 'fruity' flavored beers. I needed this bottle to earn a beautiful Duvel tulip glass. After drinking, it made me pause and take notice of this whole other universe of beer. Belgian beers are fast becoming my favorites, no matter the style, largely due to the artisan crafting techniques of these brewers.

Some of them are, shall I say - - - to die for.

Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat - Duvel Belgian Golden Ale

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Duvel Belgian Golden Ale
Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat
Melle, Belgium
Est. 1654
www.duvel.be

Brain Damage Quotient = 8.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 11.2

Postmortem Brew Review
Deep golden color.
Clove with peppery smell. Bread and fruits, like apple and lemon.
Two finger near tan colored head that dissipates rapidly. Spotty lacing.
Apple and grain taste with a tart finish, not unlike that of champagne.
Abundant carbonation.
Light to medium bodied mouth feel. A bit boozy.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Well done, well done, well done. Here's to a beer that can be drunk on any occasion. Great for an everyday try or at special celebrations. Its a beer that is comfortable to enjoy at a fine restaurant or even, dare I say, after mowing the lawn. You might want to cut the lawn first, becasue it's not advisable to operate dangerous machinery in the presence of 8.5% ABV.


So relax. What ever you are doing is worth doing with a Duvel. Once you try one, you'll know for yourself, just what I'm talking about.

Brouwerij Alken-Maes - Grimbergen Blonde Ale

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Grimbergen Blonde Ale
Brouwerij Alken-Maes 
Melle, Belgium
Est. 1654
www.grimbergenbier.be

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.7 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 11.2

Postmortem Brew Review
Pale amber color.
Spices, rich dark fruit smells.
Two finger off-white head that is creamy. Spotted lacing.
Somewhat deep and earth malts, with fruit taste.
Medium carbonation.
Light and smooth bodied mouth feel. A bit watery.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
When you visit the website for this beer, you better have brushed up on your Dutch (NL) or French (FR) as these are the only two languages they cater to there. I found the music strangely haunting and loved listening as I poked my way through the site. If you have visited enough beer and ale websites, you begin to notice a pattern that will lead you to understand some of what the brewery is trying to impart upon you in the way of marketing. So even if you don't speak one of the languages or take the time to have your browser translate, you can still kind of get the idea of what they are selling.


As for the ale, it is a very nicely done Blonde (Belgian Pale Ale) and I would drink from the Grimbergen trough on any given day. Treat yourself to one of these blondes, soon.

Val Dieu - Blond

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Val Dieu Blond
Brasserie de L'Abbaye du Val~Dieu
Val-Dieu, 225
Aubel, Belgium
Est. 1216 - Re-est. 1997
www.val-dieu.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 11.2

Postmortem Brew Review
Translucent golden color that appears partially filtered.
Yeast smell detected on the nose.
Bright white, fluffy, tightly bubbled head.
Lots of sparkling nucleation.
Good amount of draped lacing on glass.
Sweet up front with a balanced bitter middle-to-finish.
Light bodied and easy to drink. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 
From their website, "The abbey of Val-Dieu was built 1216 by Cistercian monks. They were looking for a lone valley with a stream for agricultural and brewing activities, a haven of peace full of nature. Cistercian orders are well-known abroad for their brewing skills. The monks of this abbey made no exception to this rule." It seems that over the centuries, the Abbey fell into different states of disrepair. Thankfully, it was re-established in 1997. The Reaper applauds the brewery for a fine 'resurrection.' Mua-haa-ha-ha!

Unpasteurized and partially filtered, this blond has a nice pungency in the nose. The Belgian yeast is detectable and offers a wonderful, inviting aroma that reels you in for more. Another fine ale from Val Dieu. It is wonderfully sessionable and easy to drink at only 6% ABV.

St. Bernardus - Watou Tripel

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St. Bernardus Watou Tripel
Brouwerij St. Bernard NV
Trappisenweg, Watou, Belgium
Est.1985

http://www.sintbernardus.be/en/beers.html

Brain Damage Quotient = 7.5 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 25.4 


Postmortem Brew Review 
Hazy yellow orange in color with golden hues.
Lots of honey and yeast aromas up front.
Creamy and frothy white head that settles down to a cover.
Bread and grains with sweet fruit notes on the palate.
Just the right amount of bubbly carbonation.
Delicious, pleasantly refreshing.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
From the land where the monks are happy, and it's no surprise why. Watou is named after the "burg" it hails from, though the folks at St. Bernardus have other tripels in their arsenal. This one is as good as any (or even better) that you'll find from any of the Belgium brew houses.

