Alternatief Bittere Waarheid (Bitter Truth)

Brouwerij Het Alternatief
Brewed at Picobrouwerij Alvinne
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Izegem, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   update pic

Great, my first beer review and the goddamn bottle fizzes out all over me. Well it’s my fualt since I kept picking it up and tilting it to get a clear reading on the name (which is by the way not on the bottle) Anywho, once I rushed the bottle (33cl) over to the sink and let it rest a bit I carefully poured it into a red wine glass. A - The color is typical of belgian triples with orange and amber hues. One thing that does stand out is the turbidity with cloudiness that almost approaches an unfiltered heff. The head builds up quickly and dissipates at an even rate, leaving behind nice lacing - if you’re in to that, I personally don’t give a schlitz. Ar - Aroma is difficult to pick up at first. Alcohol is present followed by a light citrus and then a subtle presence of grassy hops. T - A very balanced, almost fresh, hop bitterness strikes up front with a grapefruit-like middle. The finish slightly tarts the corners of your mouth and the overall mouthfeel is swell with carbonation more on the light side, granted I could have lost a good amount in the disastrous opening. Swirling it around in the mouth unlocks more of the hops bouquet. Body is perfect. D - Drinkability is very high. As the beer warms up however, some of the alcohol warmth can be felt with bigger sips in the back of the throughout. Overall, definitely a good Belgian Triple IPA.

Bottle at Pilsner Pete’s awhile back. Pours apricot with white head. Nose and taste of citrus, hops and apple.

Bottle says "a wholly unique triple IPA" with 10% abv and 70 IBUs. A dark golden color with a foamy white head. A lemon citrus, floral, farmhouse and bread aroma. A sparkling palate with a zesty finish. It hides the alcohol well but doesn’t hint too strongly toward a "triple IPA" style, but maybe the big West coast beers have tainted by palate.

On tap at Max’s in Baltimore, 4/22/10: Pours a hazy deep golden bronze with a thin ring of white head. Has a sweet toasty pale malty nose with some biscuity flavor and floral grassy hop notes. Starts with pretty good fullness and finely dissolved carbonation with a sweet biscuity maltiness and earthy bittering hop presence before a drier resiny bittersweet floral hop finish with some warmth. A pretty unique and fairly well-balanced Belgian IPA.

oro buona bella schiuma leggermente grossolana media persitenza naso luppolato leggero resinoso spezia un tocco ossidazione malto caramello in boca non molto corpo per i gradi piuttosto secca un po di lievito amaro deciso

On tap at City Beer in SF. Pours a hazy golden-yellow color with a nicely-formed white head. Aroma very Belgian. Other than that, there are hops. Not IPA-level hops, but hops nonetheless. Citrusy and floral. Some mild funk as well. Flavor is moderately sweet and almost wheaty in a way. Belgian yeast, pale malt, mild funk, orange, lemon, and grapefruit. Not as hoppy as it should be, but still pretty good. Medium-bodied with lively carbonation and a well-hidden 11% ABV - no booziness at all really. Overall this is a good Belgian DIPA, but I’ve had far better.

Bottle, triple IPA? Golden pour with a bunch of foaming white head. Grapefruit, grassy and some belgian yeast. Flavor is grapefruit and earthy hops with a bit of warming hidden within but not totally unnoticeable.

11.2oz bottle shared thanks to the other Tom. Poured a medium golden color with a huge sized white head. Aromas of floral hops, earthy, and musty. Tastes of the same earthiness, floral, and some citrus.

Bottle. Amber beer with a white colored head. Big hop aroma with light citrus and bigger noble hop notes. Big spice flavor with yeast, woodsiness, and light malt. Medium-plus bodied. Good bitterness. Spice, yeast, and woodsiness lingers.

Bottle. Slight bit of a gusher. Pours a pale glowing golden with a tall billowing thicker white foam, nice and frothy. Big grapefruit and stinky cat piss aroma, juicy fruity, touch of nuttiness, candy sweetness, Belgian yeast. Flavor is fruity, some light toffee, candy, Belgian yeast, esters, light cat piss, light citrus, touch metallic, bit of alcohol in the finish, quick, some lasting booziness and medium bitterness. Medium bodied, fluffy softer carbonation with a bit of a sizzle, lightly chalky.