Belzebuth - Brasserie Grain d' Orge (Brasserie Jeanne d'Arc SA)

Beerlover

Minnesota

1.78/5  rDev -48%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1

this beer has been sitting on the warm shelf of the store I work at since I started...close to two years ago (9/1/11) and was sitting on the warm self well before then, has a date on the bottle, don't know its the "bottled on" or "best by" date...(I hope it that former) of 28.09.09. that September 28th 2009, so this beer is well over 3 and a half years old at least!

appearance: unlike anything I've seen before, clear, filtered, no head at all but looks like it's be an off white, but it's the color that really gets me on this one...it's like...a greyish brown color...?! weird, maybe I shouldn't drink this. but i'm so curious...hope it doesn't kill this cat!

smell: not bad, not good but not bad smells like sweet booziness with some sourness and caramel.

taste: ha! had my wife try this before I took a sip, (she knows nothing about beer but does appreciate a good beer from time to time) she said "taste like grape juice, weird funky grape juice...ICK! its sour! really sour!" that's funny! sorry honey...hahaha. and now my turn... OMG! YEP! drain pour! not only that, she couldn't have hit the nail on the head anymore! exactly what she said!!

I think I need to find a much fresher specimen for this one!

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 05:07:21 | More by Beerlover

Tone

Missouri

3.64/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Pours a clear, golden color. 1/4 inch head of a white color. Good retention and good lacing. Smells of alcohol, pale malt, sweet malt, and slight hops. Fits the style of a Belgian Strong Pale Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with a low carbonation level. Tastes of strong alcohol, sweet malt, hint of pale malt, hint of hops, and a hint of sugar. Overall, alcohol was well blended for 13%, but not a complex beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 14:20:29 | More by Tone

samEBC

Belgium

3.05/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

25 cl bottle poured into a Duvel snifter

A: Quite clear, orange coloured with a big, foamy, white head. Leaves a nice lacing in my glass.

S: Obvivious boozy smell combined with caramel. Vague fruity notes, pear and white grapes.

T: Follows the smell. Sweet caramel and some toffee with a lasting alcoholic heat. Some fruitiness comes through, reminiscent of white wine. almost no bitterness

M: Medium-bodied with low carbonation and a pronounced alcohol heat.

O: Not well balanced beer. The alcohol component is just too overpowering for me, which makes for an uninteresting beer. I don't think i'll buy this one again in the near future.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 22:11:24 | More by samEBC

Greywulfken

New York

3.5/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2007 bottling date @ 13% alcohol.

A: medium amber beer with dark sediment in the bottom of the bottle; some specks made it into the glass, floating, suspension-style in the beer; no head to speak of - probably owing to a slow, careful pour

S: whacked with a sweet malt aroma when I popped the cap - sweet toffee and caramel

T: sweet toffee and caramel, just like it smelled; slight booziness probably mellowed by its age

M: reminded me of a Samichlaus dopplebock - very thin and slick, miminal carbonation; imperceptible alcohol

O: this beer is much more like a doppelbock than a BSPA - an interesting beer, but not anything that wowed me - it had a rather flaccid quality to it actually; perhaps if it had been a more recent bottling date? But I suspect this falls into that category of beer that will appeal to certain tastes, and for me, it was worth the drink - for sure - but not something I would return to.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 01:48:48 | More by Greywulfken

DoubleJ

California

2.1/5  rDev -38.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

How about that 13% ABV? Although this beer has caught my eye more than a few times, I never had the courage to pull the trigger on this highly alcoholic French beer. The label says "bière de fermentation haute", meaning top fermening. However, I'm also been told Belzebuth switched to a lager yeast, according to a Belgian beer enthusiast. Anyways, 250 ml are coming, so let's start drinking:

ZZZ, uh, whut? Oh, yeah. Beer. Focus. The color looks rather dull. It's not quite orangey or bronze colored liquid, on the paler side. Despite the high alcohol level, there's a small layer of head staying on top and dots of lace stay around the glass. That nose....if you like rubbing alcohol and white grapes, you'll really dig this. To me, a neutral spirit with a slice of fruit may be a better option, but I digress....

