Belzebuth

Brewed by Brasserie Grain d’Orge
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Ronchin, France

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   add pic

UPDATED: JAN 3, 2004 Belzebuth “13% Version”: This version was produced when the French raised the taxes on any beer as I understand it that was in excess of “13%”.

The color on the pour a translucent deep gold with a personable head that is semi-creamy in texture and a bright white color, the lace form's a decent sheet to cover the glass. Nose that of a typical lager, crisp and clean, somewhat sweet, with a hint of fusel alcohol and the start cloyingly sweet, nicely malted with the top light to medium in feel. Finish is fairish in its acidity; the hops are subdued but seem to perk up a bit as the beer warms to the glass and the room. Aftertaste is quite dry and it lingers for quite sometime, a definite “Warming Sensation” in the “Tummy, I must say I don’t dislike this beer, of all the “European Strong Lagers” I’ve sampled, I find this one along with the 15% version to at least have a body and a nice malt profile.

“15% Version”: Well, I’ve heard and read a lot about this beer, mostly negative, but I always like to judge or review for myself. Color on the pour is translucent golden amber, the head modest in size, creamy in its texture and the remaining lace a nice coating sheet. Dominated by the malt, alcohol quite pronounced also, crisp and clean and not all that unpleasant. Front is sweet, the top skeletal and the finish “ZAP, ZING, POOF, ZOWIE” all alcohol Baaaabbbby! Whew, moderate carbonation and sparsely hopped and the aftertaste alcohol bitter and dry. More like "Jim Beam" Bourbon than a beer. "Bad", I’d say “No”, different, Oh yes, not a beer meant for the weak of palate, heart, stomach, or those that have any palate at all. Not something I would want to drink on a regular basis, but "Hey I like it”, but then I'm a bit weird. Oh I almost forgot, I've got a six pack aging away, wonder what it will be like in a couple of years?

Bottle. Pours cloudy amber with lots of suspended particles. Small, slowly dissipating off-white head, minimal lacing. Aroma is heavy, roasted malt, some fruity sweetness and alcohol. Flavor is malty, almost Belgian in its yeast characteristics. Strong alcohol notes present. Some sweetness in the mid and far body. Minimal bitterness, mostly in the lingering aftertaste. Rich and full bodied in the mouth.

Backlog summer 20100 La Rochelle Bottle at Fitzpatrick Dark golden Full bodied & high complexity Sweet tones & malty- high alcohol Enjoyable

Absurdely strong with noo actual flavour other than pure malt... Not really liked it.

Pours a clear and amber beer with a weak white head. The aroma is malt and alcohol. The flavor follows the nose. The palate is sweetness and alcoholwarmth. Overall this beer is below average.

Die Schaumkrone dieses bekannten Starkbieres aus Frankreich hält mittelmäßig, es riecht fruchtig-süß. Geschmacklich ist es süß, malzig, der Nachgeschmack leicht alkoholisch, malzig-süß. Fazit: Gutes Starkbier, lecker aber nichts besonderes, dafür das es 13% hat Geschmacklich ziemlich uninteressant. Test vom 26.9.2009, Gebinde: Glasflasche Noten: 10,10,11,10,11,10 - 10,20

Pours amber with a beige head. Aroma is malt and heavy alcohol. Flavour is malt, burning alcohol, sweet notes and light fruit.

April 2009, I wrote this: Been saving this beer for my 666th review on BA (how sad is that?). 25cl brown bottle with the 13% brew inside. Poured into my ’La Chouffe’ stemmed tulip glass. Clear, deep golden colour, like a German Export or Dort. Same white head too. Alcohol esters attack the nose along with a toffee/molasses/treacle semi-sweetness. Hops too, they arrive as the beer warms. Obviously you have to get past the alcohol first, then a richness and tangy sensation puts a tingle to the back of your throat. The semi-sweetness of the aroma comes out in the taste and there is a hidden warmth in the brew which reminded me of coal fires and smoking jackets. This is a bloody good beer, I am finding more and more French brews worth drinking, this being the second from this brewery.

Almost a liquor vodka like taste, which is not something I’m big on. Nothing special here.

This beer wants to be a strong one a little too much. The attention is focused on the alcohol and the vodka taste and it forgets to be a good beer. The first 2 seconds are pleasant, but the aftertaste is horrible.

From notes. Pours a murky brownish amber with a thin white head that disappears to a film that leave some bad ass lacing. The aroma is strange, malty, yeasty, some grassy hop. Tastes kind of old... Defiantly has a nice sweetness to the taste. The high alcohol is actually pretty well masked but coming out more as it warms up. The grassy hop is even more present in the taste. Pretty smooth mouth feel, pretty high carbonation with a warming booze finish.