Profiled by Ken Carman for PGA
Giant white pillow head that gently fades into a caramel, amber, crystal clear quaff. , Great amber highlights: like shining a light through a fine scotch or whiskey. Left behind: a light, paper thin cloud on the surface and poillow small bubble head on the edges of the glass.
Nose is grapefruit and tangerine-like with hint of rind. Some caramelized notes behind that. No Belgian yeast sense.
Mouthfeel: solid grapefruit. There are a lot of American hops in this and/or a long boil: but not too long. If a torpedo or spider were used I would not be surprised.
Taste is solid grapefruit-like hops and caramel malts plus pale. Wheat is so far in the background one wonders why they bothered. The bitter is solid, but backed up with enough fuity goodness to make it a heavenly marriage. While an easy quaff, it’s substantial. A party with this would go south quickly.
Overall a very enjoyable quaff. I would buy it in a snap. But what makes it “Belgian?†I expected funk, or something “Belgian†to stand out. I understand not all Belgian brews have “funk†but if you’re going to claim Belgian then hop it so high, have so much American-hop-like aroma, taste and mouthfeel and have such a nice caramel malt-like background, something needs to step out and say, “Hi, this is what makes me ‘Belgian!”
87 on BA, 98 Rate Beer.
So, style-wise, I can’t go above 4. I really want to. But punishment is due. Bend over Flying Dog: I’ll be kind.
So good I simply can’t go below a 4.
Welcome to the PGA beer rating system: one beer “Don’t bother.” Two: Eh, if someone gives it to you, drink. Three: very good, go ahead and seek it out, but be aware there is at least one problem. Four: seek it out. Five: pretty much “perfecto.”
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Ken Carman is a Certified beer judge, columnist, entertainer and all around weird guy who lives i Nashville, TN and Beaver River Station, NY