De Proefbrouwerij Signature Ale

Brewed by De Proefbrouwerij
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Lochristi - Hijfte, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Hopfiger, süß muffiger Beginn. Dann herber, modrig hefig, etwas langweilig. Süßlich, dann hefiger, leichte Kräuternoten. OK. 11/10/8/7/10/8

Orange, small white rim. Citrus, orange, alcohol and fusels. Fusels again, orange, candi sugar, apricot, and yeast esters à gogo. Very slick, oily, syrupy and in the aftertase, a little hops. Well. Seems they get the same results in Belgium...

750ml bottle pours hazy golden yellow with a soft white head, looks and smells delicious, with a green, dried hop leaf and stinky cheese funk in the nose, and a funky feet and BO-like cheesy flavor, along with a wonderful dry grassy green hop flavor and a moderate to heavy bitterness for such a style.

My Bottom Line:
Exotic citrus fruit swirl around copious honeyed, biscuity malts, embracing this Belgian Strong Ale’s sprightly coniferous wild yeast in a most lustful manner. Its inherent spiciness and heavenly harmony make this continental collision of brewers a decidedly unforgettable occasion.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A layer of foam coats the deep golden mist.
-The citrusy fruitiness could be redolent of lime zest and lemongrass.
-The lively effervescence accentuates drinkability.
-Alcohol does not play a significant role in the flavor profile.
-Brettanomyces, malt character and hop fruitiness are all perfectly balanced.
-A light citrusy tartness wanders within.
-Sandy hop resins colour the finish, blending in the wild yeast idiosyncracies.
-The rich base malts are heftier than the usual Belgian Strong Ale, but they are crunchy, not heavy.

Bottle; thx Jason!

Best use of brett that I have seen thus far. Pours with a large, creamy, white head covering a murky, dark orange body. Full retention from the head, and great lacing left on the glass from each sip taken. Aroma is fruity with some spiceyness, citrus-sour and very perfume like and balanced. Fruity and hoppy taste upfront, then a nice balance added by the funkyness, finishing spicey with some fruity notes (but very dry). Lively bubbles, velvetey mouthfeel.

Bottle from the MJ Rare Beer Club. Pours orange with a ince fluffy white head. Smells of citrus, flowers, some pine, some bret hints. Tastes mildly bitter and tarte with some nice peppery splashes, lots of hoppy bitterness. The balance isn’t quite what I was hoping on this one, but it was a nice experiment nonetheless.

Objectively speaking: Successful collaboration between giants on a style (funky Belgian golden ales with American aroma hops) of growing popularity.
I like: Beautiful sunny golden hue. Large 1-inch eternal head. Superior aroma. Fresh tangerine notes. Tea tannins. Floral^2. Fresh and green. The best lemonade I’ve ever had. High complexity. Best new beer in a while.
I dislike: Still a bit more residual sugars than I prefer. Perhaps more bitterness would take care of that. A bit too cerealic/thick, pils malt needs crispiness, not roundness. Finishing soapiness. Out of place banana esters in mouth.

Bottle shared with Dave of the Brick Store Pub. Yeasty aroma. Cloudy golden with white lace and head. Somewhat funky in taste, it’s an understated and balanced wild ale. Very great and medium mouthfeel.