She pours with a thick head on her. It took at least four top offs to empty the entire bottle into this glass. The thick foam is mostly medium and large bubbles. The foam is pretty resilient, and it's semi-sticky, so I can expect at least some lacing on top of the quite hazy, chestnut-colored beer. The aroma is very different from the two I had previously; the predictable Belgian yeast is very muted, if it's there at all. Instead, I get dark fruits, raisins, spices, and caramel. It's not a bad smell, but it wasn't what I was expecting. Subverting expectations could lead down a beneficial path.First sip, and my fears about the yeast were unfounded. Instead, the yeast is dominating the back half while the caramel is mixed with toffee on top of a bit of a bread malt, but the dark fruits are there to lend interest. Honestly, I think the spices just muddy the waters more than they need to. As a result, the natural complexity of the beverage is made more complex in areas where it doesn't need to be. But, that's just a sip. We all know things can change when you start to drink properly.
Tip-in is spices on top of a sizzling carbonation with plums and figs underneath it. The middle continues the carbonation sizzle, but the caramel and toffee assert themselves with sweetness as the bread takes over the top of the mouth with the spices and dark fruits joining it there. The finish is where the yeast hits, but the sweetness of the malt keeps it in check. The trail off is a little more sweetness, a little more dark fruit, and the memory of the yeast.
Bottom Line: I'm not good with my geography, but the Netherlands are close enough to Belgium.
4.5/5
