TEDIUMFeb 08 '05 Write an essay on this topic.
Popular Products in Spirits and Beers
The Bottom Line Can't get that Pink Panther tune out my head...
When I was in Andalucia last May, I didn't want to be saddled with having to drink only Spanish or Mexican beers for two weeks. No disrespect, but while these countries excel in either hot, fiery food, or hot, fiery music, for my money, they can't brew for buttons. So, with that in mind, one of the first things I did when I arrived in Spain was to make a bee-line for the nearest French Hypermarket, where this Scot was able to stock up on a few Belgian ales, as well as a couple of German ones. (How European am I?) Anyway... Brasserie du Bocq, in the Belgian village of Purnode, in the Ardennes, started life like so many others as a farm/brewery back in 1858. Then, they only brewed beer during the winter when there wasn't enough work for the farmhands. It was founded by Martin Belot and six generations later, is still a family concern. They use traditional brewing processes of top-fermentation and all their beers are bottle conditioned (yeast is added to spark a second fermentation in the bottle). They produce a range of beers, including: St Benoit, Saison Regal, La Gauloise and Blanche de Namur, but this review concernsTe Deum Amber Ale. Strangely, I could find no mention of this ale on their website. I think it may only be brewed for the Spanish market, which seems a little strange, but given the catholic connotations in the name, maybe it's not all that far-fetched. http://www.bocq.be Speaking of farmers (remember?)... Two guys were racing down the road on a motorcycle when the driver slowed up and pulled over. His leather jacket had a broken zipper and the wind hurting his chest so he wore the jacket backwards. They continued down the road but at the next bend, they lost control and smashed. A nearby farmer came upon the accident and called the police. He was asked, "Are they showing any signs of life?" "Well," the farmer explained, "the driver was until I turned his head around the right way!" Back to the beer... TE DEUM pours a dark copper colour (not unlike tea) with a huge, billowing head that soon shrinks to around ¾ of an inch of tan-coloured foam that, surprisingly, doesn't leave an awful lot of lace, even though it lasts quite well. The aroma is predominantly malty, with toffee and caramel being foremost, although there's a strong bready aroma and an almost cheesy, yeast tone. It also hints at some mustiness and there's just faint trace of grain. Nothing from the hops. It's full-bodied with quite a spritzy mouth feel, although it's not overly gassy. The taste is smooth and creamy and a little sweet up front before coffee and toffee and caramel make their presence felt. There's a gentle hint of molasses, but there's not much bitterness. In fact, the only hop note I can taste is a little tea-like leafiness. It finishes slightly dry and slightly sweet with an unsurprisingly malty aftertaste. • The Verdict • At 5.9% ABV, I thought this was quite good and I enjoyed it. It's certainly a little unbalanced, and leans towards the malt at a dangerously precarious angle, but I don't mind that too much. In fact I prefer my beers on the malty side, although on the house is even better. It's not the best Belgian beer I've ever had, it's probably not even in the top 100, but it was better than most of the fizzy, agua de orina that's available in Spain. Would I drink it again? - Only if I'm bored...geddit? Sláinte ©proxam2005  |
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