De Clerck La Belle Siska

Brewed by Brasserie De Clerck
Style: Bière de Garde
Péronne, France

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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Bottle purchased at La Cave à Bulles in Paris. Poured a clear dark orange color. Head was off white. The aroma struck me as very artificial. Like the "grape" smell you get from grape candy. There was also a flowery aroma, but not like a bouquet of flowers. It more closely resembled a flowery liquid clothes detergent. Some skunky hops also came out occasionally. Sweet on the tongue. the flavors mimicked the aromas to a certain degree. There was also a distinct raspberry tootsie pop flavor. This beer was not at all good.

Nose is a bit sour, with a hint of sour raspberries. Malt, light hops, some lactic quality to it, too, like a fruit lambic. Dark red-amber, cloudy, with some dark chunks settled on the bottom of the glass. Thin foamy off-white lacing head. Medium bodied, with pretty active carbonation. Starts with good acidity, carbonic tang from all the carbonation, and a bitter quality of tannins. Dry. Overall, the flavors are rather weak, not so much subtle. Berry fruit flavors, acidity, and chalky bitterness prevail, with just a bit of hop and malt flavor. In truth, this tastes more like a Flemish sour ale than most bière de gardes I’ve tried so far. It’s pretty refreshing, and has a decent clean after, with just a little chalkiness. Quite a bit of sediment in this 25cL bottle, though.

Brewed in Picardie, this a Northern France Amber Ale. The De Clerck brewery in the Somme area makes around 7 different beers, mostly dark, of which this is the most successful. It tastes rather thin for a 7% ale, and is a bit on the sweet side. This is a poor quality beer that tastes rather like an amateur home brew. In its favour it has some fruit elements and a mild, refreshing fizz. I picked this up quite cheaply at a French Market in Rochester. If you see it, best not to be tempted into buying it - stick to the cheese and bread instead.

UPDATED: MAY 18, 2008 Bottle@Home, May 08, 3.5 Aroma of raisin, wood and a hint of iron. Brown color, beige large head, good lace. Sweet, raisin, iron, herbal, light bitter, sparkling. Not very complex but certainly interesting. Easy going. Bottle@Home, Dec 07, 3.4: Aroma of dirt and caramel malts. Brown color, beige head, good lace. Light sweet, light bitter, hint of raisin, dirt and rusty in the finish. Medium body. Exceptional, like a saison almost. Maybe a beer you have to get used to. Note: As I rated this one very high at first my rating is an average of both ratings. Bottle@Home, Oct 01, 4.6: Here’s one I really love. It’s sweet and creamy.