Vuur & Vlam - Brouwerij De Molen

dln646

Sweden

4.01/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

'tis time review a beer I've savored three times since this summer, and whenever I do, I'm ending up taking full-sized sips of it. This time around it pours hazy amber with a more intense golden core. The white foam is massive and leaves behind some substantial gorgeous lacing.

First thing that hits is the utmost interlaced and complex hop aroma. Vuur & Vlam is hopped with five different hops which donates to a vast fruit aroma spectrum of dried fruits, citrus, fruit bread, marmalade, apricots, tropical fruit and some distant weed. It's not exaggeratedly aromatic, rather nuanced and beyond compare appealing.

It is dry and there's a light malt body with a vivid freshness. A soft carbonation quiver against my tongue as the complex hop character of Fire & Flames spices up my mid-palate. The finish has a satisfying length and most hop characteristics come to life here in grape, grass, apricot marmalade and peach. To me, an almost perfect level of bitterness (around medium+) contributes to a high drink-ability.

Vuur & Vlam, in my opinion, is best drunk on bottle, while still being fresh. Still it is out of harm's way to say that a half year on bottle won't obliterate this beer. Over these last months I've come to develop a firm union to this IPA. The hopping is sophisticated, complex and nuanced. This is wholly up my alley - not explosively fruity and gummy. Vuur & Vlam is a role-model, and a force to be reckoned with. http://quaffable.org/?p=401

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 19:15:32 | More by dln646

Alex-by

Belarus

4.96/5  rDev +29.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

A: Amber color with white head, which dissapears pretty fast.

S: I expected it to be a little bit stronger. Smell is very light - hops, a bit of citrus.

T: A lot of citrus and hops. Though EBU is 63 but it not so bitter as expected. You get more citrus and malty sweetness with higher temperature.

M: Light and fresh.

O: This is one of the best IPA I've ever had. It is not very bitter and really light. Awesome beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 20:16:17 | More by Alex-by

captainbearcat

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +11.3%

05-21-2013 11:31:03 | More by captainbearcat

DoubleJ

California

4.08/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

A fresh bottle served at 't Proeflokaal in Delft and served in its own glass. On to the beer:

Looking toasted orange in color and topped with a small head from the pour. Thinn strings of lace ring around the glass as the beergoes down. A pleasant hoppy aroma shows that De Molen not only did their homework, but excecuted the brewing process well. Ripe grapefruit aromas escape and are paired with mango, burnt sugar, and a tease of tea.

Bringing the congas would be one of the few ways to make this beer more tropical. Already, the beer is full of a tropcial fruitiness, highlighted by sweet grapefruit and pineapple. The malt is not to be overshadowed, carrying with it toasted caramel and burnt sugar. The medium body is just right, but with very low carbonation, this already good Dutch IPA may have missed a chance to jump to an even higher level.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 04:52:55 | More by DoubleJ

Nolen12

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

05-13-2013 15:39:44 | More by Nolen12

TheBadger0289

New Zealand (Aotearoa)

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

05-11-2013 01:15:53 | More by TheBadger0289

jklecko2

Missouri

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

05-03-2013 16:35:56 | More by jklecko2

coenbust

United Kingdom (England)

4/5  rDev +4.7%

04-04-2013 23:18:36 | More by coenbust

mtbdonn

United Kingdom (England)

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

03-15-2013 20:20:46 | More by mtbdonn

Harkrank

Sweden

2.75/5  rDev -28%

03-06-2013 23:10:24 | More by Harkrank

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

4.01/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

330 ml bottle with freshness date. Poured into a wine glass. Produced a rather impressive crowning white head with amazing retention, great lacing. Colour is a honey brown. Stunning.

Smell has a bitting citrus fruitiness. Lots of grapefruit peel, some astringent sourness. Some biscuity malt. Pretty intense citrus, close to something like grapefruit pledge, except with a nice honey malt undertone.Very fragrant and interesting.

Taste follows the nose, earthy, leather, mouth-pluckering grapefruit and slight pine needles. Foam is mildly herbal hop bitterness. A light oiliness and honey holds it together, more perceptible yeast. Bitterness probably could use more malt to back it up, a fair bit of sour citrus is a dominent. More balanced to the end, finishes dry and oily hopped.

Mouthfeel is moderate, nice and refreshing, though slightly watery, carbonation is moderate. Quite frothy, a bit of alcohol spice on the end.

Probably the most impressive head and retention I've come across on an IPA. This is certainly an interesting and different IPA. I enjoyed it, a bit dominated by the hops, but it takes a slightly different approach from most American brews, more yeasty I find. De Molen has produced another quality offering, worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 17:48:30 | More by mick303

Farnswurth

France

3.25/5  rDev -14.9%

02-25-2013 20:09:33 | More by Farnswurth

f4zZ3

Sweden

2.53/5  rDev -33.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Bottle from SB

Served in bottle at home. When pouring, the glass fills up with a orange to gold liqiud. Some white head, about a finger high. Sinks fast with a little lacing on the glass.

Citrus-smelling one. Some lemon and orange, a bit of grapefruit as well. Some wierd note of old tired IPA. Minerals?

The taste is citrus as well. Not a long lasting one. Bitter but not for long. Thin body. Some kind of earthy tones. Would have been better with a bit more body.

Thin beer with moderate carbonation. The bitterness stays for only a short time in the mouth.

Not the worst IPA I've tried, but a bit of a let down. Way to thin in both body and taste.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 00:21:59 | More by f4zZ3

bark

Sweden

2.79/5  rDev -27%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

The colour is amber-brass, the liquid is clear. The two finger head is white and airy; it sinks slowly leaving some lacing on the glass.

