You might find me on the other side ... that's likeitis
You might find me on the other side ... that's likeitis
Member since:12.06.2002
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There are so many beers in Belgium, it's almost a full-time job trying to sample them all. Sigh...if only! One that I'm quite familiar with, is KASTEELBIER - sometimes known as Bičre du Chateau.
In the 1980's, brewer Luc van Honsebrouck bought Ingelmunster Castle in West Flanders where the cellars are used to mature his brewery's products. Apparently, the site has been occupied since the 7th century and in the 1400's was noted for having a brewery producing a dark beer. Keen to keep to tradition, a beer was created to commemorate this fact. A malt-rich strong ale called...wait for it...KASTEELBIER.
Two dark malts are used in the brewing process, along with dark sugar, and Kent Goldings hops, with the beer being dry-hopped. It has a second fermentation of 2-3 weeks at the brewery, at least 3 months of cold maturation in tanks, before a final 6-12 weeks in the castle's cellar. Hardly a rush-job.
But enough technical fluff, what does it taste like?
THEY SAY: "Kasteelbier is a brown craft beer with a secondary fermentation, mild and tasty, full-bodied and creamy...it has a shelf life of several years*"
* Several years? Not in this house!
KASTEEL pours a deep dark brown with some reddish highlights when held up to the light. It's topped by a generous head of creamy, tan-coloured foam that shrinks a bit, but retains well enough to leave some nice lace patterns on the glass.
The aroma is fruity and sweet with lots of malty, bready notes. The fruit tones are dark and vinous, with plums and cherries muscling their way in there too. The yeast is quite noticeable on the nose, and there are all sorts of spices assaulting the olfactory senses - although what they are, I've no idea... cinnamon and all-spice perhaps? Definitely a hint of pepper. However, it's the dark malt that dominates.
It's full-bodied with a deceptively smooth mouth feel. The initial taste is, like the aroma, all about malt and fruit. Dark and vinous, it's very tasty although perhaps a little too sweet...perhaps not. There's a hint of molasses bobbing around which gives it a viscous, treacly texture. It has a bit of a Christmassy feel, with candied fruit, malt loaf and spicy sweetness all intermingling on the tongue before finishing with an increasing dryness.
* The Verdict *
At 11% ABV, this is a beer that shouldn't be underestimated. Rich, warming and satisfying, it's almost port-like in appearance...and flavour. The alcohol content isn't all that far behind either. It's maybe not my favourite beer from this part of the world, but to be fair, it does have some stiff competition! It's an excellent beer for sipping and savouring on a cold winter evening, but I wouldn't recommend making a night of it on this beer, otherwise your night will most probably turn into daze.
Avalability-wise, I doubt you'll see it in too many mainstream supermarkets in the UK, but it should be easy enough to find in speciality beer shops, or Belgian-style pubs. Or indeed, in Belgium!
Would I drink it again? - Yes. Even if I had to beg, borrow or Kasteel it
And finally...
A cop sees a man driving around with a van full of penguins. He pulls him over and says, "You can't drive around with penguins in your van! Take them to the zoo immediately." The guy says OK, and drives away. The next day, the cop sees the guy still driving around with the penguins -- and they're all wearing sunglasses. He pulls him over and demands, "I thought I told you to take these penguins to the zoo yesterday?" The guy replies, "I did. Today I'm taking them to the beach!"
Sláinte Šproxam2004
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Great review! My hubby quite likes Leffe Beer from Belgium (for bringing home) but there is another one he drinks when there, HECK if I can remember its name though! Great review. Too many flavours in Belgium, you are right, and yet when I taste beer, it all tastes the same, YICK! : - ) TA
LegendaryMrDude 30.12.2004 13:58
Alas, Belgian pubs and specility beer shops are thin on the ground in these lager-swilling parts :( Sam.
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