There's taste alright. Lots of sweetness. To be fair, the first part of the sip isn't so bad, tasting like a reasonable strong beer. But with time, the sweetness gets more out of control. Awful tasting cough drops immediately hit and continue. Rubbing alchol kicks in, and kick in hard. Light biscuity note lingering in the aftertate along with those listed attributes. It's strong, but it doesn't feel like a "weigh me down" beer, and it's a little syrupy too. The alcohol is not shy to show itself, tasting of metals. More oddball metallic flavor comes around and sticks hard in the aftertaste.

A very disjointed strong ale. Some parts are tolerable, and the rest is just NO. I can't take much of this. I hope the fauna below is thirsty.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 05:28:48 | More by DoubleJ

BostonHops

Massachusetts

3.05/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

unusually sized 8.4oz bottle served in an oversized wineglass.

a murky amber/coppery pour yields very little head, so obviously not much in the way of retention or lacing; decent amount of sediment. not the most attractive of brews.

nose offers dark fruit with sweet malts and has a vinous like character to it; surprisingly little alcohol considering 13% ABV (which is prominently displayed on the neck of the bottle...). flavor is very sweet, borderline cloying. i'm again reminded of a white wine. sweet malt... yeast... hint of apple... BSPA is definitely not the first thing i think of.

overall, not bad. not great, either. almost astonishing how well-hidden the booze is; i get it in the finish/aftertaste but i thought it would be much more in-your-face. the more it warms the more i sour on it. good in small doses, perhaps (hence the small bottle?). at the end of the day i'm glad i tried it and i'd drink it again if offered, but i wouldn't buy it of my own accord.

original review on: 08-25-2010

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 21:15:03 | More by BostonHops

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.05/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Small 8.4oz bottle, which is the perfect size for my 10oz CCB snifter. Originally $6, but a shop I haven't been to in over a year had them 50%, which made the price point worth trying.

2009 vintage, I believe, with what appears to be a 2010 best by date. With 13% alcohol, I don't think age would be bad for this thing.

Pours a dark muddy orange color. Head was cream colored, and for the ABV and age, a nice frothy finger adorned it. Retention was also surprisingly good, dissipating to a nice foamy ring, leaving some nice lace.

Definitely some fruity undertones in the nose. Slightly bready and yeasty. A hint of alcohol fumes are detectable, but seemingly mild for it's strength. Some touches of pear and apple faintly mingle.

Taste has a slight candied sweetness up front, which a touch of booziness, bready, almost fruity yeast notes, caramel malts and some sweet apple.

The feel is creamy, with a hefty body. Carbonation is subtle and feels very smooth on the palate.

The alcohol is there, but not overpowering. Lends it a fairly impressive drinkability, however, the 8.4oz bottle really ends up being the perfect size.

Maybe it's the age, or how the store has been storing it, but this was surprisingly tasty and enjoyable. The store has a dozen of more left, and at $3, I will most likely enjoy this again every so often while it's there and stow a couple away for longer.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 21:59:58 | More by EgadBananas

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This one has been on my tick list for a while. Finally broke down and paid 5.99 for a bottle from Halftime beverage.

A - Wow under 9 oz. doesn't look that impressive in a British pint glass. Color is a nice ruby brown with an unexpected bit of head that is very bubbly. Nice lacing.

S - Smell is kind of faint but balanced mostly balanced fruity yeasts and caramel. Mild grains and some alcohol is also noted but also faint and balanced.

T - Well it's not very complex but its very drinkable. Fruity sugary yeasts, mild hops, some fruit like apple or pear, and very little noticeable ABV. Not bad.

M - Medium bodied and alcohol is never cloying.

Overall I don't think it's worthy to pick up again but overall very interesting and even mimics Belgium brewing at it's finest. Also noted is the 8.4 fluid oz, wtf guys for the price can't I get an even 9? Foreigners...

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 17:17:08 | More by DrDemento456

billab914

Virginia

3.4/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

250ml bottle into my Dogfish snifter. It poured a deep amber color with a thin white head barely covering the top of the beer.

The aroma has a grainy, pale malt like quality to it at first. As it warmed I started to get a little more of a sweeter, caramel like presence mixing with some boozy alcohol. A decent amount of crisp fruitiness is there as well as a little spice.

The taste shows even more of the crisp, fruity, apple like flavors to it. In the finish some of the malty sweetness comes out and mixes with some of the yeast spice. Some alcohol is there in the finish as well. The crisp, apple like fruitiness is a little dominating in it.

