Bruegel Amber Ale

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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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.

UPDATED: DEC 7, 2009 2009-12-07. Crisp dark yellow body, modest off white head fades. Aroma is yeasty, lightly alcoholic, bready undertones. Light fruit. Flavour is similar, yeasty, light alcohol, bready fruit character, light oxidation? Light bitterness in the finish, mild fruity tang lingers. Average palate is fairly carbonated. Okay, bit old? 6/3/6/3/12 - 3.0 Bottle from the LCBO

November 2003. Poured from the bottle a slightly hazy amber. Interesting aroma is fruity with a hint of raisin and something familiar I can’t place, bit of spice as well. Flavour is mellow and subtle, malty with hints of sour apple. Nice mouthfeel. 7/3/7/3/14 - 3.4

Bottle. Pours clear amber with an average, fizzy-frothy cream colored head, average retention with good lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (cookie, biscuit, toast, caramel), light hops (woody), and average esters (apple/pear) with notes of dates. Flavor is heavy malt (cookie, biscuit, toast, caramel), light hops (woody), and average esters (apple/pear) with notes of dates. Medium body, carbonation, and creaminess, light warmth with a lightly sweet finish, but also somewhat dry.

Pours clear amber with a thick foamy head, lot’s of effervescence. Nose is estery and a bit sour. Flavors of spice and orange peels. Mouthfeel is much like champagne, lots of acerbic carbonation.

Drank at about 55 degrees - mentioned only because at that temperature, Bruegel gave off an unbelievably strong scent of apricots. Almost like sniffing a jar of jam, the fruitiest beer I’ve ever sniffed at. Taste was fruity, without any bitterness at all. But it wasn’t powerfully sweet either. A good, and different ale.

Golden brown in color with a thin head. Not the greatest-looking beer in the glass. Aromas just like dulce de leche. Lots of caramel on the nose and the palate. Slightly sweet throughout. Plenty of caramel on the finish. Creamy for an amber ale, with gentle carbonation and delicate mixtures of flavors. Not altogether bad, but definitely outside the box. Points for inventiveness -- it works.

330ml brown bottle.Aromas of fruit(pear, lemon), honey and iron. Clear amber, off white head is long lasting and solid. Malt and caramel start, fruity-hoppy middle and bitter hop finish. Seems a bit too carbonated, but enjoyable nonetheless.

33cl bottle from Brewery Creek in Vancouver. Pours a very slightly cloudy gold with little head. Aroma is oddly apples and cheese. Flavour keeps that apple tone going, but it lacks a smooth balance or an interesting enough flavor profile to make it stand out. I also get a caramel tone on the end. Mouthfeel is thin with minimal carbonation and the drinkability stays low due to uninspiring flavour and overall characteristics. Not bad, just uninspired.

Buttery, yeasty, biting aroma. Smooth orange appearance with a subtle head. Flavor was buttery with a touch of hops but lacking in complexity and finish. Palate felt a touch watery. Not too bad... I’d put it higher than most other 50th percentiles I’ve had.

UPDATED: APR 24, 2006 Nice amber color with a cream colored rocky and lingering head that leaves a beautiful lacing. It smells awesome with a huge toffee note and some nuts. High carbonation for a belgian ale. Well defined toffee and caramel flavor and roasted finish. Surprisingly simple and drinkable though. No hops noticeable, makes it sweet but not cloying and very enjoyable. Some alcohol punch. Very different from other belgian ales also. Original and well done brew.