Vapeur Cochonne

Brewed by Brasserie à Vapeur
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Leuze-Pipaix, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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UPDATED: FEB 23, 2003 a headless bright orange swamp..visible fumes of tart lemon, guezeishness..barnyard citrus carnivals..how surprised I was to find absolutely NO carbination whatsoever..I'm not sure what is going on here? woody notes on top of unexplainable chardonney-like vibes..some metalicness in the aftertaste..turns very chardonney-like..now that I think about it..tastes more like wine than beer.. drying apricots & plums with more metal...vinous endings and apricot aftertaste

I poured this ale, my attention diverted to some other dimension, and then realized my glass was full of the yeast sediment from the bottom of the bottle. Not that I don’t like the yeast, but little chunks were floating EVERYWHERE. Not to be deterred, I continued with the drinking. Poured dark brown with little head. Sour. Malty. Bitter. Hints of fruit. Not an exceptional belgian ale.

Dark brown color, small head. Very malty, sweet with an apple like flavor. Flavored with orange peel and coriander. Taste is a complex blend of fruitiness, chicory, hop bitterness and malt sweetness. Some alcohol bite (9%). Mouthfeel is smooth and full, slightly oily (alcohol). Finish is crisp. Aftertaste is slightly bitter. Interesting beer.

Kinda hard to put into words. It was very good, but their are better ones out there.

Petite version. Nose like sweet vermouth, amber body, small off-white head, some lacing. I rarely find a Belgian Ale I don’t like, but this isn’t very good. Orange peel comes through strongly atop a distinct alcohol note, warming as it goes down. Reminds me of Campari or maybe cointreau, both of which I don’t like.

This brew has an appealing hazy maroon color and an aroma that is full of bubble gum--though a malt twinge appears as well. Again, bubble gum (not sure where this comes from out of the chicory, orange, coriander??) is dominant and the malt is in the backdrop of the flavor.

Slightly cloudy, dark red color. Alcohol and sweet malt, various fruit in the nose. Alcohol is present in the body, very malty, sweet, rich, faintly bitter, complex. I’m in between with this beer, sometimes too sweet, sometimes not.

Petite version. Sludgy peach with tons of floating and bottom dwelling chunks. Thin, fizzy tan head. Very light carbonation. Aroma of oranges, powdered sugar, pineapples, Granny Smith apples, hints of pale malts and of lemons. Fizzy, syrupy sweet, strongly (cough!) alcoholic and chalky. Stinging carbonation, followed by a thick, chalky, coating, powdery sweetness and mild fruit overtones. Alcohol taste subsides thankfully. Going to let this sit and mellow for a bit. Softens slightly, but you can still hear this thing fizzing away like there’s no tomorrow. Flavor is mildly tart, chalky (almost pasty) and alcoholic (again). Only saving grace is the sweet fruitiness. Finishes sweeter, although lifeless and zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Smells of apricot and honey. Hazy peach colour, no head. Tastes like humbugs. Very smooth, Quite enjoyable.

UPDATED: JAN 19, 2005 Side-by-side comparison of 2-year-old bottle of Cochonette -- clear copper body, small beige head. Aroma is medium sweet, berry, caramel. Taste is medium sweet, berry, some caramel, vinous, faint smoke. Finish has anise and is mildly metallic. Watery medium body, alcohol well hidden. Score above reflects this version. 1996 bottle of Cochonne -- not nearly so good. Copper body with minimal off-white head. Aroma is tart, some sweetness, light berry. Taste is geueze-ish, very tart. Medium body, minimal carbonation.