Alvinne Gaspar

Brewed by Picobrouwerij Alvinne
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Moen, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

This says it’s one of the hoppiest beers in Belgium. It doesn’t smell like it. The nose is mostly normal bread yeast w/ overtones of sourdough, bananas and clove. It’s cloudy orange w/ a huge, messy head of medium to large bubbles. The taste is somewhat bitter though I doubt to "hoppiest in Belgium" levels. It is also somewhat sweet and spicy. A piny, resinous note clings to the back of the tongue once the beer is swallowed. This is a Belgian ale w/ an almost barleywine-like consistency and intensity. I like it but I must admit I find it more interesting than good.

A Belgian brewery with a propensity for the extreme; in this case a 115 IBU Euro Hop Bomb. Pour is massively frothy, bursting out of the bottle with a head that was tremendous staying power. The little beer that is in liquid form is hazy and burnt orange. Aroma is a pleasant suggestion of peaches, pressed flowers, and herbs. Flavor is surprisingly sweet: a pleasant, sort of medicinal citrus flavor, with some grainy, alcoholic subtlties. Overall, the intruige here is in the sweet fruit and herbs, the drawback is the presentation.

Hazy blond with massive airy foam head. Very yeasty, bready aroma. Flavour is quite acidic and yeasty.

Pilsener nose with citrus. Beautiful hazy orange color. Taste is almost soda-like, very carbonated. Imagine the XX Bitter but in shandy form.

Hazy orange colored brew with a large amount of flakes in it. Unfiltered indeed. Hoppy, yeasty aroma. Flavor is hoppy, yeasty, raisings, a bit boozy. It’s pretty bitter, could use more balance.

hazy yellow gold with large white head, though quickly dissolving. spicy hops to the nose. firm bitterness, especially for a belgian before a lot of spicy hop flavor and sourness that must come from brett. there is much fruity ester character, though it is present. overall i think this is a really refreshing and enjoyable brew, the brett character combines really well with the hop bitterness and flavor. surprisingly low rating by others, i really enjoyed this

Dispensed to a tulip at the Bavarian Lodge in Lisle, IL. Presented a hazed, orange/amber color with a meringue-like, off white head, and foamy curtains of lacing. The aroma was light yeast, some spice, and a blend of fruit & citrus. Alcohol was well hidden by a pronounced hop bitterness in the flavor. The body was medium, carbonation was high, and the finish was altogether dry. If you planned your attack haphazardly and had an IPA before this one, as I did, rinse and prep your palate fully to totally appreciate this one!

Poured 12/2009 The body is a lightly hazy copper in color and upon even a gentle pour grows an enormous, billowing white head that leaves a thick sheet of lace on the glass. Yeasty fruitiness in the nose, with apples, muscat grapes and ripe pear interspersed with a peppery spice. The first taste reveals three competing major flavors: bitter, boozy and fruity. These major themes blend for various combinations throughout the glass of beer. Bright fruit (apples, pears, etc), herbal and citrusy hops, sweet rich malt and some understated alcohol flavors with a bit of warming in the mouth. Medium bodied with a finish that’s more bitter than sweet. Is this the hoppiest beer in Belgium (as they claim)? No way. I like Belgian IPAs and Urthel Hop It and Houblon Chouffe are hoppier in the same style and, off the top of my head, Westvleteren 6 is a hoppier golden ale. But Gaspar is still a pretty tasty beer.