Country of Origin: Belgium
Availability: 2003 vintage.
Price comparison: A gift from Laura. (Thank you!)
Alcohol percentage by volume: 8½%
Cute bottle/label? 750 ml deckled white ceramic, corked-and-caged with a blue neckfoil; year (2003) on the cork. Pink elephant on the label.
Appearance: Dark cola-colored with a beige head, brightens to a deep bronze when held to the light. Virtually no lacing, but the carbonation reactivated every time I picked up the glass. Very lively.
Scent: Sweet alcohol with some spice and some vanilla. Soft plum and banana aromas began to emerge as it warmed.
Flavor: Malt, with a hint of green apple and rum, but with a dry sour-cherry finish. Smooth, not much hops.
Impressions: A far better-balanced ale than the Delirium Tremens, to my palate, and more drinkable as well. I wanted a bowl of French onion soup with this, or an order of frites.
Will I buy this beer again? The cute bottle is, of course, the big selling point for me on this beer, but it is a delicious Belgian, which always makes me happy. The price for the bottle cuteness plus the good beer is what will ultimately clinch it. I think I will look around for some older vintages (2001 perhaps) and see how they age, because this has the feel of a brew that could mellow nicely given some time.
Rating:
4 out of 5 cute beer glasses
Reviewed: May 2, 2004
