Archive for the 'Bosteels' category
Bosteels “Deus” Belgian Ale
Well, folks, if you didn’t know (and I’m sure you did), today is my birthday. And, what does one beer geek get another beer geek on that ‘special day’? Well, beer, of course. So, I was quite flattered when Matt surprised me with a stapled brown bag with a piece of paper with the words “Happy Birthday” scrawled on it and a big bottle of Bosteels Deus inside. This is a brew that I’ve considered buying on many occasions. However, due to the hefty price tag and the oddness of the brew, I’ve always shied away. However, it is, by all accounts, a very interesting beer. This ale is made in stages in both Belgium and France. While brewed fairly normally initially, the beer goes through 3 fermentations to reach it’s unique flavor and carbonation levels and a champaigne-like ‘bottle tilting’ process to remove all the yeast and trub from the brew. What you end up with is a totally unique beer that would be as suitable for any special occasion as a fine champaigne.
This beer pours much different than any beer you’ve had. First of all, Bosteels recommends that this be enjoyed ice-cold in a champaigne flute. Fortunately, I have a few of those left over from a New Year’s spent long ago in Charleston, SC, so I whipped one of ‘em out. When you pour the beer, you are initially surprised at the high level of dense carbonation. It pours a golden yellow color with a giant stark white head that settles slowly. Even after the head has disappeared, there is a veritable storm of carbonation bubbles that lives on in the glass for the duration of your sitting – this is very pleasing to the eye and gives the beer great aesthetic appeal. The aroma of this is reminiscent of a quality Belgian golden ale. It is lightly sweet and reeks of that Belgian yeast aroma that you’ll recognize if you’d had your share of Belgian beers. There is also a light breadiness to the aroma that gives it some substance. In the mouth, you are initially hit with a cool sweetness on the tip of the tongue. This sweetness continues through the mouth and tends to grow into a slightly malty flavor with a hint of honey. The mouthfeel is great – it is light and smooth across the front of the mouth and almost seems to become more viscous near the throat where it descends to leave you with a light syrupy sweetness that is very pleasant. The entire flavor is very much a mix of a great Belgian golden ale and a fine French champaigne (I’m not a total champaigne amateur, having lived in France for a while, so I feel justified in saying this). However, I hazard to say that I prefer this to most champaignes, as the flavor is more subtle and the sweetness less cloying than any but the more expensive of true French champaignes. In closing, I would love to enjoy this for New Years, another birthday, or any occasion that merits a celebratory bubbly beverage in a flute. It is truly delicious, and something that any beer lover should really try, despite the high price tag. I, for one, plan to buy another bottle to cellar for the next special occasion.
Brouwerij Bosteels Tripel Karmeliet
I feel like I’m approaching the last of the Belgian Tripels, so now I’m just reaching for anything on the shelf if I can read the word “Tripel” somewhere. This one also comes from beer country in Belgium, and is fairly good. The color is a very clear golden with a quickly dissipating white head. The aroma is fairly sweet, but quite subtle. The flavor of this beer took me by surprise. It trades in a great deal of the typical tripel spiciness for an interesting grainy flavor. Spiciness is hardly evident. Instead, there is a delicate sweetness with a lot of grain. Upon noticing this taste, I see that the bottle boasts that this is a “3 grain” ale made with oats, barley, and wheat – very interesting. This is pretty good, if you are into unique tripels. Probably not my favorite, but unique and pleasant.
