Bruegel Amber Ale

Brewed by Brouwerij Van Steenberge
Style: Belgian Ale
Ertvelde, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   add pic

Pours light amber with a large white head. Dark malt and dark fruit aroma. Not bad, but not special. The flavor begins sweet, then turns somewhat sour. There is a slight bitterness in the aftertaste. Drinkable--even pleasant--but not re-drinkable.

Pours with a HUGE off white head which is very long-lasting. Deep, slightly cloudy amber hue. Aroma of just ripe apricot, pear and peach with a perfumy orange blossom background. Initial taste is fruit juice sweet but quickly transforms into an upfront tart sourness which while not unpleasant, the contrast took a little getting used to. Some slight mineral-like dryness in the short finish. Enjoyable, but not that memorable.

Not bad. Some decent floral hops and a good head of foam on the pour. Colour isn’t that great but it’s an alright beer, as long as you’re not comparing it to the good Belgians.

Drank in a tulip. Nice head, red / brown hazy poor. Aromas of an old basement, oranges, old oak... these aromas reminds me a little of the Duchesse de Brougogne but not as potent. Very floral hoppy aroma with added apples and raspberries. Flavors of wood a little sweet caramel and coriander. Bitter rubarb feel. Missing a little alcohol, creamy finish, well balanced. Very good overall.

Poured a reddish-gold color with virtually no head. Light aromas and flavors of some spicy malts as well as some dried fruit. I wasn’t impressed with this beer; there just wasn’t much here.

Presentation: Poured from a 330ml/11.2oz bottle in to a tulip glass. It has a nice golden amber color with a slight haze. The head was crazy big, white in color and foamy with stiff peaks. It had a very long retention time and left cool lacing on the glass. The aroma is full and has notes of sour apples and pears with earthy/funky Belgian yeast and doughy malts. It has a sour funky favor with some fruity esters as well. The first sip has a puckering affect on the palate. Then there is a dry earthy yeast flavor with some doughy malts and light fruity esters that give it some nice complexity. The body is light to medium with a somewhat thin texture that is alive with carbonation. Overall I really enjoyed this ale. It had a nice refreshing character that would work very well with a light lunch, sea food, mild cheese or fruit.

Pours a cloudy reddish copper with a mountain of off white head if not poured gently. Big time yeast. Smells like a bakery. Very strong dough scents with a touch of soup / malts. Maybe a touch of sour milk. Sharp carbonation on the tongue with a yeasty palate.

All the same characteristics of the usual Steenberge suspects although it’s drier, more metallic and clearly the most bitter of the bunch. Meh!

bottled. A light belgian w/ a watery feel and obvious alcohol. Not bad & def. easy drinking.

Dark golden color with a big frothy wihite head. Sweet, tart semi-hoppy aroma. Initial taste was mellow, a lighter body. Has ginger notes and soda like carbonation. A nice dry, somewhat bitter aftertaste. Full flavor is the exception, still a nice drinkable beer.