Tag Archives: Belgian pale ale

DOGFISH HEAD PANGAEA AMBER ALE

Coppery turbid Belgian-styled strong pale ale rushes crystallized ginger initiation across mouthwash-y eucalyptus-spearmint follow-up, allowing honeyed yeast sinew to embellish sour candy center and delicate peach caress. Sullen banana-pear-green apple combo invades oaken earthy mustiness as white pepper, black currant, and floral notes speckle flatly carbonated dried-fruit moldiness to citric-hop embittered finish almost sabotaged by oncoming astringency.

GREAT DIVIDE HADES ALE

Likable moderate-bodied yellow-hazed pale ale (with unobtrusive 7.3% alcohol) plies candi-sugared Belgian yeast sweetness to white-peppered clove-coriander-saffron spicing as well as curacao orange, white grape, apricot, and mango tartness for summery Saison-like sensation. Banana bubblegum illusions emerge as polite lemon pith bittering heightens dry citric finish.

ALESMITH HORNY DEVIL ALE

Great representative Belgian-styled pale ale boasts resounding malt-thickened 11% alcohol strength and expansive sugar-candied fruit juicing. Coppery whitish-sided Lucifer eulogizer crams compact raisin-prune-plum conflux into red apple ripeness, spicy coriander tingle, mild banana daiquiri sweetness and milky coconut snip. Tangy apricot-tangerine-passionfruit crest washes over brandied bruised orange warmth at luscious fruited finish, comparing favorably to Dogfish Head’s finest hop-infested malt-sweetened brews.

(GOOSE ISLAND) MATILDA

Engaging 7% alcohol Belgian-styled winter ’05 offering opens with beautiful floral-over-marmalade sweetness aided by doughy ‘rare yeast’ souring, apple cinnamon bun sensation and ethanol Reisling-wined esters. Herbal mint-y freshness, clove-chamomile suggestion, earthen barnyard underside and mild oaken cherry acridity provide tertiary splendor to emerging peach-honeyed cantaloupe-banana-pear fruiting of complex winter seasonal. 2012 and ’13 versions may’ve upped coriander-spiced mandarin orange, navel orange and tangerine lacquering as well as ripe peach tang.

MOLSON RAFTMAN

Doesn’t Unibroue brew these nowadays? Anyhow. Drenched in smoked whiskey malt, delicately smooth-bodied Belgian-styled pale ale caresses yeast-infested honeyed wheat sweetness with peated wood burnt overtones, banana-vanilla variance, and bread crust grove. Peculiar soda-like effervescence quite different from most mountain water-based Molson beers.