The mouthfeel is on the heavier side with carbonation being moderate for the style. Overall it was a decent beer, but not one that stands out in the style. The crisp, fruitiness dominated it a little too much for me. Decent tasting beer overall though.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 01:48:34 | More by billab914

hdelavega

Florida

3.43/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured to Brasserie D'Achouffe.
Pours a murky brownish amber with a thin white head that disappears to a film that leave some bad ass lacing.
The aroma is strange, malty, yeasty, some grassy hop. Tastes kind of old...
Defiantly has a nice sweetness to the taste. The high alcohol is actually pretty well masked but coming out more as it warms up. The grassy hop is even more present in the taste.
Pretty smooth mouth feel, pretty high carbonation with a warming booze finish.
I need to try to see if I can find this beer again but from somewhere that can assure me that it's fresh.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 22:31:43 | More by hdelavega

pezfiend

New York

3.78/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving, bottle into Palm Tulip glass

A: pours a hazy light amber color, thin head with many little bubbles that keep coming and coming

S: average, some fruit smells, strong scent of alcohol, dark fruit

T: Strong dark fruit smell, raisins, cinnamon, clove, strong taste of boozieness, brandy, for some weird reason I taste cotton candy.... hmmmm

M: Sweet but thin

O: Didn't know much about this beer, bought it on appearance of the bottle (the price tag was $6.66, thought it was appropriate). A good occasional beer, definitely warming, would be really good sometime around January/February. This could replace a nice glass of Brandy during the winter.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2011 19:51:27 | More by pezfiend

Blakaeris

Iowa

3.5/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours brilliant golden with a slight soapy head.

Aroma is pale malt, mild dark fruit, generous alcohol warmth.

Taste is initially pale malt and rich dark fruit - plenty of plum and date. Alcohol comes on strong and hot. Lingering minerally quality, and alcohol warmth.

Mouthfeel is a syrupy medium body.

A very nice strong ale. I wouldn't put this in the BSPA category, so I am grading it accordingly.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2011 01:48:03 | More by Blakaeris

bashiba

Iowa

2.85/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured a bright yellow/orange with a light yet persistant head.

The smell is strong spoiled fruit and old bananas with lots of alcohol.

The taste is very sweet and fruity with a lightly spicy with a big lingering alcohol. So sweet, basically a desert beer.

The mouthfeel is thick and oily and very, very warm.

This beer is just big and sweet, even the 8.4oz bottle size might be to big of a serving.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2011 01:39:03 | More by bashiba

Mar02x

Netherlands

3.08/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

I bought this beer in Boulonge-sur-mer, and when I look at the label it say something different than the original Belzebuth. This should be a beer of 13% ABV!?

A - clear light brown fluid with some carbonation (bubbles racing from the bottom), not much head, just a thin layer on the surface and a white ring sticking against the glass.

S - Not a real fresh smell, some alcohol and old yeast.

T - Lucky enough the taste is much better than the smell. Not a real delight but a strong heavy beer, some fruit and nice warming alcohol after taste.

M - Nice carbonation, good mouth feeling, slightly sticky and creamy.

O - Despite the smell I find it a good strong beer. Alcohol is present but some time you want a real kicker. Worth buying to try once or twice if you ask me.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2011 18:27:20 | More by Mar02x

impending

California

2.33/5  rDev -31.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

25cl into a tulip. Pours a nearly transparent orange butterscotch, what little head that formed dissipated rapidly, no lacing, minimal carbonation.

Cloying sweet aroma, hard to get past the sugars to what could be a complex underbelly.

Massive residual sugars dominate the flavor, no bitter, no dry. The fusel alcohol is almost an appropriate counterbalance to the sugars but it isn't. Full bodied syrupy mouthfeel.
No sense of cultured restraint.
cheers
jd

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2011 04:38:14 | More by impending

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured out as a nice looking golden orange color. The head was minimal but had a good aroma. The smell of the beer was fruity and yeasty. The taste has a bready citrus flavor with some spices in the mix. The mouthfeel was about medium bodied and had a low carbonation level. Overall I enjoyed this beer and have been meaning to pick more up but have yet to do so.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2011 15:18:19 | More by Knapp85

brentk56

North Carolina

3.13/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours a clear amber color with a very modest head that leaves a lot of sheeting, nevertheless

Smell: Very bready and somewhat sweet

Taste: Bready, up front, with a growing sweetness and fusel alcohol character, by mid-palate; after the swallow, the sweetness continues

Mouthfeel: Medium body with low to moderate carbonation; slightly syrupy

Overall: Just doesn't float my boat; rather one dimensional

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2011 23:25:08 | More by brentk56

BilbosNuts

California

3.43/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a tulip glass.

