Piraat Ale - Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

4.2/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A 330ml bottle with a BB of March 2013, so it's a little out of date. Picked up ages ago from Lidl as part of a box-set of Belgian beers. It has been stored quietly in my garage, so hopefully it has aged gracefully. A toast to pirates everywhere....

Poured into a Duvel tulip. Bottle conditioned. A clear orange-amber hue with plentiful carbonation - it's been sat so long the yeast is fixed to the base of the bottle. Produces a vast head of creamy white foam with good retention; this slowly subsides to a thick surface layer. Aroma of sweet, fruity yeast esters with hints of banana, clove, mild spice, brown sugar and faint earthiness. A major whiff of warming booze in the backgound. Nicely rounded.

Tastes of sweet, fruity yeast esters with a dry finish. Notes of banana, mild clove, subtle dried fruit, brown sugar, faint caramel, a touch of earthy yeast and hints of stewed hops. A significant alcoholic flavour in the background, though it integrates nicely into the beer. No bitterness to speak of. A mild, dry quality upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is silky smooth, with tingly carbonation and a lovely, velvety body. Quite astringent, followed by an aftertaste of fruity yeast esters, mild sugar and warming booze.

Superb - goes down a treat. Looks great, and the aroma and flavour are wonderfully smooth and mellow. Plenty of booze yet it complements the character perfectly. The body envelops the palate. Not sure how it got listed as an IPA; not much going on in the way of hops. A fantastic strong Belgian ale - I really shouldn't have put this off for so long. Well worth sampling if you come across it.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 23:54:37 | More by jazzyjeff13

ESeab

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Served from a bottle into snifter

A- Caramel color. Hazy, not clear at all

S- Smell of fruit and yeast

T - A sweet, dark fruity taste. The malt dominates this one, but hops and yeast still balance it out nicely.

O - Good Belgian IPA that I would definitely drink again.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 19:15:46 | More by ESeab

superspak

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 6/20/2012. Cork blew off into the cage as soon as I removed it. Pours fairly hazy golden orange color with a 2 finger fluffy white head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass, with some moderate streaming carbonation. Aromas of pear, apple, grape, lemon, pepper, clove, honey, candi sugar, floral, and light earthy yeast spiciness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast esters with malt sweetness. Taste of pear, apple, grape, lemon, pepper, clove, honey, candi sugar, floral, and earthy yeast spiciness. Lingering notes of light fruits, citrus, pepper, clove, floral, honey, candi sugar, and earthy spiciness on the finish for a while. Very nice balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast esters with malt balance; and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a slick, prickly, and moderately crisp mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a small warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is an excellent Belgian strong pale ale. Very nice balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast esters and malt sweetness; and very smooth to sip on for 10.5%. A very enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 03:59:50 | More by superspak

SLeffler27

New York

4.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours hazy dark gold with cascading carbonation that continuously rebuilds three inches of creamy, off-white foam that slowly turns rocky to eventually leave thick patches of lace but never dissipates below a pillow.

The Piraat tulip glass presents the sweet, fresh, Juicy Fruit aromas with light, yeasty funk. The background contains honeydew melon and faint clove.

Much like the character on the bottle, this ale is equal parts sour and bitter. Sharp bitterness lingers in the back of the throat while lots of apple fills the palate. Some honey comes out after warming, as does something reminiscent of Riesling wine. The finish is long with a light bitterness.

A full body with lightly warming alcohol. Piraat is dryer than anticipated, with a satin texture and explosive carbonation.

Enjoyed on a bitterly cold night, while fine white snow accumulates outside, classical music fills the hush and low light splashes across the room.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 14:50:37 | More by SLeffler27

mwilbur

Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 33 cL bottle into tulip.
A: Pours a darker golden yellow with high carbonation producing a massive 3-4 inch frothy white head (almost meringue-like). Excellent retention. Nice lacing too.
S: Citrus hops, belgian yeast, and a whiff of caramel malt. Milder spices (e.g. white pepper).
T: Dark dried fruit (e.g. raisin, fig), molasses, citrus hops, bready yeast, cinnamon, and a hint of caramel malt.
M: Soft and slightly creamy feel. Nice carbonated effervescence tingles the tongue. Light body, which seems impossible given the ABV. Appealingly dry and slightly bittersweet finish leaves your palate ready for the next sip. Subtle, but pleasant, lingering and maturing on the palate.
D: A very nice brew indeed. Excellent example of style. Well crafted with good complexity and yet extremely drinkable. ABV is tremendously well hidden...nigh unbelievable. The more I drink it, the more I like it.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 03:08:34 | More by mwilbur

bunni

Texas

4.14/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a chalice from an 11.2 ouncer.

