Corsendonk Agnus (Abbey Pale Ale)

Bottle and tap. Liquid gold in a bottle! Odd to call it a "pale ale’. A bomb will go off across the palate as you enjoy a very unadulterated and elegant triple. A must!

Corsendonk wooes me again, this time with its iteration of a Pale Ale which, despite its name, acts much more like a trippel. A thick pluming head rushes from the glass from the very start of the pour, though thins considerably once it settles (like a man, har har!) The head is cream colored with strange orange splotches, reminding me of a delicious tangerine gelato I had recently. The aroma is where I begin to suspect that Corsendonk has bottled me a trippel instead of a pale ale. First note the strange absence of hops. I mean, I’m surprised there’s no nose hair burning hops, but there isn’t even subtle hops notes. Rejoice! Instead I find butter, white grapes, orange, lemon, wet moss, crushed black pepper, olive oil, truffles and even a little watermelon to sweeten the whole lot up. Really, I’m an awe - this is a luscious, tasty smell, and I’m ready to dive into the beer with swimming trunks and a snorkle. Corsendonk has done it again with their Pale Ale’s palate, which is soft but not spritzy, making the perfect conduit for the assertive but genteel flavors within. A bitter wheat element announces itself early on, but even its raspy demagoguery is silenced by the musk melon, orange, white wine, cotton candy and carrot cake flavors. Although there is certainly the danger that the beer could be oversweetened by all these fruit n’ pastry tastes, Corsendonk has demonstrated their skill in the Pale Ale’s toothsome but not irksome sugars. Bravo!

bottle thanks to ethereal. Smells lovely. Apples, honey, coriander and cardamom, gorgeous. Straw yellow, light gold colour, big white head. very sweet in flavour, lots of golden syrup and honey, little herbal bitterness, nettles, good late bitterness. round, well balanced beer. velvety mouthfeel. good stuff.

On tap at the Oldsmar Tap House (Tampa, FL) on 5/30/08. Pours a cloudy, golden color with think white head that provides glass lacing. Smells complex with notes of spice, faint sweetness, maple syrup, grass and bread. Flavor is straw, grass, yeast, bread, sweet malt. Medium-bodied ale with slightly hoppy notes throughout and on finish.

Had this beer on tap at Magoo’s. Nice belgian ale, with plenty of spce and fishy undertones from the yeast. Light gold color, a little hazy, modest head and a clean finish.