A: Pours a light brown/amberish color. It has a very thin, small white head that doesn't stick around long. It appears to have limited carbonation.

S: A sweetness comes through the most in the smell. It is like a sweet apple cider almost. The alcohol is also very present, as expected from its high alcohol content, it stings the nostrils. There are also some light floral aromas.

T: The sweetness of apples and its alcohol come through the most in its taste. Not much else going on here.

M: It feels like it's on the thin side and leaves a dry finish.

D: This is definitely a sipper due to its high alcohol content. It doesn't try to hide that aspect either, which makes it a little difficult to drink. It certainly wasn't overpowering though, just would've liked to see other aspects more profoundly presented.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2011 03:26:02 | More by BilbosNuts

4000qtrap

Missouri

3.48/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Source/Serving: 8.4oz bottle that looked like a 11+ ouncer in the store. Crafty marketers. Labeled 28.01.10 but I'm not sure if that is bottling or expiration date.

S: Toasted pears covered in caramel and blended with a touch of apple cider. Backdrop is a little earthy/musty, but the fruits are upbeat and are the driver. As it warms alcohol appears as floral and is very ethereal.

T: Unexpectedly fresh fruit character with orange/apple and caramel and light straw grains up front. Moderately sweet but well within tolerance. Smooth booziness shows up in the middle to add nice depth and cut the sweetness a bit along with mild herbal hoppiness, toasted caramel, and light bread and amorphous spice. Hits all the essential notes with hops, some yeast esters, and a moderate grain character and is subtle and solid but not overwhelmingly good or complex. I'd definitely appreciate more yeast ester character on the tongue and more hop character. Moderate-full body with moderate carbonation. Finish is slightly dry with a light, pleasant peppery burning in the very back of the throat that’s quite nice but could be confused with the start of a sore throat. Lingering, sticky apple/pear stick around for a while.

Notes: Slightly better than serviceable brew with nice flavors that hit all the marks, but its not tremendously compelling for some reason and lacking much Belgian character. To some extent its like a fortified (by taste, not % Abv) white wine and I'd imagine as it is it should work nicely as is as a night-time sipper with some bready dessert.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2011 03:18:09 | More by 4000qtrap

acemathew

California

4.25/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Sampled on 03-29-2011
Bottle is dated for best by date of 28-02-11

Poured tall into Hennepin Tulip

Appearance Has a nice head and great lacing

Aroma-Smells ridiculously malty letting it warm up whilst I enjoy my own 'Something Different Ale'

Taste-Sweet and malty little overall bitterness qualities you would expect.

Very subdued alcohol for a 13% beverage. Finish is nice and clean.

Mouthfeel is smooth and easy going.

I have a sense that this beer is better fresher.

But aging melted the abv into this device. Very good overall.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2011 15:05:35 | More by acemathew

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

3.8/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Assertive and boozy blonde ale, and actually while not extraordinary it is pretty recommendable.

Presentation: 25 cl brown capped bottle. Blue label with a drawing of Belzebuth glowing against the moon and the name of the brew in orange. Neck label brags about the Alc. by Vol. (13%). Back label barely brags about being the most unique ale in the world, and adds serving suggestions alongside the perfunctory legal notes. Shows best by date (28.11.11) Served in a snifter.

A - Clear deep gold to pale amber pour, with a frizzy small head, short-lived, faint surface memory with a fair surface ring and small lacing.

S - Boozy nose, with dash of caramel and a dry hint.

T - Taste is compact with a sweet/dry caramel coated boozy sense. A bit fruity as it rides fairly nicely the alcohol.

M - Medium body and carbonation, with an obvious sense of alcohol that explicitly drives the brew rather well. In fact, the menacing astringent touch is tamed and hidden under how it is woven back with the overall profile. I'm in.

D - Good sipper, not one for the ages, by far, but a good boozy blonde worth trying.

