Allagash Les Deux Brassuers

An Allagash/De Proef Collaboration.  Les Deux Brasseurs is a Golden Ale fermented with two strains of Brettanomyces.

Reviewed By: Rick S.
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale (Brett)
State/Country: Maine/Belgium
ABV: 8.5%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Issac Newton's

Look: 9
Golden color, clear, with a fluffy white head and great lacing

Smell: 9.5
Nice and fruity featuring pear and pineapple mostly, with a a touch of Brett funk, and floral/spicy Saaz hops

Taste: 10
Lots of fruit, with Brett, graham cracker, and spicy hops. Very complex with a long finish. Very Funkilicious!

Mouthfeel: 9
Light-medium body with medium-high carbonation, and a crisp, dry finish

Drinkability: 9
Highly quaffable, but be careful, the high ABV can sneak up on you

Overall Score: 9.3
Value: 7
Cost/12 oz serving: $7.00

Overall Impression:
I love Brett, beers from Allagash, beers from De Proeff, and this one was no exception.  Issac Newton's mistakenly had this listed as a Tripel, so I was thrown off at first because this was obviously a Belgian Strong Pale Ale. The Brett and graham cracker created an interesting flavor combination that I really enjoyed. The Brett was not overwhelming, so if you are new to Wild/Brett beers, this would be a great one to try....if you can find it.

Brasserie Abbaye Des Rocs Grand Cru

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 9.5%
Serving Type: 750ml Bottle

Look: 9
Dark brown color, murky - lots of sediment, dense light tan head with uber good retention and decent lacing

Smell: 9
Brown sugar, caramel, dark fruit, slight metallic smell

Taste: 9
Up Front: Dark fruit - all kinds. Finish: Sweet malt, chocolate, and more fruit

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium body & carbonation, slightly dry finish

Drinkability: 8.5
Alcohol is well hidden. Very quaffable.

Overall Score: 8.9

Value: 7
Cost/12 oz serving: $4.55

Overall Impression:
This is billed as a Belgian Special Brown Ale. It is a very interesting & complex beer to say the least. While it was tasty, perhaps I was not in the mood for the style, so it did not live up to the hype. Then again, it was ratebeer that gave it a 100 rating, so I should have known better, since that site sucks! Anyway, this beer is worth checking out!

Monk's Café Flemish Sour Red Ale

Reviewed By: Herr Rick

Style: Flanders Oud Bruin
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 5.5%
Serving Type: 750ml Bottle


Look: 9
Bright cherry red color, clear, small head with little retention or lacing


Smell: 8
Apples, raisin

Taste: 8

Up Front: Tart, green apple, Finish: Cherry, sweet & earthy

Mouthfeel: 9
Light/medium body with a medium yet soft carbonation. Coats the palate nicely

Drinkability: 8.5

Refreshing and very easy to drink

Overall Score: 8.5

Value: 7

Cost/12 oz serving: $4.04

Overall Impression:
This is a very interesting style - one that reminds me of really good cider. If you like slightly tart flavors or apples, you'll love this beer!

Tripel Karmeliet

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Tripel
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 8.4%
Serving Type: On Tap @ BXL Cafe

Look: 9.5
Bright golden/orange color, cloudy, fluffy white head with very good retention & lacing

Smell: 9
Sweet malt, honey, orange, spices

Taste: 9
Up Front: Malt forward, honey. Finish: Citrus, spices

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Medium body & effervescent

Drinkability: 9.5
Super quaffaliscious

Overall Score: 9.3

Value: 7.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $9.00

Overall Impression:
It was my 3rd beer of the night, and my favorite of the three. I had 3 of them - YUMMY!!!!

Delirium Tremens

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 8.5%
Serving Type: On Tap @ BXL Cafe

Look: 9
Bright golden color, clear, medium head with good retention & lacing

Smell: 9
Belgian yeast, very fruity and floral

Taste: 9
Up Front: All kinds of fruit, bready malts. Finish: Spicy with mild hops


Mouthfeel: 9.5
Medium body with a crisp/sharp carbonation

Drinkability: 9.5
I could quaff these all day!

