Ciney Speciale

Brewed by Alken-Maes (Heineken)
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Jumet, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

(on bottle) ciney - chimey? Being a newbee, I´m having a hard time not comparing this one to the chimey bleu. And this one comes out on the flipside. A very heavy floweral aroma almost make me hold my breath before drinking. Some sherry notes, but most baked aple and dates in the mouth. end as sweet as it began. maybe will it be good for the celler?

Sweet malts, some lactic quality, Belgian yeast, pear. Coppery red-brown, light haze, off-white frothy lacing head. Medium-heavy body with medium carbonation, light alcoholic burn. Sweet malty start, light acidity, and some mustiness. Alcohol, warming sweet malt finish. Light metallic taste, too. Sweet lingering after. Strong Belgian yeast flavor, too.

Intens redbrouwn color with fluffy ivory colored head.Rich fruity aroma’s off dried stonefruit and fine hints off black chocolate and asian spice.Fullbodied beer with nice roundness and a rich mouthfeeling.The afthertaste is bittersweet.

Bottled: Redbrown coloured. Huge brownish head. Fruits (plums), chocolate, caramel, light spices in the aroma. Flavour is sweetish, fruitish and has a alcahol touch. Has a nice creamy aftertaste with a vague alcahol bite.

Dark amber color; giant thick head. The malt aroma is lightly sour (and quite poor). Good body balance, dryer than the Brune and with an alcohol punch more; malt, a lot of caramel; the mouthfeel is more persistent, the final less strong. Pleasant, but the Brune is more interesting, this one is more ordinary.

UPDATED: MAY 25, 2005 Small light brown head and dark body. Sweet, rum/alcohol, and not much else!?! Gentle, drinkable, 9% abv should offer something more... Re-rate: 2 year old bottle; same as above but pleasently aged with notes of fortified wine, vinegar and that marzipan Joris mentions. (3,5).

Brown with orange highlights. Big foamy tan head, fades rather quickly. Typical Belgian strong aroma, Malty with fruit and alcohol in the nose. Rather thin, not as sweet as expected. Alcohol warms all the way down but doesn't bite too harshly. Not a bad beer but one I'm not sure I will look for again.

Dark brown, with a rich cream head. Low bitteness lends to malt predominated beer. Some nice rich malty notes up front but has a thin middle. Notes of raisins. Alcohol is almost undetectable for such a big beer. Another nice big belgian brown ale. Similar in some ways to Gouden Draak.