Oud Bruin
Guest: Chris Demitri - Bar Manager, Old Bay Restaurant. Chris's efforts have earned The Old Bay the distinction of being rated in the top 10 beer bars in the US. It isn't just the number of taps and handpumps. Chris hosted Sir Anthony Fuller as he pulled the first pint of real Fuller's ESB poured in the USA. He was the first to offer Aventinus Wiezenbock on draught anywhere, including Germany. When nobody could get Sierra Nevada beers he had 7 on tap. He doesn't call distributors, he forges relationships with breweries. After all, that's where the beer is!
Special thanks to Martin Hunt and Ivy Wines from the Ilse of Britian for generously providing the Bush de Noel.
Generalized Summation:
Before I begin I need to make one point. There are resources that describe some of the beers below as "massive ale". I don't know where this phrase came from, but personally I don't buy it. It sounds too modern. Descriptions of barley wine vs. massive ale indicate the only real difference is color. With all the diversity of the Belgian beer landscape why differentiate based on so little?
Rochefort 10
As with all the beers in this tasting, the presence of alcohol was enormous. This beer touts an ABV 0f 11%. Like it's "brother" beer from Westvleteren it is brown with reddish highlights, although it is fairly cloudy so highlights are faint. Of all the beers it was the least aromatic, the nose was primarily alcohol and what smelled like bubble gum.
Also like Westvleteren 12 it was liqourish, almost a little brandy-like and definately fruitier. It was strong tasting, somewhat fruity and quite potent. It goes without saying this is a sipper.
Rochefort 10 is imported by B. United International but is very hard to find.
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Gulden Draak
This was lighter in color than Rochefort, more coppery than brown, but very hazy. As I have found in past dealings with this beer the act of opening it tends to kick up a lot of sediment. If the idea of a major yeast flotilla turns you off pass this one by, but understand it is not a bad thing. Getting over your aversion would be a better move.
It was yeasty and fruity smelling - very pleasant. There was a grainy sweetness to it, bready and malty as you might expect from a Belgian beer. At the risk of minimizing this impressive brew, the best way I can describe it to you is as a "turbo" dubble. It is .5% lighter in alcohol than Rochefort but hid its strength better.
Gulden Draak is imported by the Global Beer Network (also known as Win It Too).
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Bush de Noel
This beer was very different from the rest. It was the strongest at 12% ABV, but you wouldn't know it to taste it. As the name suggests this is a Christmas beer. It is coppery in color like the Draak but very clear. It had the least head retention of the 5, but maintained a champagne-like effervescence. Alcohol was apparant in the nose as was a unique spiciness.
I was stuggling with this one, trying to pin down what I was tasting. Normal comments of maltiness or hoppiness did not seem to apply. Then Chris mentioned how he tasted honey and it hit me. If I had been blindfolded I'd have sworn I was drinking mead! Totally unusual. Even in beers I know use honey I have never encountered this character. Using very large amounts is supposed to make beer taste winey. I don't know if it really uses honey but if it does it doesn't taste winey but does taste like there is a lot. It also numbed my tongue within moments of sampling but the alcohol zing mellowed very fast.
Bush Noel is imported by VanBerg & DeWulf under the name Scaldis Noel.
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Piraat
If Gulden Draak was a "turbo" dubbel then Piraat is a turbo triple. It has the same ABV, 10.5%, but is very different from Draak. It is worth mentioning both are from the same brewery. It was fruity and yeasty in aroma but very pale - by far the palest of the bunch. It was a lot clearer than Draak, though there was a small amount of suspended yeast visible.
It had a profound sweetness, more so than any of the other beers, but it was not a sweetness I would associate with malt. It was simpler, more like candi sugar. This is an additive to triple and is basically rock candy. It was surprisingly uncomplex, though it was the only one that had a hint of hop finish. It was the opinion of both Chris and I that this beer requires lots of aging. All barley wines can benefit from being laid down, but this was the only one of the tasting that seemed to really require it.
Piraat is imported by the Global Beer Network (also known as Win It Too).
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Westvleteren 12
I was surprised to see how this 11.5% ABV beer foamed when poured. It was definitely the most carbonated of the bunch. It was the other brown one, but unlike Rochefort 10 it was crystal clear with beautiful garnet highlights. It's aroma was hard to describe, a little burnt smelling, licorice-like and, of course, no shortage of alcohol.
I think this one had the greatest feeling of strength, no small accomplishment for this line-up! Aside from the intensity of alcohol there were some of the flavors you might expect from a beer of such deep color. It had the most in the way of coffeeish, chocolatey flavor and like Rochefort 10 was reminescent of a cordial.
Westvleteren 12 is imported by B. United International but is possibly unparalelled in rarity. Somebody from Shangy's in Emmaus, PA told me last time some came into the country they got 80% of it! They have the elusive Rochefort 10 always but only get Westvleteren occasionally.
There is no label to view as this beer comes with none. All Westvleteren beers are identified by cap. The label that no doubt adorns the US import version (which I have never seen) is unique to the U.S.
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