Contreras Mars Especial

Brewed by Contreras
Style: Belgian Ale
Gavere, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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UPDATED: MAY 27, 2010 In short: A super nice Saison-like golden.
How: Bottle 33ml, consumed (probably) very fresh the day if purchase in Belgium
The look: Cloudy dark golden body topped by a large white head with low retention
In long: Nose is barnyard, dusty, musty, with citrus notes. This is a Saison alright. Taste is pleasantly dry with a strong spicy sensation. Very yeasty and the yeast has a strong barnyard dusty character the brings a sawdust sensation. Some citrus fruits, bubblegum and tropical fruits lighten up the beer. This beer feels a lot more like a Saison than Contreras own Saison (Valeir Extra). If anything this is an exemplary Saison that is not a Saison. Weird. I want more Contreras brews, especially especial.

Bottle. Quite flat and sweet. Touches of soy, and then some apple and berry fruit. The mouthfeel felt quite flat and empty.

(Bottle) Hazy amber colour with huge, beige head leaving traces of lacing. Fruity, malty nose with apricots, grapefruit, citrus peel, flowers and yeast. Fruity, malty taste with notes of citrus (grapefruit and orange), dried apricots and spicy, citrussy hops in the finish. Medium body, rather sweet. Nice and well made beer. In short: spicy citrus on solid malt foundation.

UPDATED: JAN 17, 2004 Slightly aged. Amber coloured with huge head. Extremely complex aroma. Notes of mango, coriander leaves, lemon grass, acid and other stuff. Very refreshing flavour with notes of iron and acid. A truly great brew. Thanks Joris.

(33cl bottle best by 1-12-12 thanks to bu11zeye) clear amber, no real bubbles. Nose of caramel, raw grain, raisin, floral, and honey. Taste of light alcohol, honey, caramel, watery grain, unbalanced and hot in the finish, under carbonated as well.

Aroma is caramel, figes and fruity. Copper, off-white head, fair lace. Sweet, caramel, light bitter, fruity, little sticky. Reading Joris’s rating of this beer I imagen there must be a mistake and he’s confusing it with another beer or the brewer decided to complety change his recipe. This doesn’t taste like a flemish sour ale. It’s more like a good Palm.

Bottled. Hazy orange with a white head. Yeasty and fruity aroma; pomerance and spicies. Grassy, peppery flavour with a sourish and dry bitterness.

Fruity, viny aroma, oxidized, with raisins, light spice, some caramel. medium amber color going towards orange, with a fine, thick, low head. Sweet, fruity flavor, lots of raisins and honey, a little caramel and citrus. There is a distinctly tart aspect. Not excessively bitter, rather dry at the end, though. Smooth, somewhat low carbonation. Seems slightly oxidized. Well-balanced but not all that interesting. Seems like it would be better if fresher. 

(Bottled) Hazy reddish amber with a medium, frothy-lacy head. Sweet-sour, berryish aroma with some yeast, flowery hops, and hints of metal. Spicy, very malty, berryish and slightly tart flavor with a sweetish finish, and hints of alcohol. Medium-bodied palate with smooth, but a bit fizzy carbonation. A quite nice, malty and balanced ale.

Bottle (33 cl) from Systembolaget. Hazy orange with a medium white head. Fruity, earthy, and yeasty aroma. Moussy mouthfeel. Quite dry. Good but not very interesting.