Notes: Not half as extraordinary as it pretends, and certainly not anywhere near being the "most unique ale in the world". But nevertheless it is a pretty solid brew, that makes of its boozy profile its most significant character but works relatively well, and makes for a good drink.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2011 01:54:28 | More by Daniellobo

BrauKilR

Michigan

4.08/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is a bottle serving rescued from the top shelf of a specialty store.
A: Clear, tan leather in color, white head that dwindles slowly to a persistent film. Good lacing. Legs.
A: Tart smell of a Granny Smith apple which I put my finger through when I go to eat it and find it rotting. Goethe wrote with a rotting apple in his desk drawer, so I do not consider it at all bad. In fact, I'm being inspired now to write with a Belzebuth sitting beside me. Sweetness. Malt forward in aroma. No hops. No melanoidins as in many big beers. Alcohol/port wine
F: Apples, alcohol, no undesireable or off flavors. The alcohol is thinly masked but not obtrusive. No harshness or fusels. Cleanly, meticulously fermented. High gravity finish without much bitternedd to dry or balance the finish, which is long.
M: Mod carbonation zest, full bodied, sweet finish. Alcohol evident. Warming. Sherry-like or sack mead finish
Overall: A beer worth knowing. Strong ale which follows through with expectations from initial nose to finish. No staleness or oxidation which implies good care on the retailer's end. Ale's what cures ya, and don't the belgians know it!

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2010 03:58:10 | More by BrauKilR

Daredevil

Switzerland

3.88/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

... amber color .... smooth almost fluffy ... starting candyish, with peppery alcohol flavors ... nevertheless surprisingly dry ... brandy like finish ...
... certainly not an easy or everyday brew, but a very smooth example for a barley wine type ...

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2010 21:15:23 | More by Daredevil

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +25.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

My utmost thanks on this part of The CANQuest (TM) go out to einweizenbitte for his due diligence in seeking out new and unusual beers for this journey.

Beer & Music: Again, not a stretch. The dot/period between the second 1 and the 8 is a forked tail instead and the character depicted is a horned, long-tailed demon with Beelzebub one of the many names for Satan. I have no fear as Bro. Woody with the Order of Disorder and so Iron Maiden's "Number of the Beast" is queued up ...

From the CAN: "CANned in Holland". Bring it on, you lowlanders!

Crack & Glug action: I got a finger of thick, bubbly eggnog-colored head with good retention off my initial pour. Color was a deep golden-yellow with NE-quality clarity. I could suddenly understand how oro was such a corrupting influence. F'n' beautiful! Nose was full of (probably) yeast-driven spice, more subtle than simple black pepper, but peppery all the same. Coriander, perhaps? My mouth was watering at this point. Mouthfeel was medium, but its presence was immediate! Holy heat, spice and pepper, Batman! This is not a beer for amateurs. OMFG, if we had access to this in our teens (which is when I developed an affinity for beer), I would not be here today. I looked into the empty CAN and I could see clear into ...

... the well! What did you think? I told you, I am a monk. it is the ways of the flesh that entice me, not simple vices like drinking beer all day on a Sunday. Uh oh. Is it suddenly warm in here, or is that just me?

I'm back. Just me and my new buddy from down the street at 666 N Queen (I (used to) live at 736 N Queen) come to pay me a visit and drink some beer. Dang, it's hot in here. And why is there now screaming coming from the cellar? Dude, are you Native AmeriCAN or is that the worst sunburn ever? Yo, man is as red as chewing tobacco!

Oh, now I get it. Finish finished me. Wow, this was a beer to be reckoned with. Hot, dark fruity, excellent lacing, a mild burn in the back of my throat. If this was not the death of me literally, it may be eventually. Proceed with caution and do NOT put this in your cooler. Zounds!

Serving type: can

09-05-2010 20:00:00 | More by woodychandler

yesyouam

New York

3.8/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Belzebuth is a crystal clear, deep golden ale with a thin white head that gets lumpy and leaves very nice lacing. It has an aroma of over-ripe pear, alcohol and cardboard. It's smooth and pretty full bodied with a slightly sticky finish. It tastes pretty sweet and syrupy with notes of pear, melon and allspice. The finish brings the taste of alcohol, black pepper and a touch of phenol. It's not bad at all. It's a sipper.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2010 04:53:31 | More by yesyouam