Lupulus Classique Noir D’Ardennes by Brasserie Les 3 Fourquets

January 10, 2015 by cloudx30 tagged ardennes mountains, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Belgium, belgium beer, Brasserie Les 3 Fourquets, Hatsune Miku, Humble Wolf, Humulus Lupulus, Lupulus, Lupulus Classique Noir D'Ardennes, The 3 Boiling Kettles, vocaloid | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.55/5

Lupulus Classique Noir D’Ardennes by Brasserie Les 3 Fourquets is an 8.5% ABV Belgian Strong Dark Ale.

Label:
Top-fermented beer, crafted with inspiration.

==Introduction==

“Humulus Lupulus” or as translated better, the “Humble Wolf” is the main mascot for the hidden Farm of a brewery in Ardennes Belgium. This is the first time I try a beer from Les 3 Fourquets or The 3 Boiling Kettles and I really wanted to find it when my friend Richard showed this one to me. Now that I finally got it, I will give it a shot and let you know what I find. Cheers!

Aromas:
Oak, herbal and floral hop hints, dulce de leche caramel, dark fruit raisins, plums, tart cherries, raspberries, vanilla, oak, chardonay, funky wine grapes, peppercorn, brown sugar, rye, citrus, dark candi sugar, orange preserves, butterscotch, lavender, licorice and waffle cone.

Flavors:
Dulce de leche Caramel, Dark fruit raisins, plums, figs, funky wine grapes, caramel, oak, mild tart lemon, peppercorn, molasses, Belgian candi sugar, white grape, lavender, herbal notes, vanilla, butterscotch, old orange preserves, rye bread, anise, licorice, tart raspberry, blackberries, waffle cone, floral notes, grapefruit hints, pecan pie and trail mix.

Aftertaste:
Funky grape, dark fruits, oak, vanilla, caramel, anise, licorice, wine grapes and earthy notes but mainly finishes dry. No alcohol in the taste, medium to full body, sipping drinkability and creamy mouthfeel.

Overall:
A very good Dark and mildly Tart Belgian. This beer was surprising. I was expecting a Sweet Abbey style Dark Belgian but what I got fits exactly with the whole wolf in the woods in the land where the Brewery is in Ardennes Belgium. You see, this beer is almost like a Dark Strong ale and Belgian Pale Ale Cuvee. The flavors of what makes each of those individual characteristics great using the hops and the dark candi sugars is what compliments this fine beer. I was dumb founded at first but the more I tried it the more I liked it. I would recommend a try if you really wanna get this as it is quite unique.

Anime Corner:
Vocaloid Hatsune Miku as Little Red Riding Hood was fitted perfectly in this little pairing for many reasons. Being the first beer from Les 3 Fourquets, the whole aspect of the forest, the wolf from the brewery trying to find little red riding hood and the color of her hair fits with the whole lupulus. If you look closely, you can see the wolf in the background but then again, Miku looks pretty evil herself. What if she is the true wolf in the woods disguising herself like the sweet innocent wolf looks like in the label. That is the mystery and hence why this beer is a mystery in flavors of nature as well.

Sources:
http://www.zerochan.net/full/1641460

Saint’s Devotion by The Lost Abbey

March 15, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged abbey beers, Ajora Glabados, banana notes, Belgian Pale Ale, belgium beer, Brettanomyces, Devotion, Final Fantasy Tactics, orange marmalade, prickly pear, Saint’s Devotion, St. Ajora, steadfast devotion, The Lost Abbey, Wild ale | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.75/5

Saint’s Devotion by The Lost Abbey is a 6.66%ABV Belgian Pale Wild Ale brewed with Brettanomyces.

Label:
It’s an unassuming road leading to the priory. Here, off the corner of two intersecting roads, dedicated monks have been making beer for over 150 years. It’s always been a simple life — the kind that requires they brew only enough to sustain the activities of their monastery. In the silence of passing seasons, they pray, they brew and retire in solitary existence behind the sheltering walls. They live a most interesting life. Most likely one we couldn’t sustain.
Nearby, each summer, the trellised fields spring to life as rows of resinous green cones are trained toward the heavens. Rumor is some monks love these hops and being surrounded by budding yellow aromas and the leafy pungent fields inspired them. Since we aren’t sensible enough to locate our brewery near hop fields, we can only offer this blond ale in celebration of our Abbey brethren and their steadfast Devotion.
___

The last time this beer was released years ago. Way before I got into beer tasting or any thing related to craft beers. This year it was released in small batches. For those that never tried this one. I’ll admit, I have yet to try the regular Devotion, which I will be getting soon. So being a big fan of The Lost Abbey beers is no excuse. The aromas are very sweet. Cane sugar, flowers, vanilla, pilloncillo sugar cone, caramel, flowers, peaches, apples, honey, biscuit bread, orange marmalade, slight mango and herbs. The flavors are a bit different. Some vanilla, sugar cane, caramel, and honey, peaches, citrus and mango are still there. Although since this is a Pale and Wild ale, there is some hoppy, grassy, and rich grapefruit bitterness and some funky grape wine sourness as well. Nothing too detracting from the ale but balances out the sweetness. Some other flavors like peppercorns, prickly pear, papaya and banana notes. As you let the beer sit, some more grapefruit sweet, sour and bitter flavors come out. This was quite good and got way better as I let it sit. So now there is no reason to not try the regular. Although the regular may not taste like this awesome one, I am sure it will still be Holy…

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dark by Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan

October 25, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged belgium beer, german tradition | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dark at 5.3%ABV by Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan is a world class Dunkelweizen or Dark Heffeweizen. Why is this one one of the best anyway? Well, it could be because it made in the German tradition using Bavarian yeast as well as made in the World oldest brewery (Since the year 1040). There is more to this beer that can be said about the best in Belgium. This is one of the best in Germany. Bavarian yeast is that special yeast that when fermented with malted wheat provides banana and clove flavors to a beer. So we get a greater amount of banana and caramel bread flavors with less bitterness as in other dark heffs. Although some citrus like sweet orange is there. Some dark fruit like raisins are also there but only notes of them. A more of a spicy and tart flavor along with a hint of chocolate from the roasted malts to give it a banana chocolate like after taste as well. Heffeweizen and even bready Belgium beer fans should try this one for sure, it is a very awesome beer.

2011Review:
According to BeerAdvocate.com, this is at the top of the list for Dunkelweizzens of the world. I tried this with my friend Chino the other day. Like the franzinkanner but more emphasis on the wheat, banana, and clove flavors that make it different from other dark heffs. Unfortunately, unlike the number 2 on the list (Lips of Faith Dunkelweisse by New Belgium) this does not have as high alcohol (9%ABV) but regardless the flavor is really nice. Being a big fan of Heffs and Dunkels, I would highly recommend it 😛