Pauwel Kwak

33cl dark brown bottle, as shown - at ’’Le Belge’’ in Offernbach. It was served with an original kwak glass, which looks more like a test-tube from the physics lab and comes with a wooden mount. Pours a clear ruby red with a big, off-white head. No lacing. Heavy-bodied Beglian strong ale with thick, oily mouth feel. Spicy and metallic aroma, a bit like brass - and some malt. Not so nice. Taste is a complex mix of sweetish berries (cranberry), with some banana and molasses. Dry, bitter finish. Nice beer.

750ml corked and caged bottle: Beautiful golden pour with an inch-thick head that really lasts. The aroma is very spicy, yeasty. Sweet malts, mostly sweet bread and caramel, work off the esthery yeast well. Very light and drinkable, but with a nice warm finish.

Opened the bottle, and out came sludge. They basically bottled a yeast cake and sold it to me for $5. Talk about manufacturing errors. Smelled good, but I couldn’t try it like that. Maybe I’ll try it again sometime, if I feel like risking another $5.

Colore ambrato, schiuma piuttosto fina, un buon sapore ricco e fruttato. La forte gradazione alcolica non trova proprio il giusto equilibrio, ma comunque si tratta di una birra davvero gradevole. Alcol: 8,4%. Costo: 4,50€ per una 33cl.

Cloudy with a caramel color and candylike aroma. Thin head. Very smooth entry with a malty, fairly-carbonated mouthfeel. The alcohol flavor is present early and lasts with caramel and a citrusy, almost grapefruit aftertaste.

This been for sure has an interesting traditional way of serving the beer. FO you that do not know, you place it in a small version of a yard glass with a wooden structure holding the glass in. There is a small bulb at the bottom the the glass. I was told the beer is called "quack" because if you drink it and do not turn the bulb you get a nice spash in the face from and air bubble (similar relsuts of a boot). Other than the glass the beer was not that bad IT had a great color, and head on top. The flavor was very malty, but the beer was clean. I had a good hops finish.

A - Spicy with a hint of fruit. A - Amber with little off white head. F - Light, but full sweet flavor, which is surprising for a strong beer. P - A touch fizzy for my liking. O - A good strong beer.