Overall Score: 9.2

Value: 7
Cost/12 oz serving: $9 - again, it was NYC. It would be more like $6-7 in Philly Tap Rooms

Overall Impression:
This is a Excellent Belgian Strong Pale Ale! Would have had more than one, but there were other Belgian Ales I had to try

Lucifer Golden Ale

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 8.5%
Serving Type: 750ml Bottle

Look: 9
Bright golden color, slight haze, fluffy white head with good retention & lacing

Smell: 8.5
Apple, pear, Belgian yeast, alcohol

Taste: 8.5
Up Front: Strong bite, sweet malt, mild hop flavor
Finish: Very spicy, booze, bitterness

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium body with a crisp/sharp carbonation

Drinkability: 7
As it warmed up, the bitterness in the finish made drinkability more of a challenge.

Overall Score: 8.4

Value: 7.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $4.55

Overall Impression:
Cool name, cool label, and a decent example of the style. Strong flavors might turn off Newbeez.

St. Louis Gueuze Fond Tradition

Reviewed By: Herr Rick

Style: Gueuze
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 5%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Local 44

Look: 9.5
Bright golden color, cloudy, fluffy white head, very good retention & lacing

Smell: 9
Blast of brett funk, citrus

Taste: 9.5

Up Front: Very tart, lemon, brett funk comes in next
Finish: Sweet candy sugar, and then some bready malt.

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium/low body and effervescent.

Drinkability: 8.5

If you like tart, sour and funky, it is a real treat.

Overall Score: 9

Value: 6

Cost/12 oz serving: $9.42

Overall Impression:
A real tart, thirst quencher. It stays Funkaliscious from beginning to end. This is an acquired taste, one that I have acquired :D

Chimay Cinq Cents

Reviewed By: Herr Rick & Herr Mike
Style: Tripel
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Serving Type: 11.2 oz Bottle


Look: 9.5
Bright golden/orange color, cloudy, fluffy white head with uber good retention & lacing

Smell: 9
Banana, clove, sweet malt, bubblegum, black pepper


Taste: 9
Up Front: Apple, malt
Finish: Malt, spices, pepper - VERY complex!

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium body & carbonation, dry finish.

Drinkability: 8.5
At this point we had already drank quite a few, so it may have been a 9.5 - heehee!!!

Overall Score: 9

Value: 7.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $5.05

Overall Impression:
A unique, yet Classic Belgian Tripel. Not my favorite, but it is still a very special ale! Add it to your "Must Try" list

Gulden Draak

Reviewed By: Herr Mike
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 10.5%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Blue Monkey Tavern

Look: 9
Dark mahogany color, med head, awesome lacing

Smell: 9
Yeasty, dried fruit, chocolate, plum, caramel, bourbon

Taste: 9
Up Front: Yeast, coffee, brown sugar, raisins, toffee
Finish: Sweet, slight hoppy, slight alcohol

Mouthfeel: 9
Smooth, thick and creamy

Drinkability: 9.5
OH YEAH! I could quaff one or two….uh… two or three….It’s a Belgian Dammit!

Overall Score: 9.1

Value: 10
Cost/12 oz serving: $6.50 - I gave it a 10 for value because this one was on Don Mirsky!

Overall Impression:
This is a funky, complex beer, just like me, except with more alcohol! If you find this beer…DRINK IT!

St Bernardus Abt 12

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Quadrupel (Quad)
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 10.5%
Serving Type: 11.2 oz Bottle

Look: 9.5
Brown color, cloudy, massive tan head with uber good retention & lacing

Smell: 9.5
Fruity, sweet malt, clove

Taste: 9.5
Up Front: Clove, brown sugar. Finish: Sweet malt

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Medium body and well carbonated, a little sticky

Drinkability: 9.5
Creamy, smooth & decadent

Overall Score: 9.4

Value: 7.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $4.57

Overall Impression:
This is my new favorite Quad. Absolutely yumiliscious!!!

