Belgian brews garner mixed reviews on COMDB. Rye is best served with ginger ale or cola in our presence, rye infused, casked or in any other way influenced brews have also at times been subject to a harsh reception. And nobody likes a snob. One unique thing about a snob, is even others of their own ilk don’t like them. So here we have a snobbish Belgian rye ale. And by the way, what beer snob does not know the IBU of the beer they are drinking? I mean, really Shillow.
But, and there is almost always a but, although no guarantee of a but, but at times a butt sanction, the verbiage on the can caught my eye. “with soft hints of indifference and strong notes of irony” I wish I had written that! “An intellectual brew that no one else understands” but I do! I am confused, conflicted and thirsty. Not knowing what to expect there is only one thing left to do. Pour and score por favor.*
A dark slightly reddish golden pour, with a pretty white head. A perfect pour if I say so myself. Definitely a rye aroma in the malt. A malty malt aroma. A malt tease falcon** with a touch of sky-high rye bye and bye. A taste test is in the cards, I can deal with it. Full malt with just a touch of rye, balanced with a bit of a bitter spicy bite biting back, but not too much or too bad. Nice full (not creamy, just full) mouthfeel, malty but the touch of rye makes it refreshing?? How do they do that? I am more often a wry guy than a rye guy, and most often gone awry, but this rye ale works for me. Subtle not harsh that’s the ticket.
The rye almost creates a lager sweet finish at times, as subtle as …. something very subtle.*** Sips, big swigs, medium quaffs, the myriad of malty mouthfuls all work. Spicy pepper salami and cream cheese crackers as a snack were a couple of notches up the social register compared to my standard chips and dip but seemed to be snobbishly appropriate and met their match with this brew. A pairing as perfect as my pour. I chilled and warmed up to this brew. A pleasant surprise, and we all love a pleasant surpirsie.
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