Van Diest Früli Strawberry Beer - Brouwerij Huyghe

washburnkid

New York

3.7/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

It is what it is. I'm reviewing this to its style.

Hazy ruby with a light pink head, which is actually quite gorgeous. Aromas and flavors are just dominated by super, super sweet strawberry preserves (ie strawberries and sugar, and more sugar). Thick coating of strawberries left on the palate. I'd go for this one again as an appetizer or dessert beer, but having this alone will give me an unwanted sugar high and having it with a meal will completely drown out the flavors of the food.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2011 22:29:21 | More by washburnkid

Poupae

Thailand

3.5/5  rDev +2.9%

05-21-2013 15:30:46 | More by Poupae

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +10.3%

05-20-2013 05:05:17 | More by Kmat10

hilgart1

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +2.9%

05-19-2013 02:32:48 | More by hilgart1

cosmonick

Indiana

1.5/5  rDev -55.9%

05-19-2013 01:49:54 | More by cosmonick

seinfeldette

Ontario (Canada)

1.25/5  rDev -63.2%

05-16-2013 20:23:53 | More by seinfeldette

jkball01

Kentucky

2.5/5  rDev -26.5%

05-13-2013 16:34:57 | More by jkball01

twenty5

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -26.5%

05-10-2013 16:14:04 | More by twenty5

beernads

Florida

3.5/5  rDev +2.9%

05-08-2013 07:49:26 | More by beernads

kristenspaintings

California

4.63/5  rDev +36.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

The beer presents very little resemblance to what people would traditionally consider a “beer”, but that should not be held in consideration as it is unique. Just opening the bottle, you get a tremendous fruit smell. Upon drinking you honesty can easily taste the berries and citrus, something I thought would be faint or impossible. This beer is light, refreshing and goes great with cheeses. It might be a little more difficult to pair with foods than a traditional ale or pils, but a bit of creativity can let this beer really shine. I did not think I would like it, but boy was I ever wrong.

My thoughts on pairing: Don't drink this with salad as the sidebar says. Whose suggestion was that?

Because this is a strawberry-flavored beer I wouldn't drink it with anything fruit or vegetable related, especially strawberries. You should try cheese & crackers or maybe something savory on the less- spicy side. If course Belgian food but also Northern European/ Scandinavian food comes to mind. Just having the one bottle on its own (and loving it) more research in this area is definitely warranted.

Would someone please update the pairing suggestion for this beer? What you eat with it could wildly influence your opinion of it.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 14:40:48 | More by kristenspaintings

Kerrie

Michigan

3/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Hmm, I was expecting more out of this.

A- Looks good- a light copper color with carbonation bubbles, though no head and almost no lacing.

S- The best part. It smells delightfully like strawberries, but that's its biggest strength and falls flat everywhere else.

T- Tastes horribly bland and watery. It really tastes just like strawberry flavored water. I can get a big bottle of that for about fifty cents (and that actually tastes better due to more carbonation), whereas this was $3.50 and not even 12 oz and tastes more bland. It's not *bad*, mind you, just bland as all hell.

M- A little thin and watery, but that's what I'd expect from a fruit beer anyway.

Overall, horribly disappointed for the price, and I normally love fruit beers. I'll be sticking to Delirium Tremens.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 23:52:29 | More by Kerrie

schopenhauerale

British Columbia (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -4.4%

04-13-2013 06:12:26 | More by schopenhauerale

mfnmbvp

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

8.4 fl oz. bottle, with label on back saying best before 03/2014. An intriguing looking bottle & design. My second beer from Brouwerij Huyghe, the other one being Delirium Tremens. Poured into a Firestone Walker pint glass.

A - Pours a quarter inch of white fizzy head which quickly disappears into nothing. Body color is a hazy dark salmon pink / light red color. Bubbles floating to the top, and some light sediment twirling around. Nice thick lacing on the way down.

S - Immediately after uncapping this, the smell of genuine strawberry hit me. I search for it, yet I don't get any coriander or orange peel, though.

T - Luscious tart sugary strawberries. Has some other natural berry attributes to it, also. Tastes almost like a fruit-roll-up. A nice, refreshing, sweet beer. Searching for some yeast or malt, but again I find nothing. Moderate carbonation.

M - Feel is sweet and sticky, with no real lingering flavors of any kind.

Overall, refreshing, delicious, and very natural tasting. Highly drinkable at 4.10% abv, yet I do wish this was packaged in normal 12 oz. bottles instead of such a smaller serving. Probably a bit too sweet of a beer to session, but I could drink a ton of these. A try again beer, for sure.

Van Diest Früli Strawberry Beer ---4/5.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 02:40:09 | More by mfnmbvp

AugustusRex

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -4.4%

04-12-2013 23:12:05 | More by AugustusRex

JohnK17

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +10.3%

04-12-2013 15:37:50 | More by JohnK17

RedneckBeerz

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +10.3%

04-11-2013 22:43:18 | More by RedneckBeerz

TheAnk

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +17.6%

04-04-2013 00:32:32 | More by TheAnk

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev +10.3%

04-01-2013 13:32:51 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

Stevie_Janowski

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +39.7%

03-31-2013 23:44:08 | More by Stevie_Janowski

harpus

Alabama

3.25/5  rDev -4.4%

03-27-2013 14:33:56 | More by harpus

tomdavistoronto

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -11.8%

03-24-2013 18:50:23 | More by tomdavistoronto

wethorseblanket

California

3.48/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured from a smallish 8.4 fluid ounce (250 ml) bottle a hazy, orangish pink with floating bits of fruit which are lifted up by the robust carbonation only to fall again. Initial 1/4" white head fades quickly to the rim leaving globs of sheet lace.

N: Obligatory strawberries up front with some wheaty grains, slight must, sweetness and corriander spice. The strawberries lend a faint plastic/cheesy character.

T: Like a sweet strawberry soda, but balanced by the wheat with some orange zest. Initially the sweetness comes with the first sip and then is muted.

M: Light body and semi-full carbonation. Fruity and zesty wheat throughout from start to finish.

O: Balanced fruit and wheat with orange and faint corriander was surprisingly pleasant. Easy drinking at 4.1 %. Perhaps a tad too much sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 20:39:38 | More by wethorseblanket

nickfl

Florida

3.5/5  rDev +2.9%

03-06-2013 01:50:16 | More by nickfl

ihmurria

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4/5  rDev +17.6%

03-04-2013 21:12:16 | More by ihmurria

DerekMorgan

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +10.3%

02-28-2013 02:06:26 | More by DerekMorgan