Belgian Beer appreciation

[simonb]

Organised a Belgian beer appreciation night with 3
other mates last Friday night

The Beers wer tried were
Hoegaarden white
Delirium Tremens
Orval
Duvel
Chimay (Blue)

We tried to do it all properly and got the beers at the recommended temp for drinking etc. From there it went downhill, but the night was a huge laugh and we had homebrews in between some of the beers - probably not a great idea.

As everyone got more and more hammered the discussion became more heated over the flavours / aromas and opinions of each of the beers

But overall there was a fair amount of agreement and the following I think sums up our findings

Hoegaarden: All of us had tried this before, and I am already a big fan (didn't like it first time I tried it but now I love the taste)

Delirium: for a 9% a/v seemed too alcoholic, sharp initial taste, but nice aftertaste

Orval: the least liked of the all - didn't like the flavour

Duvel: great beer, smooth, reminded me a bit like Coopers sparkling (although I might be completely wrong on that one)

Chimay: got the best rating from everyone - although we left this one 'till last - I like to think that we actually appreciated this beer for what it was and did not just get taken by the hype about it - for a 9% beer, the taste seemed to balance out the alcohol perfectly - need to have it a few
more times just to make sure we really like it

Already thinking about organising another night like this soon
(but not too soon)
It cost close to $40 per person and that bought us 2 longnecks of Chimay blue 2 longnecks of Duvel, 4 stubbies of Delirium, 4 stubbies of Orval and 4 stubbies of Hoegaarden

[thehipone]

Orval is very much an acquired taste, more so even than the usual Belgian ale. Its probably the brettanomyces flavors that you didnt like (tastes a bit "horsey")

Nonetheless, its a good one to try, you made some good choices, and if you liked most of them, theres more of a world of belgian beers to explore. Might I suggest a rochefort 10 if you decide to have another tasting.

[undercover1]

I would also suggest Duvel & Leffe Blonde or Brun
Maybe a Cherry Kriek for dessert.
$40 a head seems high- where are you getting your beers from?

[Oliver]

I would also suggest Duvel & Leffe Blonde or Brun
Maybe a Cherry Kriek for dessert.
$40 a head seems high- where are you getting your beers from?

I'd agree on the pricing. Seems a bit steep.

[simonb]

it was a bottle shop in errol st nth melbourne
not sure of the name

[undercover1]

For what it's worth, had a Belle Vue Framboise last night. An excellent drop- great balamce of raspberry & beer flavour, with a twinge of sourness, presumably because it's a lambic. Now being pestered to brew a batch of something similar for summer.

[joejoe34]

Just got back from Belgium a couple weeks ago to try some of the good beer. Here are some to consider for your next tasting:
Kwak
Augustijn Grand Cru
Any of the Westvleteren
Hoegaarden Julius (if you can find it)

[Tyberious Funk]

For what it's worth, had a Belle Vue Framboise last night. An excellent drop- great balamce of raspberry & beer flavour, with a twinge of sourness, presumably because it's a lambic. Now being pestered to brew a batch of something similar for summer.

It's funny because I really didn't like it. So far all of my lambic experiences have been pretty disappointing.

[db]

For what it's worth, had a Belle Vue Framboise last night. An excellent drop- great balamce of raspberry & beer flavour, with a twinge of sourness, presumably because it's a lambic. Now being pestered to brew a batch of something similar for summer.

It's funny because I really didn't like it. So far all of my lambic experiences have been pretty disappointing.

found myself at the belgium beer cafe in adelaide for lunch yesterday (ah.. holidays - loving SA btw.. Coopers is so cheap & everywhere ) tried the belle vue kriek (tap) & the timmermans peche lambic (bottle) highly impressed with both
finished of the session with a kwak... mmmmm

[thehipone]

If you want a real lambic taste, Rodenbach Grand Cru will do it. I have found the belle vue ones to be quite subdued, without a lot of the "wildness"

[db]

i shall hunt one down thehipone. i'm currently reading 'wild brews' & was expecting something a little more sour from a lambic.. looks as tho the rodenbach could be the way to go

[Tyberious Funk]

I have yet to get my hands on the Kreik... but I've seen Kwak on a few occasions and hesitated to pick it up. Is it going to be another disappointing fruit lambic experience for me?

[db]

I have yet to get my hands on the Kreik... but I've seen Kwak on a few occasions and hesitated to pick it up. Is it going to be another disappointing fruit lambic experience for me?

nah its a belgian ale. no fruit. no wild yeast
it's a nice one.. but pricey ($11-12 for 330ml) i'd recommend you try to find the freshest, best kept bottle you can

[Tyberious Funk]

I have yet to get my hands on the Kreik... but I've seen Kwak on a few occasions and hesitated to pick it up. Is it going to be another disappointing fruit lambic experience for me?

nah its a belgian ale. no fruit. no wild yeast
it's a nice one.. but pricey ($11-12 for 330ml) i'd recommend you try to find the freshest, best kept bottle you can

I've seen it priced around $7-$9 so maybe I should buy a few bottles

[db]

I have yet to get my hands on the Kreik... but I've seen Kwak on a few occasions and hesitated to pick it up. Is it going to be another disappointing fruit lambic experience for me?

nah its a belgian ale. no fruit. no wild yeast
it's a nice one.. but pricey ($11-12 for 330ml) i'd recommend you try to find the freshest, best kept bottle you can

I've seen it priced around $7-$9 so maybe I should buy a few bottles

If it's well within the best before date yeah.
I guess this means i paid an extra $3-4 just to drink it out of an awkward glass

[kurtz]

If you want a real lambic taste, Rodenbach Grand Cru will do it. I have found the belle vue ones to be quite subdued, without a lot of the "wildness"

err...sorry...Rodenbach Gran Cru is not a Lambic, a its Flanders Red....damn fine beer though.
Bit like saying that Coopers is Belgian I guess!!

Kurtz

[db]

Bit like saying that Coopers is Belgian I guess!!

thats a big call Kurtz.. a real big call. perhaps an over exageration to prove your point?

[undercover1]

Their English language web site http://www.palmbreweries.com/en/index.php?n=1001
calls it a "mixed fermentation" product:

Rodenbach Grand Cru: the refreshing power of tradition.
A great family, a great beer. Rodenbach is rooted in a family tradition going back to 1714. The Rodenbach family produced great politicians, traders, authors and poets (including Georges Rodenbach, author of "Bruges la Morte"), but also a generation of great, traditional brewers. Nowadays Rodenbach is one of the world's most unique breweries, but above all a brewery where one of the world's most exceptional beers is produced.
A beer that distinguishes itself by its refreshing, fruity taste and bright red colour. The result of a mixed fermentation of top yeasts and bacterial flora, followed by 24 months of maturation in oak casks like wine, whereby organic acids are converted into higher alcohols and fruity esters. This is how Rodenbach develops its willful character and typical soft sour taste for which it is known and loved.
The gentle sour character makes Rodenbach a real thirst-quencher. According to the famous beer connoisseur Michael Jackson “the most refreshing beer in the world”.

They do top, bottom, mixed & spontaneously fermented brews. Spontaneous brews are their only true Lambics, it seems, but I don't get the comment about "bacterial flora".