De Proefbrouwerij Signature Ale

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

750 mL bottle, corked and caged...aged sample, perhaps 2 years? pours copper, fairly clear until the dregs are poured in, with a modest off tan cream. Doughy aroma that is pleasant, but not as fruity and bright as I remember the fresh sample. Bretty flavours that have clearly dulled with the age, but offer some wonderful oaky sourness and subdued and relaxed barnyard flavours that are only possible with this kind of age (not to mention down right hard to accomplish any time. Though I would rate this slightly higher fresh, I have to give this beer loads of credit for surviving and thriving in my cellar for quite some time.

Tallahassee, Fl. - Liquor Loft - 750 ml caged corked bottle. Murky, dark orange pour with a soft silky white head that leaves an extremely thick coat of lacing and sticks around for quite a while. Nice aroma of apricots, peaches and hints of spices. Sour, yet sweet flavor with some apricots, spices - cinnamon and allspice comes to mind. Some brief citrus rounds it out in the back end. Mouthfeel is rich and creamy. Excellent - reminds me of a strong Saison.

Bottle - 750mL corked and caged. Pour is gold with splashes of rust and orange. Sort of an early fall sunset. Sticky white head leaves splotchy lacing on the glass. Aroma is hoppy and spicy with citrus notes, pepper, bit of funky Belgian yeast, hints of stale urine, and drying flowers. Nice! The first sip starts bitter but begins to mellow. More yeast notes, citrus fruits, spicy hops, flowers, tart fruits (some lemon juice), cobwebs, bit of earthiness, Belgian yeast, and dusty malts. Body is effervescent and tingly but chalky in spots. Lingering bitterness. Overall medium feel. Finishes with more spicy hops, citrus fruits, mellower yeast, flowers, tart fruit flavors and spotty earthiness. Very nice!

Light almond brown, thick, whipped creamy head. Lightly malty aroma, cherry, mild brettiness. Flavor is burly crystal malts, but quite dry, moderate bretty character, cherry syrup, fruity chalkiness (sweet tarts), clean finish, lightly orangey, ashen bitterness. Graham crackers, sharp carbo fading out.

Bottle: Orange gold, nice white head and lacing. Nose of bright spice, eucalyptus, citrus and vanilla, coriander, grapefruit peel. Bright yeast and nice malt, very aromatic. Floral, citrusy, explosively peppery. Finishes creamy, good belgian with light hops and a crisp, earthy spicy persona. Thanks BuckeyeBoy!

Amber with a nice off white head. Aroma is alcohol, yeast, spice, faint caramel. Taste is alcohol, caramel, yeast, light brown sugar, mainly a heavy yeast taste.

Bottle courtesy of Kryptic: Poured a deep hazy golden color ale with a huge bubbly foamy head with good retention and great lacing. Aroma of funky notes with some barnyard-like notes as well. Taste is also a nice mix between some barnyard-like notes and some funky yeast with a dry European hops finish. Full body with limited filtration and great carbonation and no apparent alcohol. It kind of reminded me of Orval but I would still prefer to drink Orval over this even thought it is an interesting experiment.

Honey-straw hue with vigorous carbonation and a bubbly white head. First thoughts are of Orval with all of the brett and hops, but the hops are much more grassy- and citric-American in this beer. Bananas, pepper, pineapple, tarragon aromas. Very bright and dry with prickly carbonation. Citric and bready to start, finishes with lots of pepper and pine. Lingering doughy taste. Light in body with a slick texture and fierce carbonation. Should improve as the brett picks up, but already very good.