A- Pours a hazy, burnt orange color with quite a magnificent head. Lots of retention and great lacing

S- I love how floral Belgian ales are and this is no exception. The hops really add to that perfumed quality. I noticed quite a bit of alcohol on the nose, however.

T- Wildflower honey up front, with a yeasty mid-palate. The hops are there, but super delicate and are almost masked by the high fermentation and sweetness. A nice dry finish, with notes of toast and citrus.

M- Great carbonation here. This really helps to balance out the rich texture.

O- An interesting Belgian ale, for sure. I think the balance here is impeccable and there's a great layering of flavors. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 02:26:19 | More by bunni

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The main goal here is to control the head because even the softest pour produces an abundance of thick dens head. It fades leaving carverness empty spaces, interesting.
The color is of brilliant golden sunshine clarity. Carbonation is most robust.
Aroma is pretty much your basic spicy yeast and malts.
Taste is quite good with a dry spiciness, pale and pil malts. It's bitter alittle sweet and not a hint of alcohol, while drinking it anyway.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 12:24:29 | More by micromaniac129

TaySuth

California

3.83/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving Type: Poured into a pint glass from 750ml bottle.

Appearance:Nice amber color with an enormous, off-white head that slowly dissipates while leaving behind loads of lacing.

Smell: Very sweet malt dominates the nose with some nice, but not overwhelming hop aroma.

Taste: Sweet malt with decent bitterness and delicious belgian yeast flavor. Very tasty and well balanced.

Mouthfeel: Medium body. Highly carbonated. Very sweet.

Overall: Just an amazing and delicious Belgian IPA. Not quite as hoppy as the American IPAs that I love but an excellent example of the Belgian IPA style.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 01:15:43 | More by TaySuth

MeneerBeerSnob

District of Columbia

4.34/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottle poured into a tulip.

a-deep, dark cloudy amber with two fingers of off white head, visible lacing.

s-sweet, citrus funky yeast

t-belgian yeast with sweet citrus notes and a hoppy finish

m-very lively, medium body

o-really great belgian ale, writing this review with a bit of a cold so i'll come back and edit when i can appreciate it more fully

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 01:16:33 | More by MeneerBeerSnob

TheSixthRing

California

3.79/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Appearance - Pours a semi-hazy, slightly burnt golden orange with a slightly off-white, creamy looking finger width head. Fair retention.A film of bubbles stays ever present on top. Solid lacing with good stick.

Smell - Aroma is sugary, spicy and most definitely funky. Hints of citrus. Faint malt character.

Taste - Hits on sugar and honey at the forefront, followed by some funk and sourness mid-taste. Green banana. Sour apple. Rich, bready notes near the finish. Finishes sour, with a touch of citrus; almost like tangerine.

Mouthfeel - Medium to full body. Bubbly, soft carbonation. Finishes dry, almost like champagne.

Overall - A good beer, certainly, and quality throughout. That said, I just don't think most true Belgian brews are my thing. I've had more than my fair share, and most of them don't hit that 'Ahh, I gotta have that again!' feeling. I probably wouldn't buy this beer again, but if this is someone's favorite beer, I can understand why. There's just too much sugar character for me. I think I'll steer clear of Belgians for awhile.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 05:04:45 | More by TheSixthRing

ckollias

Maryland

4.31/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed this 11.2oz bottle out of a Belgian tulip glass.

A: Pours a slightly hazy golden hue with a thick white head that slowly dissipates down the side of glass – leaving a nice trail.

S: Spicy fruity lemon and orange zest aroma

T: Sweet Belgian spices followed by citrus notes and finishes on the dry side of hoppy.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: Excellent Belgian brew – complex aroma and flavors and enough alcohol to make it interesting.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 03:23:51 | More by ckollias

mndlssphlsphr

Washington

4.14/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

The nose picked up an array of lovely desserts made in grandma’s kitchen with the main, but secret, ingredient being a bitter molasses. That would define this brew. I had to go for round two, and then round three in the bottle. Each time the carbonation pairing well with the malt for a pleasant mouthfeel. The color is something or other of a high heat fire burning the wet driftwood on a beach outside of Portobello while on a search for the rest of Captain Morgan's loot that the history books never got around to mentioning, and for good reason. The head and lace of a cloudy white, like a fire that has to churn the water to vapors to provide a dense white smoke that lingers in the glass while settling and becoming twice as dense. Aside from the mass production of this said product, we have a brew that would appease even the most eccentric of the privateers out there.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 13:54:51 | More by mndlssphlsphr

CrazyDavros

Australia

3.23/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours amber with a large, fading white head.
Nose shows light malt, spicy hops and lots of booze. Also some spicy phenols. Somewhat faint though.
Better flavours. Sweet clean malt, soft booze, spicy notes and herbal hops.
Way too much carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 12:28:53 | More by CrazyDavros

jonb5

United Kingdom (England)

