De Struise, Pannepot

Not really into dubbels and quads, but there you go. Perhaps I'll give it another go at some point.

De Struise, Black Albert

A desert island stout. I had the 2013 version (I'm guessing?) at new year 2013/2014 (preceded by some Laurent Perrier) and another a few months later. The first was out of the fridge and left to stand for 15mins or so, the second at 14°C (approx). 2 very different experiences in taste terms. The appearance is standard: butterscotch head, oily and black pour. For my first bottle, there was only a minimal nose but it increased throughout. Coffee. Dark sugar + dried fruit (raisins). Balanced with burnt malt and a coffee bitterness. Meat: marmite and dried mushroom. This was one of my first 'Belgian stouts', so the high(ish) carbonation was a bit weird (having been used to Kernel impy brown slickness). Occasionallly in the drinking, it reminded me of a supercharged Guinness Foreign Export. Overall impression was sweetness and stickiness, good but not blown away.

My second bottle however: oh my days. The hops appeared and changed the thing entirely. A powerful nose this time - rainwater mushrooms and grassy hops, some nail varnish. The taste was as above in places but more akin to a well made cappucino with hops. Some liquorice at the death but I could live with that. I've bought up a few bottles of the 2015 vintage - I can confirm that it's just as good and I'm quite smug in the knowledge that I still have 3 bottles waiting.

De Struise, Delphine Cuvée

I hate Goose Island Bourbon County. I loved the Magic Rock Bourbon Bearded Lady. This one had me trepidatious: Black Albert (blog post pending) is a hallowed drink for me, almost shading the Kernel 1856. I took a guess that this'd be a sweeter version thereof, but had hopes that the chaps from Vleteren wouldn't let me down and make it something less Goose Island and more Magic Rock. I bought 3 bottles just to be sure and it was.....somewhere in the middle.

I mightn't buy this again, perhaps if I saw it on tap somewhere I'd be tempted. (Unless it was at a Craft Beer Co where I'd almost certainly have to mortgage my coat to drink a half. Stupid Craft Beer Co.)

De Struise, Ignis et Flamma

I drank this Belgian IPA from De Struise before I got all silly about saison etc. It wasn't my usual tipple then - I was expecting some of sort of hoppy monster.... Anyway, check out the head on that! And I poured it very carefully indeed. I had to spoon some of it out so fit more actual liquid in the glass! Rich body with the merest tint of citrus hops at the edges, warming with a foamy carbonation (!) mouthfeel. I've got a Meantime Cali-Belgian IPA waiting to be drunk. I wonder if it'll taste similar to this?