Archive for the 'Grimbergen' category
Grimbergen Double Ale
This is my 2nd installment from the Grimbergen line, which will mean I have tried everything from Grimbergen that is available stateside. I’m generally a big fan of the dubbel variety, and I think that Grimbergen has an exceptional take on the variety here. The pour on this one isn’t as dark as some – it is almost more of a deep burgundy than an actual brown. There is also a creamy white head that adds to the appeal. The aroma carries slight hints of anise, but is mostly grounded in toffee and dark malt. In the mouth, the beer is instantly sweet and slightly fruity. The primary presence is again toffee, but with some hints of chocolate and berry on down the tongue. There isn’t much of a hop presence here, but that doesn’t make it one-sided. Instead, this is a rather sweet double that balances that sweetness between the toffee and fruit aspects. Very good, and quite difference from most ales of the dubbel variety.
Grimbergen Blonde Ale
I have fond memories of the Grimbergen Blonde Ale. I first tasted the Grimbergen Blonde on the banks of the Garonne river in Toulouse, France in a little cafe called Cafe des Artistes. At the time, I was fairly disenchanted with France after several months spent in utter confusion at listening to engineering lectures in a language that I couldn’t understand. So, I decided to spend the better part of my time sitting in cafes, reading War & Peace, and drinking either coffee or Grimbergen or often one-after-the-other. So, we can say that Grimbergen was, in a convoluted sense, a substance-abuse life raft amid my ocean of confusion. A delicious life raft at that. So, I’m really glad to see that this little bottle of goodness has finally made its way over to the US of A.
This beer pours a clear golden with a tint of orange. The aroma is fairly typical of the style – lightly sweet, hints of coriander and just a touch of cinnamon. In the mouth, I find this to be an exceptionally flavorful Blonde. There is a light bite at the front of the mouth that quickly subsides to a spicy sweetness that traverses the palate. Towards the back of the mouth, the malt character rears it’s head only to leave it’s mark sitting at the back of the tongue on the aftertaste. Meanwhile, at the front of the mouth, the spice lingers on the tip of the tongue, leaving nice but different impressions throughout the mouth. I appreciate that Grimbergen has made a slightly more complex variety of what can often be a simple brew. This beer will hold it’s own with a good Tripel, even, and that’s saying a lot. Highly recommended.
