Petrus Speciale

Brewed by Bavik-De Brabandere
Style: Belgian Ale
Harelbeke, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

11.2 oz. bottle labeled Petrus Special Ale. Copper color, off-white head. Sour cherry nose. Very drinkable and refreshing. Mildly sour and bitter. Not great but definitely not bad.

Bought from rumbles, another recommendation from Mr Jackson’s book unfortunately this specimen has suffered....in Te Awamutu terms i guess you could say that it’s suffered the DDT. Boiled cabbage on the nose followed by boiled broccoli and metal on the palate...perhaps a touch of cauliflower...in any case the brassicas have been at this one!

Bottle. Pours a mahogany body with a 2 finger off white head. Very sweet with fruity esters pear and coriander come to mind. Lightly spiced, musty, with a light floral hoppiness finish is metallic.

Bottle. Pours a cloudy gold with a 2 finger fluffy white head and decent lacing. Nose is fruity and spicy. Taste is sweet malt, some ripe fruit and slight sour aftertaste. Lighter mouth feel. Not very good.

A light somewhat soapy aroma. The flavor on this is of an amber ale with a a very light airiness. Not as spicy as most Belgians, this is just okay.

Pours a clear copper to orange with a relatively healthy white head, diminishing to a dense thin head. The nose is metallic with a strong fruity bent and some toasty astringency. A little earthy, slightly reminding me of feet. Average to slightly creamy body with low viscosity. The flavor is in line with the nose. Rather metallic, an almost nutty sweetness over some toast and light astringency. Fruity, a bit of cinnamon maybe? Rather astringent with strong metal in the finish. I like htis less the more I drink... but this is interesting still I guess.

It is interesting to read the ratings for this brew. Highly varied to say the least and not just with overall quality but with the actual nuances that each individual perceives. I very much liked it and found it quite easy to characterize on the palate. It pours a hazy light amber with a modest off-white head. Initially aroma was predominantly of bread dough but as the head calmed down and the temperature mellowed a striking aroma of burnt sugar came forward very much like the topping of a creme brulee. The flavour was highly malt driven with sweet toffee taking center stage. Nice subtle fruity tones lifted things in the finish. Medium-bodied with an earthy mild bitterness in the end. I actually really enjoyed this.

bottle, dark brown color, aroma of nuts, malt and preserved fruits, flavor is fruity spice with a metallic finish