Over the past couple months I have enjoyed a number of truly exceptional beers, so I thought a post might be in order though perhaps not the primary focus of this forum!
Brasserie de la Senne Zinnebir (Brussels' People Ale) 5,5% abv
A bottle that was a couple months past its "best before" date. But that seems to be a joke with so many proper beers... This was a lovely Golden Ale, refermented in bottle. It smells refreshingly grassy and hoppy yet still has some honeyed sweetness and much of what winos call minerality. Well judged, elegant carbonation. Wonderful fruity hoppiness on the palate, it has some malty sweetness to it but finishes wonderfully dry and crisp. At 5,5% abv, I could have drunk many more of this. An extremely satisfying beer.
Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA 7,2% abv
Quite a lovely aroma, hoppy and grassy but also deep and complex though not overtly malty. Full body, but lively, lovely bitterness. Not an aggressive style of IPA despite being obviously a US beer. I thought it was rather lovely!
Huvila Black Door H.O.D.A.
Hop Overdose Ale. Just 3,9% abv but 100EBU! This comes from a brewer in Savonlinna in Eastern Finland. HODA used to be sold only in one bar, Black Door, in Helsinki, but now it is also available in bottle. And I am very, very happy about that. I love hops, but what I do not always appreciate is that massive hops are so often combined to massive alcohol and sweet malt. This beer is crisp, light, not obviously malty yet not watery either. Citrus and grass aromas; dry and deliciously bitter - as the label says: "If life seems bitter - try this!" Awesome stuff!
Mikkeller The American Dream 4,6 abv
A Pils but smells more like an IPA! Lots of grapefruit scented hops; dry, deliciously light yet intense palate. Nice stuff and very drinkable. And gladly transcends the boredom that Pils usually is.
Mikkeller Drink'in the Sun 3,9% abv
An "American Wheat Beer" according to the label. Only Amarillo hops are used. This smelled slightly of caramel and candied oranges - certainly a sweeter aroma than in the American Dream - yet still somehow managed to give the promise of dryness. And yes, it was dry and crisp, very moreish, substantial and packed full of flavour despite its lightness. Nice!
Cantillon Grand Cru Bruocsella 2004 no idea about %
Like that Riesling I recently wrote about, all I can say is "f**ck me this is awesome!". A Lambic, aged for 3 years in oak. Hardly any bubbles, lovely funk as expected from a proper beer with brett, the brewery describes this as a Grand Cru white Burgundy, and in some ways I certainly can see the comparison: this is extremely complex, more vinous than beer-like and benefits from bottle age. But unlike with sadly too many Burgundies, this beer actually can age and it doesn't stink of new oak.
Brasserie de Cazeau Saison 5% abv
Elderflowers, tartness and citrus yet wonderful fullness, too! Immensely refreshing and immensely complex - one of the best beers I have had this year, but due to the elderflower aromas, I think this might be a rather challenging drink. It was to me, at least: I found the first third of the bottle a bit weird, on some sniffs even a bit off-putting. But as with all the truly great things in life, a little perseverance payed handsomely and the last 2/3rds were awesome. And perhaps only eclipsed by the wonderful...
...Jandrain-Jandrenouille IV Saison ? % abv
which was a pleasantly coriander-smelling Saison (I don't know if it actually does have coriander, though it is a very traditional addition). Lovely hops, lovely balance, lovely complexity. Not as crisp as the Cazeau, but still wonderfully hoppy and refreshing. Awesome beer.