ST. BERNARDUS ABT 12 ~ BROUWERJI 

ST. BERNARDUS

St. Bernardus (a quadrupel) is another one of those rich special occasion Abbey Ales. The brewery maintains that it is brewed using the original recipe from the early days of the Trappist Monks of Westleteren licensing their beers to a made by a local brewery. Sampled from a corked bottle, the ale poured a translucent dark brown with a dense ivory coloured head. The head left impressive lacing and eventually settled into a cap. The sweet and complex aroma contained lots of dark fruit, rich malts, peppery yeast, alcohol, and hints of bubble gum and spice. The taste too contains lots of sweet ripe dark fruit along with sugary caramel. There is also a little tartness in the flavour along with beautiful malts, and a touch of spice, but no real hop presence. The flavour is full, robust and warming with a slightly syrupy mouthfeel and moderate carbonation.

10% Watou, Belgium 22 IBU

AFFLIGEM BLONDE ~ AFFLIGEM BROUWERIJ

Affligem Blonde is Belgian Abbey ale. Sampled on draught the beer poured a slightly hazy golden yellow colour with a dense head. Sticky lacing was left as the head slowly disappeared. The nose was made up with banana spice, fresh bread, citrus and other tree fruits. The taste was smooth and mild with notes of bread, spice, sweet malts, citrus, and other fruits. A mild slightly drying earthy hop bitterness compliments the sweetness of the malts. The beer had a slightly creamy texture with sparkling carbonation. Easy to drink and refreshing – just be careful the alcohol content is well hidden.
6.8% Opwijk, Vlaams-Brabant Belgium