Piwojad Truskawka, strawberry saison

PIWOJAD

TRUSKAWKA

(strawberry saison)

Style: Belgian saison

Tested: Bottle, 28 Sept 2016

Brewed: Piwojad, Poland

Today, first bottle resulting from my small collaboration with Browarium (eBrowarium.pl). Strawberry saison from Piwojad (last name is polish word play – Piwo – beer; Mrowkojad = ant-eater).

You may be aware that saison is a typically Belgian brew style. Mostly brewed in summer and apparently drank by Walloon farmers during harvest. Well, summer is over, but we had a great warm day yesterday. Had a really nice long walk in the evening. Living next to the field in Walloon I felt a bit like farmer, so I have decided to try that one.

After opening there is a clear strawberry aroma with a small addition of cloves. Strawberry saison pours dark, murky amber with very small and quickly disappearing head. Low carbonation is a plus. First sip and it tastes like Belgian beer. Another plus. Bit surprisingly, strawberries are detectable only in the aftertaste. Main taste comes from yeast and spices (cloves again). Which is expected from a Belgian-style beer. If fact very interesting interpretation of original style.

Later on I was glad that I haven’t googled Strawberry saison before trying. To say that the opinions are polarized is the least. For me really good beer and a perfect addition to warm day.

We live in Walloon and understand something about saison beer. Was drinked in the very warm autumn day.

Brussels Beer Project Delta IPA

DELTA IPA


Brewed: Brussels Beer Project, Belgium
Tested: several bottles, 2015, 2016

One of the very few breweries in Belgium that has a (slight) idea how to make the new wave beers. Still it is an example, why Belgian brewing tradition does not work with the hoppy style of pale ales and IPAs.

Probably the overall note of this IPA would be 3 out of 5.

On plus – it is not too heavy carbonated and you can clearly get scent and aroma of hops (cascade?).

On minus, it is still way too yeasty (too many esters) and carbonation is way higher than any other (non-Blegian) IPA I know (photo nicely shows you how the beer is trying to escape the glass). If you are in Belgium and have to try a local IPA, this is one of the most drinkables to go.

Cubanisto, rum flavored beer

CUBANISTO

Style: flavored lager
Brewed: Anheuser-Busch InBev

Being experiment friendly, I have got myself convinced to try Cubanisto. Why not. I have tried beers flavored with worse things than rum.

Or at least I thought so.

For me simply horrible. Some week lager was completely screwed by adding a rum aroma that you usually add to cakes. In fact, you cannot call it rum flavored beer. It only smells and tastes like rum. Artificial, over-flavored. Very bad. Even Desperado is much better choice.

Sorry for trying that one…