De Proefbrouwerij Signature Ale

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Corked bottle and served in big ole snifter: Pours a clean initial golden hue with a fading frothy head and spotty lace. The aroma has notes of light brett and cheesy yeast funk, herbal and aromatic hops, hint of bready and pils malt, touch of honey and apple esters and some wood.

The taste starts with equal amounts of sweet malt and wild yeast characteristics backed by lovely acidic fruit and some sublime leafy hops. What I like is the sudden rush of pepper, clove, and lime leaf towards the finish. The mouth feel is sprite and lively dancing across the palate and oh so refreshing with just a hint of alcohol noted. Could stand to be a bit dryer but I think that will come with time.

Seems a bit of a hybrid to me, part Biere de Garde, part Saison and part Tripel. Think a slightly young and funked up Duvel...Whatever it truly is, I like it and need to get more. Sorry Vinnie, Ron, Phil, and Steve but Tomme is still the best American brewer I know (you guys are still pretty good in my book).

This Belgian Strong Ale pours a medium amber color from a corked 750ml bottle. Large sized white foamy head, with good retention and nice lacing. The aroma is yeasty, a touch musty and fruity. A medium bodied Belgian Strong Ale. The malts are fruity and sweet, lots of orange and peach flavors. The hops are fairly floral. Touch of must and leather. Lively carbonation. Nice balance. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is crisp and dry. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Bottle (750ml). Shared with blankboy, GregClow, mds and tupalev - blankboy’s bottle. Cloudy, amber-gold with a large frothy/creamy white lasting head, nice sticky lacing. Lush, fresh aroma - near 10 for me - spice, crushed mint, light tree fruit, sweet malt, and tons and tons of sweet floral Belgian yeast. The taste had a surprising bret tartness to it, also crushed mint again, alcohol, fruity malt, but all evolving into a dry, sharp spicy finish. Dry, crisp mouthfeel, quite astringent, very complex with background funky yeast ... stunning; sophisticated; shows what brewing with the real-deal yeasts can do!

750 mL c&c bottle from Wine Warehouse in Charlottesville. Hazy orange pour with an excellent head. Big retention and nice lacing. Very yeasty and fruity aroma with notes of citrus, apple, pear and mild funk. A much mellower taste than expected. Earthy caramel tones with an cherry/citrus fruitiness. The brett is barely noticeable in this young bottle. A very nicely balanced and pleasant brew.

Thanks for sharing general_gao. The body was medium gold colored with a light khaki head. The aroma was funky with notes of hay, apricots and carmel. The taste was leathery with some carmel. There was also apple core and notes of apricots. This is a strange brew, but part of my problem is that I do not like apricots.

Sampled at Heritage Liquors Inauguration beer tasting in Maplewood, Minnesota. A 750 ml bottle shared by Eddieb23 and Joebrew, pours a semi-clear golden orange brew with a thick off-white head that quickly dissipates to a fine film and thin ring. Aroma of fruity and golden grain malt with wheat, some candi sugar, banana esters and a touch of dry hay. Taste is medium to full bodied, very light carbonation with flavors of yeasty golden grain malt, some light citrus and barnyard funk. Finish is slightly dry, a tad spicy with a tart golden grain malt and banana aftertaste. A statement rather than a signature would be appropriate for brand name.

Pours a striking clear gold with frothy white head. I smell fruit like lemon mixed with pears and flower pedals. Its just a bouquet of fresh cut flowers. Wow, the flavor is a hand full of flower pedals. I also get a mixture of lemon, pears and apples. There’s mild yeast in there too. It could use a good year of age. Flavors seem less than melded appearing a bit too bright.

bottle, cloudy orange color, strong head, aroma of spicy orange funkiness, very smooth flavors of lemon, clove and other spices, finish is sweet and sour bitter