The smell is surprisingly smooth. Lots of juicy hops and some bitterness. Bitter-sweet notes of lemon/lime and grapefruits. Orange peels and hints of rubber bands and green plants. Hints of alcohol and butterscotch. No harsh notes.

The taste is bitter with distinct green hoppy flavours. It is dry and all hop-centric, not much malt here. Some pine needles, grapefruits and tangerines. Thin body. The aftertaste is “green” and dry, almost harsh. Some butterscotch and harsh green plants in the finish.

The carbonation is medium strong, the bubbles are mid-sized and long lasting. The liquid is medium to thin.

Good bitterness and citric fruits, but the beer is way too thin and plain.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 18:12:10 | More by bark

Sunnanek

Sweden

3.54/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

A: Pour is hazy pale orange with a rather tall and creamy off-white head. After slow dissipation the lacings appear, rich.

S: Tropical fruits galore! Rich American hops, bitter and floral; grapefruits, pineapples, ripe red oranges, peaches and lemon sezt. Caramell malts, semi-sweet, in the back but not weak in smell.

T: Follows the smell, but perhaps a bit milder. Think the smell watered.

M: Aftertaste is bitter and LONG. The body is rather thin while carbonation is rich.

O: It started of right, but the thin body ruins both feel and taste.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 19:39:00 | More by Sunnanek

Hultkrantz

Sweden

3.51/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On the nose sweet, can-conserved cherries - plums a safer reference. (Edit 2nd: Bubblegum)
A silky body, honey, and a bitter aftertaste. A hint of ashes. The particular kind of bitterness in this beer was not to my liking.

Overall rather enjoyable. More amber ale than IPA, perhaps. I probably won't be buying this again though.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 06:15:19 | More by Hultkrantz

Maakun

Afghanistan

3.94/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Bottle in Orval chalice. Pours a nice light amber with small head that leaves some big bubbles floating on top.

Smell: very light and fresh, citrus, hops and a very light yeast.

Taste: nice grapefruity IPA taste, good medium fruity bitterness are balanced with light roasted malts. Quite dry. Latr some more spices and other citrus fruits. Aftertase is mostly bitter.

Mouth: again quite light and fresh.

Overall this is a nice IPA style beer. I like fresh and drinkbable beers, so this fits me fine, though it tends slightly to the light and delicate side.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 23:52:32 | More by Maakun

mitlinks

Switzerland

4/5  rDev +4.7%

02-03-2013 14:58:13 | More by mitlinks

Mattias

Sweden

4/5  rDev +4.7%

02-02-2013 15:49:12 | More by Mattias

FLima

Brazil

4.28/5  rDev +12%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Hazy amber color with an abundant off-white head with good retention that goes till the end of the tasting.
Aroma of tropical fruits and citrus, hints of passion fruit.
Very well balanced beer, sweet malty flavor with a fruity and citric and bitter taste, presence of grapefruits and tangerine.
Medium to full body with a good carbonation and an effervescent sensation at start.
Had it their Op & Top first, which is also very good and then this, got even better! Excellent beer, difficult to say what to change.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 00:52:17 | More by FLima

HomerS

Sweden

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

12-30-2012 21:07:27 | More by HomerS

supermeniscus

Netherlands

4/5  rDev +4.7%

12-24-2012 21:50:03 | More by supermeniscus

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

4.1/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 330ml bottle with a bottled-on date of May 14th 2012. Purchased from Trembling Madness in York a little while back, and stored in my fridge. Five hop varieties and two types of yeast - crazy...

Poured into a Delirium chalice. Bottle conditioned and highly carbonated upon opening. A hazy golden-amber hue with plentiful carbonation and visible sediment. Produces a vast head of fluffy white foam with superb retention; it resembles a meringue. This slowly reduces to a thick surface layer, leaving plenty of lacing behind. I wish I'd used my Duvel tulip instead! Aroma of fruity hops and Belgian yeast. Notes of white grapes, melon, mango, passion fruit, peach and citrus, accompanied by phenolic yeast esters, mild spice and a warming hint of booze. Fantastic.

Tastes of fruity hops and earthy Belgian yeast, underpinned by a hint of light, grainy malt. Notes of melon, white grapes, mango, tropical fruit, peach, citrus, fruity yeast esters, faint clove, phenolics, mild spice, herbs, stewed hops and a warming whiff of background alcohol. Dry and yeasty, with a stinging bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth, spicy and tingly, with good carbonation and nice body. Stimulates the tongue and dries the palate. Aftertaste of fruity aromatic hops, Belgian yeast and a herbal bitterness.

Very tasty - lovely hop presence. More Belgian IPA than American, with tons of fruity hop notes followed by a more restrained yeast character. Dry and spicy; the balance between hops and yeast is carefully achieved. Lovely body - goes down like a dream. A quality brew, and an example of a successful Belgian-style IPA. Well worth trying if you come across it.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 02:13:06 | More by jazzyjeff13

CrazyDavros

Australia

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 4.5

Pours pale amber with a large head.
Massive lychee hit in the aroma. Pretty much dominates. Graduall fades to let some peach and papaya through along with some spicy phenols and sweet, biscuity malt.
Biscuity and bready malt first up as flavours with a bold grapefruit and pine hop hit after. Some booze and Belgian phenols following, tripel-style.
Too much carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 01:00:52 | More by CrazyDavros

cjac

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

11-22-2012 01:56:47 | More by cjac