De Proefbrouwerij Signature Ale

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Bottled at Lost Abbey, Batch 2. Poured medium golden with lots of rising carbonation and a short, fizzier cap of white head. The aroma picked up sweeter bready notes upfront accented by lemon zest and brighter floral accents.. seemed to be a lot of floral and perfumey hops present (Amarillo?). The flavor had dry pale and bready notes at the core with spicy floral and citrus bitterness throughout.. dry and funky with great balance. Fluffy on the palate with higher carbonation and a calculated dry feel all the way across.. drier still on the finish and damn-near refreshing (which is quite a feat for a beer of this size). Loved it!

(750 ml bottle from 1828 Vintage House, cellared for 10 mos. after purchase) Pours bright but hazy goldish burnt amber with a finger and a half of slightly lumpy off-white head that is well-retained. Aroma of yeast/cheese, caramel, citrus-lemon tang. Mouthfeel smooth, surpisingly a bit thin, lightly sticky on back end. Very nice well-defined and persistent rings and sheets of lacing. Nice-looking. Flavor is sweet with lots of yeast and pepper. Lip-smacking caramel builds toward finish. Notes of citrus/lemon/apricot and other light fruits. As it warms there is a fairly big hoppy bitter bite in the finish. This one is also a bit hot which detracts a bit from the drinkability. The hops are kind of a neat surprise.

UPDATED: OCT 15, 2008 Pours a golden copper orange color with a massive rocky white head. Aroma has hints of honey and tons of flowery hops. A pleasure to drink. Sweet for a fleeting moment before stripping any and all phlegm from your mouth and throat with earthy bitterness. Suddenly, a burst of sweet pineapple juice re-moistens the palate and sends you face first into another sip. Fuck yeah!

200th rating! The aroma was spicy pepper when first poured with a strong earthy character and a pleasant sweet fruit presence. The aroma was bready and citrusy and seemed young in the world of Brett. The citrus and fruit worked well with the peppery spice to add depth and complexity. The beer poured into the chalice clear golden amber with a moderate white head which rose well and retreated slowly to lace the glass. The flavor was slightly sweet with a menthol characteristic which was herbal. The flavor was also bready and citrusy and had a light presence of Brett which did not seem to have reached it’s full potential. The flavor was subtle and interesting with complexities of Belgian yeast and Brett. The finish was dry with lasting strong fruit flavors and peppery spice into the aftertaste. The body was medium with a moderate level of carbonation and a creamy palate. This one may benefit from some aging for the Brett character to develop, but currently it is certainly a tasty brew. 750 ml corked and bailed bottle.

Poured with a decent cream colored foamy frothy fluffy head and good lace. Color is a slightly hazy medium amber. Aroma is spicey yeast malt a bit of fruit. Flavor is like aroma but bitterness dominates the sweet. Good body and carbonation. Finish is like flavor with alcohol warming at the end of medium length. Decent beer, but nothing too remarkable.

UPDATED: APR 26, 2008 Pours a hazy deep golden copper color with a white head. Aroma is some green apple, brett, lots of juicy citrus hops. Flavor is some malts, fruit, brett, and a long grassy, grapefruit bitter finish.

750 ml bottle. Take an Orval-esque Belgian and a mild IPA and blend them together thoughtfully and I think this is what you would come up with. Golden-yellow pour with a white head. Aroma was heavy with yeast, especially leather, dough and brettanomyces’ lacquer. Average aroma of malts and hops, especially lemon and citrus and other fruits. Behind it all is the smell of clove. The flavor is moderately sweet, moderately bitter nad heavily acidic. Medium body with a watery texture. Enjoyable.

Bottle from 7 Corners New Seasons Market in Portland, OR==Poured a golden copper body with a thick fluffy white head. Nutty, spicy, sweet, and florally hopped. Sticky mild tartness that hit the back of the tongue. Very nice!