Watou. Even the name is fun to say. As in Watou gonna' hav' mon? As for me, I'll have another Watou Tripel. Praise to the monks and pass the ale.

Chimay Premiere (Red)

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Chimay Premiere (Red)
Bieres de Chimay S.A.
Route Charlemagne, 8
6464 Baileux (CHIMAY) Belgium
Est. 1862
www.chimay.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 7.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 11.2 

Postmortem Brew Review
Copper in color with a slight haze.
Belgian yeast nose with fruity apricot scents.
Off-white creamy head. Lacing coats the glass.
Head simmers to a wisp leaving yeasty residues.
Mouth feel is silky. Apricot flavored taste; slight bitterness in finish.
Smooth, medium body.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 
Trappist Monks make perfection inside the walls of their monasteries as well as inside the walls of brown bottles. Here's one that is a simply sensational, take-your-time-why-don't-you kind of ale.  Sit back, enjoy the day, have a cigar if you prefer. Or maybe some great cheese or fruits. It's up to you; it's your day. So do with it what you wish.

Celebrate the day! Stop and smell the roses with any Chimay and you'll see the world through a different lens. Consistently fine crafted ales from this house. Re-fermented in the bottle, as you would expect from the Belgians.

St. Bernardus - Tripel

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St. Bernardus Tripel
Brouwerij St. Bernard NV
Trappisenweg, Watou, Belgium
Est.1985

www.sintbernardus.be

Brain Damage Quotient = 8.0 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 11.2  

Postmortem Brew Review
Hazy yellow orange in color with golden hues.
Pleasing citrus and yeast aroma.
Creamy and frothy white head that simmers fairly quickly.
Bread and crisp apples in the taste.
Just a bit of carbonation; very mild.
Delicious, pleasantly refreshing with no alcohol finish.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
There's that happy monk on the label again! He's happy cause he's holding another smashing beer from the St. Bernardus lineup. A very nice, very deliciously refreshing Tripel. You won't find any flaws with this one.

These fellas know how to treat their beer. The back label has the correct serving temperature as well as an expiration date that is a few years down the road, due to the high ABV. Hats off to the monks for this indulgence.

Brouwerij Huyghe - DELIRIUM Noel

Pink Elephant

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DELIRIUM Noel
Brouwerij Huyghe
Melle, Belgium
Est. 1654
www.delirium.be

Brain Damage Quotient = 10.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 25.4

Postmortem Brew Review
Reddish brown body color.
Spices, rich dark fruit smells. Slight alcohol presence.
Two finger near tan colored head that dissipates rapidly. Spotty lacing.
Sugary sweet malts, with figgy taste. Light spice notes that give a tart finish.
Medium carbonation.
Light to medium bodied mouth feel. A bit boozy.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Pink elephants, indeed! I asked Mrs. Reaper if she would indulge the Noel with me on this chilly January's afternoon. She had a 6 oz portion, I had the rest and a 'rest' as I retired to the crypt's parlor for a snooze. For heaven's sake, please don't have this whole thing and expect to go anywhere, but sleep, afterwords.

Never fear - the elephants won't trample you as sleep overcomes your mind and body. Instead, you will find it just the trick for lazing on a Sunday afternoon. Sweet dreams, Joyeaux Noel!

Brouwerij Bosteels - Tripel Karmeliet

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Tripel Karmeliet
Brouwerij Bosteels
Kerkstraat 96
9255 Buggenhout, BelgiumEst. 1679 
www.bestbelgianspecialbeers.be

Brain Damage Quotient = 8.4 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 11.2 and 25.4

Postmortem Brew Review
Clear deep golden color that slowly turns to a haze.
Sweet fruit (apricot) and yeast smell. Slight coriander whiffs.
Bright white tightly bubbled head that quickly dissipates to cover.
Yeast globules slowly fall in the head/body suspension.
Clean fruit taste. Soft notes of yeast taste.
Minimal carbonation.
Medium body. Deliciously syrupy on the tongue.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
This is a tripel to behold. Superior in color, texture, flavor and appearance to any that you have had before. I was completely caught off guard as to how delicious it was in taste.  The appearance is at first crystal clear in its yellow/golden color and then once settled, it actually turns just a bit hazy.

