Country of Origin: Belgium
Price comparison: About twice the price of everyday beer.
Alcohol percentage by volume: 9%
Cute bottle/label? 750 ml white bottle (on closer inspection, the bottle reveals itself to be dark glass that has been airbrushed an opaque white, whether with paint or some sort of ceramic, I cannot tell), topped with a resealable cork and gold foil. Understated white, yellow, and blue label, including the abbey year (Anno 1107).
Appearance: Bright orange with small white head. Left flecks of yeast in the bottom of the goblet.
Scent: Heavily influenced by citrus peel and yeast.
Flavor: Oranges, black pepper, malt, sweet alcohol, with a nice dry hoppy finish.
Impressions: I admit to having been somewhat amused by the fact that the first three letters of this beer's name are D.U.I. Seriously, though, I need to look further into this importer, Merchant du Vin, from Seattle, and see what else they have brought to our country. This was a delicious, big, refreshing beer.
Will I buy this beer again? At twice the price, it's no bargain; however, the flavor is easy, even with the high alcohol content, and it would go nicely with seafood or poultry. If you're willing to shell out the extra fold and are new to Belgian beers, this is probably a good place to start, because from what information is on the bottle alone, it's available on both coasts of the US and the yeast content is such that it will age well and the alcohol content will boost over time. I'm going to get some more myself - it's also available in 11.2 ounce single-serving white bottles.
Rating:
4 out of 5 cute beer glasses
Reviewed: February 5, 2005
