Archive for the 'Duyck' category
St. Druon de Sebourg French Abbey Ale
I just finished writing up a review for this beer, and then decided to look at the Sevenpack site under Duyck. I should have done those two things in reverse order. Anyway, not to let a review go to waste, I posted my thoughts below Ben’s original thoughts from nearly two years ago. In summary, though I experienced some slightly different tastes, I believe Ben’s review is spot on.
Original Post by Ben 6-9-2007:
This, our 3rd instalment from the nice folks at Beer of the Month Club, is another offering from the French brewery, Brasserie de Duyck. As Matt so kindly elucidated yesterday, the French aren’t generally known for their quality beers. However, after living in France for about a year myself, I did find that there were a few gems hidden on the shelves. One of those gems was the Jenlain blonde that Matty review yesterday. Most of the others I have since forgotten the names of, although I remember a stork (or maybe it was a duck) being the mascot for another – if you remember what brewery that is, please let me know. But, back to the point – This particular beer is one that I never found during my time in France and one that, frankly, I’ve never heard of. However, I am a bit intrigued by the idea of a French Abbey Ale. Having tasted many abbey ales from France’s neighbour to the Northeast, I have a certain idea of what to expect. However, my impression of the French version is that, if their work with other styles is to be mimicked, then we can expect something a bit lighter and a bit subtler than what the Belgians have thus far given us.
The pour of this beer is the first indication that it’s very different from a typical Belgian abbey ale. It pours a remarkably clear and light golden color with a nearly non-existent head. The aroma smells grainy with a hint of lemon and a light sourness that is reminiscent of a french farmhouse variety, but lighter. Now, for the tasting. The first sensation this beer presents us with is a touch of citrus on the tip of the tongue. This citrus quickly moves into a flavor that is rife with light malts and a refreshingly sour flavor that is, again, reminiscent of a saison or farmhouse ale. Towards the back of the mouth, I recognize a unique yeast flavor that reminds me of what I expect from a German hefeweizen. To be sure, it’s an interesting amalgamation of flavors in a single beer. It’s quite subtle in its presentation, but it’s as though someone blended a blonde ale and a saison ale, and then fermented with yeast from the last batch of hefeweizen. What it all amounts to is a rather summery beer that is refreshing and thirst quenching, and leaves a solid aftertaste on the palate. In fact, I really enjoy this beer, despite some skepticism I felt from its initial light appearance. Well done, Duyck – I think I’ll have another…
Dave’s Update 6-13-2009:
When most people think about French ‘things’, they think the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, French bread. Not me. I think Téléfrançais. Téléfrançais was a french educational TV show, actually produced in Canada, shown to us back in elementary school to help us learn French. Along with its catchy theme song, it had the memorable (and some what creepy looking) character called Ananas, which was a talking pineapple (ananas is french for pineapple). Every so often I will remark in a grocery store “Un ananas!” to the befuddlement of people around me. Though every so often, I get the response “Où est un ananas?” and we start singing the Téléfrançais theme song together (that has never actually happened). Could this beer by French brewery Jenlain supplant those Téléfrançais memories and reign supreme over a French talking pineapple?
The beer poured a clear golden with a smooth white head into the tulip glass. Yeast and light-grain and hay notes were emanating from the beer. Not overly strong but pleasant and noticeable. In the mouth the beer runs quick and is light in presence. Compared to the beer’s nose, its taste is not what I was expecting. There is a light banana sweetness to start the beer off, with a slight carbonation tingle on the front of the tongue. In the middle the beer shows off a grassy-hay note with hints of grain and even some green grape, for good measure. The finish is strong yeast, mixed with wheat (reminds me of a wit beer) and the occasional kick of coriander.
Quite refreshing, and unique in flavor. Could be a nice change from the wit beer style during the summer months. Does it replace Ananas? Not so much, but I’ll admit that is a nearly impossible endeavor. Its a French talking pineapple!
Jenlain Noel
I like a Christmas Ale, spice, spice and more spice. This is a French Christmas Ale and is the third beer we’ve had from the Brasserie Duyck, all of which have come from the BOMC. It’s also the third beer from this month’s delivery, coincidence? I think not. Ok, truth be told, it really is a coincidence but kinda cool if you think about it.
This beer has an amber hue that lightens toward the bottom of the glass. This beer has similar aromatic characteristics to the Pickled Santa. However, this time the smell of orange isn’t deafeningly sweet. There is a milk chocolate aroma that wraps itself around the orange and again I can compare it to a piece of candy, a tootsie roll pop this time. This likeness carries over into the taste but it isn’t as robust or bright. The candy-like flavor is attached to a smokiness that dampens the sweet flavors and in my opinion compromises the taste. The smoke serves as a transition point from citrus to toasted malt but in this case it creates unbalanced flavors that don’t compliment each other. There also appears to be a ginger and pepper-like characteristic that stands out during the last 1/3 of the taste, but for no rhyme or reason. This beer confuses me. They boast that there were no extra flavorings or spices added during the brewing process but to that affect I feel the brewers tried to create a complex beer without influencing the outcome. That my friends leaves a lot to chance, which is awesome when the stars align. Unfortunately, in this instance they did not.
Jenlain French Farm-Country Ale
This blonde ale is the first of the beers I have tried from the Beer of the Month Club. The French are known for their fine wines and champaigne, but not so much for their beer. Those accolades are given to those countries to their northeast, so I hope this doesn’t disappoint.It pours a clear, golden-yellow with a very pronounced frothy head. The head diminishes rather quickly leaving a tiny white ring at the top of the liquid. It has a sweet, musky aroma with a hint of lemon peel. It isn’t an outstanding smell, just subtle enough to tease the nostrils. The taste is malt-centered 
with a mild hop backbone. The sweetness takes precedence over the first 2/3 of the tongue that then gives way to a bitter, nutty flavor at the back of the mouth. The taste is much bigger than the smell but that is to be expected with a lighter style blonde brew. All in all this is a crisp, refreshing brew that could easily be enjoyed on a warm summer day. Le Français finalement a bien fait quelque chose!