Globs of yeasty goodness descend through the crisp, tightly bubbled, white fizzy head.  They plunge through the golden body and turn from clear to translucent in color. It is like watching artwork form in the glass. The traditional Belgian yeast is present in the taste, but soft and muted. And I mean that in a good way. It adds, not subtracts, in the taste and enjoyment of this finely crafted ale.

Go get some of this soon and become enlightened. I was.

Dubuisson - Scaldis Amber Ale

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Scaldis Amber Ale
Brasserie Dubuisson
Chaussée de Mons 32, 7904
Pipaix, Belgium
Est. 1769
www.br-dubuisson.com
and
www.belgianexperts.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 12.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 25.4

Postmortem Brew Review
Golden amber color.
Nutty, sweet malt aromas to the nose with hints of Belgian yeast.
Big head that leaves clingy lacing and stays to the end of glass.
Sweet malt taste that is not overly sticky or syrupy.
Clean hop finish that does not interfere with the malts.
Soft carbonation. Warming effect from the alcohol.
Full mouth feel; full flavored. Best served slightly chilled above room temperature. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 
If beer brings people together then we must assume that good beer brings good people together.  This 75th anniversary edition of Scaldis Amber Ale was gifted to me by Wendy Littlefield, at the 2010 Beer Bloggers Conference held in Boulder, Colorado. Wendy, along with her husband are co-founders of Vanberg & DeWulf, importers of some of the finest Belgian beer available. They are not newbies to the beer world. Vanberg & DeWulf bill themselves as "The Experts in Belgian Beer Since 1982." That is a long track record with a great history. And as I discovered, they also founded, built and subsequently sold Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, NY. Wendy won a home brewing competition for none other than Three Philosophers. If you follow this line of provenance, you can see how impressed I was with making her acquaintance.

As for the Scaldis, according to the Dubuisson's website:

The trademark BUSH has only been registered in a few European countries as in the forties, nobody at the Brewery Dubuisson had imagined this BUSH beer would be sold worldwide. Afterwards, the Brewery Dubuisson has not been allowed to register the BUSH name in several countries. As a result, our BUSH beer is exported in all other countries under the name of SCALDIS.

My bottle of Scaldis was returned safely home to the crypt in FL and kept for our Thanksgiving Day celebration held with my wife and family. This brew had a special air about it from the distinguished orange and white painted label to the cork and cage stopper. The label informs the holder that this ale is bottle fermented/conditioned (refermentee as displayed.)  Billed as "The strongest beer brewed in Belgium", at 12% ABV, Scaldis is 100% naturally fermented. They use a 65 year old yeast strain that is exclusive to Dubuisson brewery, along with some tried and true science to create this wonderful ale. It made a delicious accompaniment to the end of our Thanksgiving Day feast and paired well with the sumptuous desserts.

Back to the opening statement that beer brings people together...As it turns out, my eldest daughter's boyfriend "popped" the question over the holiday weekend and they are now engaged to be married! Who knew that "popping" the cork would bring such luck?

From my chance meeting with Wendy to the celebration of holiday and family, I now know that if the old adage is applied to the fullest, we can confidently state that "great beer brings great people together!"

Brouwerij Huyghe - DELIRIUM tremens

Pink Elephant

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DELIRIUM tremens
Brouwerij Huyghe
Melle, Belgium
Est. 1654
www.delirium.be

Brain Damage Quotient = 8.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 11.2

Postmortem Brew Review
Almost clear, pleasant light golden color.
Yeasty smells, lemon, other fruit and spice like coriander.
Two finger frothy white head. Spotty lacing and tightly packed bubbles on head.
Sweet taste; dry finish with peppery, lemony twang.
Medium carbonation.
Light to medium bodied mouth feel.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
The white, speckled bottle with rich blue foil neck wrapper, grabs your attention. The happy little pink elephants, dancing gators and balancing serpents keep you entertained as this delightfully deceptive ale draws you in. Of course it's Huyghe since 1654.

Soft bubbles much like those found in champagne, tickle your nose as the 8.5% ABV works its magic. Blissfully pleasant to drink.  It only gets better as it warms in the glass.  Fruity flavors, spice and other components are released to you tongue and nose.

Not too many of these...otherwise you will see 1:1 scale pink elephants.

