Beer Club May 2010

BEER CLUB

May 2010 SESSION

BELGIAN ALES

This month featured Belgian beers. Most of the typical Belgian beers are ales, but there are also witbiers [Type 4], fruit beers [Type 15], and pale European lagers [Type 12] in this month's selection.

Belgian Beer Lineup

Blue Moon 

Blue Moon

Blue Moon is an American version of the Belgian White, or witbier, brewed by Coors. Witbiers are unfiltered wheat beers, cloudy due to the presence of yeast in suspension. They are spiced with things like coriander and orange peel. Blue Moon is a good example of the style, slightly sweet, with a smell of citrus fruit. 5.4% ABV.

Hoegaarden

Hoegaarden

Another Belgian White, but this one from Belgium. A bit cloudier and lighter in color than the Blue Moon, but similar in flavor. This beer has hints of cinnamon rather than coriander. I find that I prefer Hoegaarden to Blue Moon, but the difference is small. 4.9% ABV.

Stella Artois

Stella Artois

I've rated Stella before, but I will comment today on the European Pale Lager or Munich Helles style [Type 12]. Pilsner Urquell is the original Pilsner, and after the Pilsner style caught on, brewers across the world began to make their own versions of this beer. Stella is the Belgian version of a Pilsner, that is light, and slightly sweet, but with something of a sour finish.

Wittekerke

Wittekerke

This beer was a bit of a surprise for me. I hadn't expected to find a Belgian White in a can, but there it is. Lighter and clearer than the previous two wheat beers, this beer would be very easy to drink in large quantities. It just goes down easy. 5.0% ABV

Westmalle

Westmalle Tripel

A Trappist Ale, in the Tripel style [Type 6]. Tripels are high alcohol, and this one is no exception. 9.5% ABV, golden, sweet, and heavy. So named for the amount of malts used in the brewing process [three times as much as a normal Trappist Ale],

 

 

 

 

Maredsous

Maredsous TripelAnother Tripel, 10.0% ABV. This one is darker than the Westmalle, less bitter, more caramel. The host wanted it noted that this was his favorite Belgian of the evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ommegang

This was the first Dubbel of the night [Type 43]. Twice as much malt as usual, the Dubbel is usually dark instead of golden, and very rich. This one is an American Abbey style, sweet and heavy. 8.5% ABV

Chimay PremièreChimay Première (Red)

Another classic Dubbel, a bit cloudy, 7.0% ABV

Cassis lambic

Cassis LambicThe lambics are Belgian fruit beers [Type 2], spontaneously fermented by environmental yeasts, and then fruit is added once the fermentation begins. Cassis are black currants, tart and sweet. 4.0% ABV

True Blonde Dubbel

True Blonde DubbelBelgian Pale Ale [Type 16], p 8.0% ABV

 

Delirium Nocturnum

Delirium NocturnumBelgian Dark Ale [Type 29], dark brown with a white head. 8.5% ABV

Honorable Mentions

There were a couple of beers I didn't get to, Gulden Draak, Delirium Tremens, Brother Thelonious, and two more I'd had previously, Pranqster and New Belgium Abbey.

My other beer reviews

Stella Artois Review

Stella Artois

Stella ArtoisLager 5.2% ABV

Stella Artois is a pilsner lager, bottom fermented in Belgium. This beer was first brewed in 1926 as a Christmas beer, hence the name "Stella" for star. The brewery's history extends back to 1366. Stella is a tasty beer, one I enjoy anytime. Many lagers of this type I only like when it is hot, but Stella has a broader range than this. Despite being a pilsner, it tastes "Belgian" to me. There is a solidity and heaviness to the beer that is accentuated by a just slightly sour taste.

The beer is golden and beautiful, with a short white head. The bottle is well designed, but the little strip of paper on the cap vexes me.

Rating

 

I gladly enjoy this beer anytime in bottles. When I can find it on tap, I'll order a pitcher to go with dinner. I've found it a good accompaniment to spicy food such as Southwestern or Indian. As much as I like this beer, I cannot drink it everyday. I have to switch it up after a while. I am uncertain of the reason for this, because otherwise I often crave this beer.