This is a big deal. Under one roof , in one night, you get the chance to taste historic and iconic beers with the people who know them back and forth.
Verhaeghe, Duchesse De Bourgogne
Duchesse de Bourgogne is the traditional top fermented reddish-brown ale from the West-Flanders region of Belgium. This refined ale also known as "The Burgundies of Belgium" is a blend of 8- and 18-months old ales following careful maturation in oak casks. 100% natural and unpasteurized.
Verhaeghe, Duchesse Cherry
Duchesse Cherry is a blend of 1 and 2-year-old Duchesse de Bourgogne with local, sour cherries added to the maturing beer. The malt beverage is aged in oak casks and utilizing whole cherries from the Limburg region of Belgium, as opposed to cherry syrup that is sometimes used in cherry beer production, Duchesse Cherry truly lives up to its name.
St Bernardus ABT 12
The St. Bernardus Abt 12 is the flagship brew from the range of abbey beers put out by this Watou brewery. This beer is a something of a runaway success, and accounts for more than half of the total brewery output.
It's by no means a coincidence that the Abt 12 is often compared to the iconic Westvleteren 12 (XII) from the nearby Sint-Sixtus Trappist abbey. The reason? Until 1992 the Sint-Sixtus Trappist beers were brewed, under licence, by none-other than St. Bernardus. And up to this day, the St. Bernardus abbey beers are brewed using the Sint-Sixtus house yeast.
The St. Bernardus brews are distinctive, nonetheless. The brewers here make full use of the slightly salty, but soft, water originating from the local well. Westvleteren's brewery, by contrast, simply uses water supplied by the local town.
The Abt 12 is a classic Belgian dark quadrupel, with an alcohol content of over 10% ABV. It has been brewed here since 1946, on the basis of the original recipe compiled by the Westvleteren monks.
And the story behind its name? The Abt, or Abbot, is the highest-ranking monk in the abbey; so perhaps it's no surprise that the brewery sees the Abt 12 as the highest-ranking amongst abbey beers. Due respect must be paid.
A less well-known fact: the laughing monk on the label has been known to give a saucy wink. But when can you catch it? Well, it's reckoned that the winking monk can be spotted on every 1000th bottle that rolls of the production line in the bottling plant.
St Bernardus Whit
St. Bernardus Wit is a traditional Belgian white beer developed and brewed in collaboration with the legendary Master Brewer Pierre Celis. This ale is very pale (whitish-yellow color) and quite hazy. The head is white and dense. In aroma, it has a wheaty, apple-like, tartness; herbal-spicy notes with coriander and orangey fruitness and honeyish sweetness. Very refreshing: perfect thirst quencher !
A recent addition to the brewery’s lineup, the St. Bernardus Witbier is a wonderful example of a style that nearly went extinct. Developed in cooperation with Pierre Celis, who almost single-handedly resurrected witbier, the St. Bernardus take on this timeless style evinces all the intriguing aromas and flavors of the classics. Rife with notes of herbs, spices, and citrus fruit, as well as soft and pillowy malt, this beer is at once complex yet very approachable. Tangy orange peel and lemon notes sit hand in glove with aromas of fresh black pepper, thyme, and marjoram, all delicately balanced with faint, candy-like malt sweetness. Tim had high praise for the inviting essence of sweet lavender, lime, and verbena and how they played a “vivid counterpoint” to the subtle malty sweetness. Rick enjoyed the perfumed hints of coriander and the faint spiciness of the wheat riding underneath, commenting that the aromas, while integrated, were “bright and refreshing.” Not unexpectedly, this beer rests in the glass showing a cloudy, pale yellow hue, shot through with almost milky streaks of white, and is topped by a billowing, velvety white head. Subdued flavors of lemon, confectioner’s sugar, and peppercorns drift over a silky smooth base of sweet, faintly caramel malt. Tom felt the hop bitterness was just a tad rough. He was intrigued by the silky mouthfeel and unexpectedly crisp, dry finish. The “sharp stab of lemony zest” and “unctuous creamy nougat” took Lee by surprise. Elegant and refined, St. Bernardus Witbier is a highly quaffable brew for those sweltering summer days.
Fortuna, KOMES Baltic porter
KOMES PORTER reflects the history of brewing, referring to the 18th century tradition of brewing porters in the Baltic states. At their prime, Baltic porters represented one third of the market, which is the best evidence of their popularity. We offer you a well-balanced, dark, strong beer with a distinct flavor. Slow fermentation at low temperatures in open vats, coupled with long (at least 3 months) maturation have resulted in the beer’s character and complete, complex nature. The Porter’s bouquet matures further in the bottle. Time is on its side.
Fortuna, KOMES Raspberry Porter
Komes Raspberry Porter is a multi-dimensional, bottom-fermented beer. At the maturing stage, it is enriched with raspberry juice, Madagascar vanilla and Indian chilli peppers. It offers a unique combination of sweetness from the porter and vanilla and fruity notes of raspberries, topped with a slightly spicy finish. Despite its strength, the beer is extremely drinkable and reminiscent of chocolate and vanilla ice-cream. Over time in bottle, it changes its profile to increasingly mild when the notes of the roasted malts transform into dark fruits, reinforcing the beer’s fruity aspect.