St. Bernardus - Prior 8 Abbey Ale

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St. Bernardus Prior 8 Abbey Ale
Brouwerij St. Bernard NV
Trappisenweg, Watou, Belgium
Est.1985

www.sintbernardus.be

Brain Damage Quotient = 8.0 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 11.2  

Postmortem Brew Review
Deep brown in color with slight cloudiness.
Fruity aroma with some caramel.
Creamy, tall, frothy off white head.
Figs, plums and other fruits along with a bit of molasses taste.
Even amount of carbonation. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
There's that grinning monk again.  Last time I had some St. Bernardus was a couple of years ago.  Why did I wait so long?

The date on the back of the bottle is good until 2014.  This ale was tremendous now as new and would have most likely been better if cellared for a year or two.  Worth stashing a few of these away for future tasting, to be dug out later.

A mighty fine dubbel of an Abbey Ale.  Get some.

Saison Dupont - Belgian Farmhouse Ale

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Saison Dupont - Belgian Farmhouse Ale
Brasserie Dupont
Rue Basse 5
Tourpes-Leuze, Belgium
Est. 1844
www.brasserie-dupont.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 25.4

Postmortem Brew Review
Hazed golden to orange in color.
Floral fruit nose with apricot notes.
One finger white fizzy head that leaves some lacing.
Sweet, malty and musky in smell.
Slight yeast in taste.
Bright, crisp, dry body.
Lots of carbonation.
A light bodied bubbly beer.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Champagne style bottle and champagne equivalent of a beer.  This farmhouse saison will tickle your nose with the bubbles.

Light, dry and refreshing and a fairly low ABV by comparison to others in its style, Dupont will keep you going on a hot summer's day.

I would pick this over any bottle of bubbly wine as my next celebration beverage.

Val Dieu - Triple Abbey Ale

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Val Dieu Triple
Brasserie de L'Abbaye du Val~Dieu
Val Dieu, 225
Aubel, Belgium
Est. 1997
www.val-dieu.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 9.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 11.2

Postmortem Brew Review
Turbid golden color.
Yeasty smell.
White bright soapy tight bubbled head.
Lots of sparkling nucleation.
Amazing hanging lacing on glass.
Crisp taste with slight apple notes.
Light golden body. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 
From their website, "The abbey of Val-Dieu was built 1216 by Cistercian monks. They were looking for a lone valley with a stream for agricultural and brewing activities, a haven of peace full of nature. Cistercian orders are well-known abroad for their brewing skills. The monks of this abbey made no exception to this rule." It seems that over the centuries, the Abbey fell into different states of disrepair. Thankfully, it was re-established in 1997.

As for the ale, it has the characteristics of any fine tripel.  It has an apple taste along with the yeast component.  There was also a hint of wine flavor, mmm, that's what seemed to come through.  I bought this as my third Father's Day ale, this time to honor my own dad. It may not have been what he would have drunk back in the 50's and 60's, but I would have liked to introduce him to this style.  I'm certain he would have enjoyed it a lot.

Too bad Val~Dieu didn't learn how to spell Tripel correctly. Ahh, who cares what's on the bottle as long as it's good in the bottle.

Chapeau Exotic Lambic Beer

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Chapeau Exotic Lambic Beer
Brouwerij De Troch
Langestraat 20
Wambeek, Belgium
Est.18th Century
www.detroch.be

Brain Damage Quotient = 3.5 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Pale, clear and yellow color.
Candy like sweet aroma.
Bright sweet flavor of pineapple.
No head to speak of as it rose and settled immediately.
Some yeast funk was suspended in the bottom of the glass.
Light bodied and easy to drink though a bit cloying.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Fruit beers. Where does one begin? This was mama Reaper's choice for Mothers Day and so we began the experiment.

Oddly, first it opens like a wine, by unwrapping the foil around the neck with a bartender's tool.  Next, it opens like a beer, using the cap prying portion of the tool.  Lastly, it opens like a wine again by using the corkscrew to pull the plug from the bottle's neck. Makes you worn out by the time it is poured.

This Lambic poured a yellow color with the slightest of a green tinge.  It smelled sweet like soda-pop but without the fizziness. An interesting sweet, low alcohol imbibement for the wife on her day.  She approved.  I didn't get it, but no matter.

So long as mama's happy, then everybody's happy.