Tag Archives: strong ale

(DE BIE) HELLEKETELBIER ARTISANAL BELGIAN AMBER ALE

Dull rust-clouded witchy brew (check cool label) with hovering sediment brings aromatic floral yeast surge and maize-dried alcohol astringency to askew sugar-spiced finish at expense of blanched cherry-apricot-quince tartness. Cinnamon, coriander, and clove nuances pushed way back due to unwanted diacetyl buttering. Lacks depth of better Belgian strong ales (though posing as less illustrious amber ale).

STONE OAKED ARROGANT BASTARD

Ambitious slow sipping boubon-sherry-like offshoot adds oak chips to sterling Arrogant recipe. As thickly cascading tan head settles above cloudy rust-orange body, sharply alcoholic fruity waft surges. Chewy vanilla-butterscotch creaminess thickens syrupy peach-cherry sinew, correlative tangerine-mango-melon tang, and impending spruce sweetness. At midst, red apple ripeness, purple grape twang, and sun-dried raisin tinge counter ethereal floral-hopped bittering. As bottle empties, bruised orange-grapefruit notes gush forward, adding further complexity.