4.06/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

330ml bottle, poured into Leffe chalice. Copper to amber colour, clear, one finger tanned head which soon faded, clear. Aroma was phenol, hubba bubba, yeast and booze which got more pronounced as the beer warmed. Tasted apples, bananas, yeast and molasses. As expected it was quite bitter, generally the booze was well hidden. Well carbonated which gave it a slightly coarse edge, slightly thick body. Liked it but don't think it did quite enough to justify some of the hype.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 15:04:00 | More by jonb5

Jwale73

Rhode Island

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2oz. bottle served in my Weyerbacher tulip. Pours a dull, burnt-orange hue with a slightly hazy clarity. Head is two inches, dense and off-white and eventually settles into a consistent, frothy, quarter inch skim. Textured swaths of lacing are revealed during the tasting. Nose expresses notes of candi sugar, citrus rind, green apple, and a slightly herbal quality. Taste follows nose with the addition of a light, toasted malt character. There's also a trace of bitterness towards the finish. Mouthfeel is light-medium in body, with a lively carbonation and a bit of acidic astringency. I'm not sure I'd classify this as a Belgian IPA as it's closer to a BSPA in my opinion. That said, this beer is quite tasty and complex with an extremely well-hidden abv. I'm sorry I put off trying this it for so long.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 00:18:54 | More by Jwale73

Trueant1

Minnesota

4.23/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a huge thick head that dissipated quickly. Sticky glue-like lacing. Ipa orange like looks , with cloudiness in the glass. Smells of sour yeast, banana cream pie, Twinkies, and apple pie.

Tasted of bitter hops, alcohol, banana, sour cherries, sour candy, and overall nice sweetness.

Nice sticky mouth-feel with a bitter burn of alcohol and hops that lingers.
Great brew! Want more!

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 04:38:03 | More by Trueant1

babayaga

3.3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

330mL Bottle into a Tulip.

Appearance- Pretty big ~yellow head that settles down quickly, but it stays on top forever. Hazy orange in the glass, very nice looking. Edited to add: haze clears up as it warms up.

Aroma- Light sweetness, apricot, light banana. Faint. Can smell some darker fruit on there, too, that comes out with the taste.

Flavor- Light alcohol, more apricot, pepper, nicely bitter. Long alcoholic finish. Prune?

Mouthfeel-lively, medium on the palate.

I think that the mouthfeel is the best part. Not my thing.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 00:44:09 | More by babayaga

fdig23

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Stubby bottle poured into a Duvel tulip.

Appearance: hazy copper with a nice three-finger white head

Nose: yeasty, wheat bread, candied lemon, pine needles and orange zest. Became more vinous as it warmed up and I started to get almost Gewurztraminer-like lychee and white flowers from it

Taste: Croissant, bright lemon zest, toasted pine nuts fades into a pine needle finish. The lack of alcohol on the palate is amazing. Like the nose, a vinous, sweet and floral taste comes through as it warms up.

Mouthfeel: the biggest let-down. Kind of watery.

Overall: Complex and interesting, really worth sipping slowly and identifying different flavors and aromas. The alcohol is invisible until the very end. Mouthfeel lets it down a bit, but its still a top Belgian pale in my books.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 04:28:42 | More by fdig23

mralphabet

Virginia

4.05/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2 oz bottle poured into St Bernardus Chalices

A: Dark amber gold color with a wonderfully full head that settles to a thin layer with outstanding lacing from start to finish. Just a beautiful looking beer.

S: Sweet malty upfront with a bright fresh yeast and hops followed by a little pineapple.

T: Starts a little on the sweet side with a mix of yeast, spicy pepper, clove and a hint of pineapple followed by a little bit of hops, not much but just enough to balance everything out.

M: Medium bodied with just a little carbonation going on, pretty smooth over all, with a little bite at the end, just a little bitter in the finish.. Also I'm getting a little warm from the ABV on this one.... It does not kick you in the face but it is there.

O: I'm not getting IPA out of this one, more like a Tripel to me. With a 10.5 ABV this is a sipper so take your time and enjoy, gets even better with time as it warms up. Grab this one if you see it.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 01:51:44 | More by mralphabet

Groulxsome

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I think this is the right Piraat. It's in a "Belgian Stubby," just says Piraat on the bottle, and it's 10.5%. There is no mention of the IPA part of the style listed here, but the Piraat 9 review all listed lower ABVs.

Poured into a Bellwoods snifter.

Looks: Pours clear, dark yellow with a big foamy white head. Lots of big bubbles.

