Deus Brut des Flandres

Bottle from 2002. Pours dark gold with a small haze, and a big white head. Aroma is extremely complex with notes of white pepper, and big floral notes, especially Hawaiian white ginger, as well as cinnamon and allspice. Flavor is just as complex as the aroma, sweet, spicy and softly phenolic, with notes of clove, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. Alcohol is apparent but very softly so. This is a true gem of a beer, one of the best beers in the world, and worth seeking out, and aging.

Methode Champagne, caged cork and all. Very nice presentation. This truely is the Champagne of beers. Deus pours a brilliant gold color with a tall spritzy froth that just sits there like a lazy southern afternoon. After the dissipation we are left w/ a full bubbly ring and constant effervescence from the bottom of my tall glass. Fine champagne streamers persist w/ a few beachballs clinging to the bottom. Delicate aromas of bright clove spice and sweet flower nectar. Nice! Full, thick nectar like honey w/ superb effervescence. A huge malt backbone supports a plethora of fruity spice. Flavors of apple, peach, honey, clove, ginger, coriander, cinnamon, and vanilla. The finish is long and sweet although not cloying and bittered peacefully w/ a peachpit component to balance it all out. This is a remarkable brew. It’s unique, passive yet generous character is absolutely delicious. Like sucking on a honey suckle. The alcohol is barely noticeable. Toast w/ Deus for your next celebration. Overall: Although this brew is sweet like a barleywine it is delicate, complex, warming, and balanced never becoming cloying. Deus lives up to the hype. I find this brew totally and completely appealing to all the senses. This is the finest example of brewing engineering I’ve encountered to date. Bravo!

In case you are unaware, Deus means God. Pours just like champage. A darker gold with a great balance of bubbles. Very large head. Nose is a gentle yeast with a slight sweet edge. Flavor is like a demi-sec champagne, yet it’s beer. Sweet, but an obvious though slight hop influence. The effect of being aged in wood is noticably present. Strong perfume presence as well. Feel is like a good champagne. Drinkable? Personally I think when they made this, they thought: "What would John like?" Unbelievable. My first perfectly rated beer. If there are any ways for this to be better, I can’t wait to try it out. $30 for a bottle...and damn well worth it.

Pours golden. Sweet honey and marzipan aroma with some spicy, perfumey and floral notes. Some subtle fruity tones. Sweet, yeasty and sweet flavour. Some perfume, flowers and marzipan in the flavour as well. Champagne like carbonation. Lingering sugary aftertaste. Medium body.

At the 2007 Big Beer, Belgians, & Barleywines Festival in Vail. OK, now I know what all the hubbub is about. This beer kicks ass. This is aptly named as we know that god loves us because of this beer. Truly it is nectar of the gods. Far, far better than Champagne. The mouthfeel is like a sparkling wine, but the flavors are sweet-free fruitiness of many of the woddy fruits. No unpleasant dryness at all either. Simply divine. Where has this been all my life?