Belgian Strong Dark Ales

Bell’s Hell Hath No Fury

A Belgian style offering from Bell’s Brewing (Kalamazoo, MI) has arrived.  First time in Georgia, and after it’s gone will return as a seasonal next fall.  It’s a blend of yeasts, with a darker roast profile than you would expect Continue Reading →

SEASONAL RETURN: Ommegang Adoration

Another great winter offering is back, Brewery Ommegang’s Adoration.  This festive beer is a flavorful spicy Belgian style ale comes around in the late fall, drinks well now, and cellars well too.  If I’m correct, this is the second release Continue Reading →

COMING SOON: 21st Amendment Monks Blood

I know quite a few people that were really excited to see 21st Amendment Brewing expand distribution because that meant “Monk’s Blood”.  Monks is a premiere Belgian style ale in a can.  As the San Francisco based brewery announced this Continue Reading →

The Bruery Autumn Maple

The Bruery Autumn Maple, one of the California based brewery’s most popular offerings. Brewed with yams, and spices, nothing could taste more like fall.

Brewed with 17 lbs. of yams per barrel (in other words, a lot of yams!), this autumn seasonal Continue Reading →

Posted in Bell's Brewing, New Launches, Seasonal Return

Bell’s Hell Hath No Fury

A Belgian style offering from Bell’s Brewing (Kalamazoo, MI) has arrived.  First time in Georgia, and after it’s gone will return as a seasonal next fall.  It’s a blend of yeasts, with a darker roast profile than you would expect from a Belgian.

Commercial Description:
 Originally conceived along the lines of a Belgian Dubbel, Hell Hath No Fury… Ale morphed during development into something entirely different. Blending a pair of Belgian abbey-style yeasts into a recipe more akin to a roasty stout,Hell Hath No Fury… Ale offers up warm, roasted notes of coffee & dark chocolate together with the fruity & clove-like aromas.

Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Taste Expectations: Dark fruits.  Raisins.  Hints of coffee. Clove spices.

Availability: 12oz Bottles.  Some draft offerings.  Late fall seasonal.

7.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Seasonal Return

SEASONAL RETURN: Ommegang Adoration

Another great winter offering is back, Brewery Ommegang’s Adoration.  This festive beer is a flavorful spicy Belgian style ale comes around in the late fall, drinks well now, and cellars well too.  If I’m correct, this is the second release of this beer.

Commercial Description:
Ommegang Adoration, brewed in the authentic style of Belgian winter, or noel beer, is dark, strong, malty and assertively spiced.  At 10% abv Adoration is not a lightweight beer, and is best sipped before a roaring fire, or on a sleigh ride over the hills to Grandma’s house. (But let someone else drive.) It would also be a tasty accompaniment to dark roasts and wild game.  Even at the strong abv, the beer is well-balanced and not at all hot or fiery. The dark malts give it lush, malty flavors and aromas, strongly complemented by the five spices, including coriander, cumin, mace, cardamom and grains of paradise. Hopping is modest, as befits such a beer.

Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Spices: Coriander, Cardamom, Mace, Grains of Paradise, Sweet Orange Peel

Taste Expectations: Dark fruits.  Spicy with flavor complexity.  Belgian yeast shines throughout. Orange & coriander.

Availability: 750 ML Corked & Caged.  Draft.  Late Oct-Dec. Unless it sells out earlier.

10% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in 21st Amendment Brewing, Uncategorized

COMING SOON: 21st Amendment Monks Blood

I know quite a few people that were really excited to see 21st Amendment Brewing expand distribution because that meant “Monk’s Blood”.  Monks is a premiere Belgian style ale in a can.  As the San Francisco based brewery announced this week, Monk’s Blood will return this December.  Here’s a little info to wet your whistle.

Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Hops: Magnum, Centennial, Amarillo
Malts: Belgian Pilsner, Two Row Pale, caramunich, caravienne, aromatic, special b, flaked oats, flaked wheat
Special Ingredients: Dark Belgian candi sugar, cinnamon, vanilla bean, black mission figs, aged in oak.
Yeast: Abbey ale

Availability: 12oz/6 pk cans.  Unspecified draft.  Seasonal

Arrival: December 2010

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, The Bruery

COMING SOON: The Bruery’s 3 French Hens

The Bruery (Placentia, CA) knows how to celebrate Christmas.  Why?  They have been releasing a beer in honor of the 12 days of Christmas. (The song.) Year 1 was “Partridge in a Pear Tree.”  Last year – “Two Turtle Doves.”  2010 brings “3 French Hens.”  Each year the style is different.  Each bottle is intended to be cellared until the 12th release in 2019.

This years style:
“The third verse of our ‘Twelve Beers of Christmas’ saga incorporates vinous and oaky notes into a bold and spicy dark ale. 10% ABV.” The formulation consists of 75% Belgian-style Dark Ale and 25% ale aged in French Oak barrels.

Availability: 750 ML/ Champagne Bottles.  One time brew.

Arrival: Late October- Early November 2010

10% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Seasonal Return, The Bruery

The Bruery Autumn Maple

The Bruery Autumn Maple, one of the California based brewery’s most popular offerings. Brewed with yams, and spices, nothing could taste more like fall.

Brewed with 17 lbs. of yams per barrel (in other words, a lot of yams!), this autumn seasonal is a different take on the “pumpkin” beer style. Brewed with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, vanilla, molasses, and maple syrup, and fermented with our traditional Belgian yeast strain, this bold and spicy beer is perfect on a cold autumn evening.

The Bruery Autumn Maple is a 750 milliliter bottle, and draft offering. Seasonally.

Style: Belgian Strong Dark

Taste Expectations: Tastes of  candied yams.  Cinnamon, caramel, with a touch of molasses.  Maple and vanilla fall into place as you drink.  Some roasted malt flavors.

Availability: 750ml bottles.  Capped.  Fall seasonal.

10.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay