Piraat 10.5%

Brewed by Brouwerij Van Steenberge
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Ertvelde, Belgium

11.2oz Stubby $4.29 Sam’s Downers Grove Piraat pours a hazed amber (partially from me letting some yeast escape). Perfectly straight streams of carbonation rise to the two finger loose bubbly head. The carbonation just keeps the head strong. Leaves moderate lacing. Aroma begins with a big dose of sugary malt. A sprinkling of white pepper and clove show up in the middle. I believe the clove is from the yeast used. I seem to pick up mango every now and then as well. Solid fumes of alcohol add a welcomed spiciness. Toasted sugary malts lay the background for this big brew. Pear, some tropical fruits and the sugary sweetness come around mid palate. Mildly grassy hop presence on the swallow that seems to balance things out. This beer really opens up as it warms. The hops shine through and the tropical flavors and aromas intensify. Good mouthfeel. As soon as this beer hits the tongue it becomes completely airy. Vivid carbonation keeps the tongue feeling alive. The drinkability is good for a 10%+ brew but one is enough for me. Good flavor but I can see the sweetness becoming cloying after more than one glass. A unique beer that I will probably pick up again. Interesting flavors mix with big alcohol that adds more interesting flavors. Another quality Belgian brew. 7/28/07

11.2oz bottle. Served in a Duvel tulip. Reddish tinted gold with a huge four fingered head. Earthy, spicy, barnyard aroma with hints of seawater and a light fruitiness. Taste is light brettaomyces?, spice, earthy, and herbal with a great bitterness and some alcohol warmth and spiciness at the end. The aftertaste is spicy and lingering. Nice full mouthfeel.

Pours cloudy yellow with a moderate head. Aroma is bananas and some mild spice. Flavor is bananas with a yeasty quality. I wasn’t all too impressed with this one.

Wickedly rich is correct. Hit me hard on the first sip. Enjoyable enough, though. It’s spicy and hoppy. Surprisingly drinkable despite the 10.5%. Watch out for this one, don’t want to knock back too many.

Pale yellow bubbly pour. Small white head. Aroma consisted of pastry dough, sweet malt, and a subtle spiciness. Very sweet malty taste with a sweet, citrus quality that balances it out. The alcohol came through nicely as it warmed. Very good brew.

Bottle from Peoples bar in Chicago. Golden with white head. Spicy and alc aroma dominate. Flavor is spicy, some cherry, alc dominates, very sweet. Med body with nice carb and alc burn. I enjoyied the brew as a tasty belgian, but the alc was just a little too much.

Spicy... I don’t feel sophisticated enough to properly describe or drink this beer yet... i can taste the alcohol, which is weird for a beer... i’m not sure if all belgian strong ales taste this way, but if they do, i’ll definitely have to get used to them (since i have 2 others waiting for me)...

Bottle, from Kolding Vinhandel. BBE: 9-8-07. Pours a muddy orange with a thin white head. Loads of yeast particles. Aroma has alcohol, oranges, slight fruity tartness. Flavour is sweet with a definite vinious fruity straetch to it. There are some distant spices as well as oranges en masse. Perhaps a bit too much alcohol compared to the flavour.