Alvinne Melchior

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Pours a hazy orange with fluffy white head. Aroma is strong bready yeast with honey, spicy hops, and black pepper. Taste is sweet and malty with plum, raisins, and quite a bit of spice. Its very warm with a lot of booziness. Full bodied and medium/heavy. Reminds me almost of a brandy. The 11% ABV is quite apparent.

I am not sure why I bought this. It does not strike me that an ale brewed w/ mustard seeds could possibly be good. It smacks of pointless experimentation. But what do I know? This is actually a really nice looking beer. It gushes but once poured is a nice cloudy orange color w/ a great head of tight white bubbles that lasts for forever. The nose is thick, sticky malts, a bit of bubblegum and w/ sort of a English barleywine-like quality from earthy hops. It is syrupy and heavy on the palate to the point where it strongly affects drinkabilty. The sweetness overwhelms and there’s really no carbonation or anything to serve as a counterpoint. I am finding myself struggling after a few sips, esp. after the burning alcohol presence creeps in. Finishes w/ yet more sweetness and a bit of bitterness verging on being metallic. There might be some fruity or spicy flavors going on under all this but, honestly, there is nothing up front to compel you to look for anything. This is bad and it’s not bad because of the mustard. I don’t know what to make of it.

Dark golden colour. Thick, syrupy texture. Bitter and sweet. Alcohol is very much detectable.

I smell a bit of brown sugar, but a huge alcohol scent. Actually, it isn’t very pleasant. Luckily taste is better. The ale is bitter with a light syrupy sweetness....pretty average for a strong, belgian ale. Overall, I was pretty disappointed. I wanted the mustard seed to be more prominent (I like subtely and nuance but I don’t pick up on the unique ingredient at all). Still, I appreciate the adventurous brew.

Aroma of brown sugar, pitted fruit and caramel apple. Appearance is ruddy brown, full of sediment with foamy tan head. Flavor matches the nose. Palate is very creamy. Delicious!

(bottle - 330 ml) Slightly cloudy orange pour with a thin but lasting white head. Malty and sweet aroma with some light hints of mustard and alcohol. Flavor begins very sweet and malty with a lot of yeast and some mild spice notes. The alcohol comes up a little more near the middle and dances with some different malt and spice notes. Some light bitterness at the very end with light hints of mustard seed and fruit. Very dry.

A murky orange pour with almost no head and floaties. Scent is some fruit, spice and a hint of mustard. Taste is sweet fruit and tangy spice.

20100515 Sampled at PilsnerPeter’s 2nd Annual Spring Gathering. Fruity, apples. Floral, marigold. Strong alcohol presence on aroma and palate. Tasty but strong.