St Bernardus Tripel

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Tripel
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Serving Type: 11.2 oz Bottle

Look: 9.5
Golden/orange color, cloudy, massive head with uber good retention & lacing

Smell: 9
Banana, toffee, apricot

Taste: 10
Up Front: Apricot, banana, toffee. Finish: Caramel, toasted malt, spices

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Medium body and well carbonated.

Drinkability: 9.5
Crisp, creamy & smooth

Overall Score: 9.5

Value: 7.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $4.57

Overall Impression:
One of the best Tripels out there. Even ReRe liked this one!!! I'll be drinking this one quite often!

Maredsous Brune

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Dubbel
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Serving Type: 11.2 oz Bottle

Look: 9.5
Mahogany color, fluffy tan head with excellent retention & lacing

Smell: 9
Cherry, dark fruit, Belgian yeast, sweet malt

Taste: 8.5
Up front: Dark fruit, sweet malt
Finish: Candi sugar, clove, spices

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium body & carbonation

Drinkability: 9
Goes down smooth & easy

Overall Score: 9

Value: 7.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $3.72

Overall Impression:
Another authentic Dubbel brewed in Belgium. Very nice! MUCH better than their Tripel.

Duvel

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 8.5%
Serving Type: 11.2 oz Bottle

Look: 10
Pale golden color, massive fluffy head with excellent retention & lacing

Smell: 8.5
Apple, Belgian yeast, alcohol

Taste: 8.5
Up Front: Strong bite, hops. Finish: Spicy, bready, and fruity

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Super clean and highly carbonated, with a very dry finish

Drinkability: 9.5
One of the few Belgians you can pound, not that you'd want to

Overall Score: 9.2

Value: 7
Cost/12 oz serving: $3.44

Overall Impression:
It's a CLASSIC Belgian Pale Ale. Need I say more?

Orval Trappist Ale

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Belgian Pale Ale
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 6.9%
Serving Type: 11.2 oz Bottle

Look: 9.5
Orange/amber color, slight haze, massive head with excellent retention & lacing

Smell: 10
Brett Funk, bready malts, all kinds of fruit - amazing!

Taste: 10
Up Front: Tart, acidic, earthy, dark fruit. Finish: Brett funk, bready malt

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Light body, effervescence, with a dry finish

Drinkability: 10
Well balanced and it goes down easy, despite the alcohol bite

Overall Score: 9.8

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $5.72. Considering how magnificent this beer is, that's a bargain!

Overall Impression:
It's been a while since I had this beer. In fact, I had not developed an appreciation for Belgian's back then. I was not expecting much from this one; OH My ME was I wrong!!! This is what Begian beer is all about people!!! I see myself drinking this one very often. In fact, I may have to go get more this evening.

Westmalle Dubbel

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Dubbel
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 7%
Serving Type: 11.2 oz Bottle

Look: 9.5
Brown/copper color, cloudy, fluffy head with good retention & excellent lacing

Smell: 8.5
Apple, raisin, Belgian yeast, leather

Taste: 8.5
Up front: Dark fruit, caramel. Finish: Candi sugar, malt, spices - there is so much going on here

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium body, low carbonation, and super smooth

Drinkability: 9
Goes down reeeeeeal easy

Overall Score: 8.9

Value: 7.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $5.41

Overall Impression:
An authentic Dubbel brewed in Belgium. Outstanding beer!!! Let's just say it's a Famous Trappist Ale for a very good reason

Maredsous Tripel

Reviewed By: Herr Mike
Style: Tripel
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 10%
Serving Type: 11.2 oz Bottle

Look: 10
Med orange color, big fluffy head, beautiful sticky lacing that won’t quit!

Smell: 9
You can smell the alcohol, banana, cloves, and apple

Taste: 9
Up Front: Spicy, tart, apple, slight hops. Finish: alcohol, pepper and ginger snaps

Mouthfeel: 8.5
A little tingly and dry

Drinkability: 9.5
I love my abbey ales! This one definitely delivers the “Belgium Buzz”

Overall Score: 9.2

Value: 8
Cost/12 oz serving: $3.72

Overall Impression:
Oh! Did I mention I love abbey ales? It’s a little pricey, but worth it! I love the price I paid…..nothing! It was a gift to the God!....just sayin’