Smells: Like champagne yeast, lots of malt sweetness, sugar, and a little sweet fruit (banana).

Tastes: Spicy (pepper), bread-like malt with a little caramel, then some light clove, banana, and mellow creaminess. A little lingering bitterness and a fair bit of heat. Overall it's fairly subtle and balanced.

Feels: Lots of tiny bubbles break up a fairly thick body. High carbonation.

Overall: A spicy and well balanced beer. Leans more on the spice than on the yeast making it more reminiscent of a spicy Duvel than like yeasty La Fin Du Monde.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 02:59:07 | More by Groulxsome

KKB

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A – A gorgeous honey-orange with a wonderful rocky yellow-white head that just floats on top. This is a very good looking beer. The carbonation is extremely tightly bubbled and the head remains firm on top of the glass. Decent lacing.

S – The smell is very nice, there is a good funk going on here as well as some malty sweetness and hops at the door as well. Slight clove/pepper/citrus as well but it really does have a nice balance of sour/bitter/funk/sweet in the aroma. Very nice indeed….It has a definite sugary element to it as well, like a caramelized tangerine or something. And this comes through more distinctly in the taste.

T – The taste is just gorgeous. Really just more of the nose. I actually really like this beer. It doesn’t overwhelm and yet it is still very flavorful. It is kind of like what would happen if you added some extra malt, hops and fruit to a Duvel…. Actually the more that I have of this beer, the more that I’m beginning to think I’m in love. This beer is glorious! I can see how this is not everyone’s cup of tea though.

M – The mouthfeel is spot on, medium with good (not great) carbonation but I even like the carbonation. The lack of uber-bubbles makes it more personal somehow. The mouthfeel is good. No doubt.

O – As I was saying I can see how some people might think that this beer isn’t phenomenal, I really can, the nose is funky and odd and entirely wonderful with it’s beautiful clashing of malt and hops and some fruit that turns into this sort of ALMOST overwhelming symphony of smells. But the clashing nature of them somehow just really works out. It isn’t too much. It is delicious. In the nose, on the palate, the mouthfeel. It’s all spot on. This is a great, and in my opinion, a somewhat underrated beer. You just gotta love it the right way.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 03:37:08 | More by KKB

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Props to joemcgrath27 for this treat...

A - Pours a slightly hazy copper colour, thumb of big bubbled head with solid retention and nice sheeting lacing.

S - Nose is dominated by sweet cloves, hints of grassy wheat and fruity pears and sour apples.

T - A sweet flavoured Belgian dominated by cloves and bubble gum, raw sugar cane and sour apples, nice bready caramel and wheat malt profile, and a dangerously hidden ABV.

M - Medium bodied, smooth and a touch of dryness.

O - A bold Belgian with loads of flavour and an incredibly well hidden ABV. This stuff is very sweet, but still easily sessioned. A great selection an well worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 02:40:25 | More by andrenaline

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on 2012-11-09 in Danville, KY

A - Somewhat hazy orange with a 1-finger off-white head and moderate, ringed lacing.

S - Bread, overly ripe stone fruit, spice and a little hop floral. Pleasant; not very strong.

T - Forward bready malt, then Belgian yeast that is much less fruity/estery than many triple's, pepper, alcohol, candied orange and hop spice. Aftertaste is orange-sweet at first but after a bit, a goodly amount of spicy hop bitterness becomes evident.

M - Medium body and carbonation. Not overly sweet.

O - This is a good brew. I didn't know what to expect but the more I tasted it, the more I enjoyed it. Most-times, triples and quads are too Belgian estery/fruit/yeasty for my tastes and I often avoid ordering the style. This appeals enough to my love for American DIPAs to say that I'll seek this out again. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 22:48:04 | More by Tucquan

LXIXME

New Mexico

4.28/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big light tan head slowly settles into a nice bisquity lacing above a clear copper honey colored beer.

Aroma is very laden with fruits both dark and citrus and light pepper like spices.

Spices, light and of a darker cooking variety, mixed with dark fruit aspects like apricots on a light grain malt taste. The taste also brings with it an aspect of light alcohol.

A dry aftertaste that has with it some of the darker fruits on this medium well bodied beer.

This is a very good example of how to make a beer with a lot of different tastes but none of them really sticking out and smothering the other tastes with the beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 22:54:34 | More by LXIXME

BobZ

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2oz. bottle poured into my Duvel Tulip.

Appearance: Murky amber with a nice 2” to 3” foamy head that quickly recedes to about a ½”. Lots of sticky lacing.

Smell: Light fruit (pear and apple especially) with a bit of spice.

Taste: Follows the nose a fruity sweetness up front with a peppery finish light in bitterness. This flavor profile verges on being more of a Tripel in character. There is also a malty richness which gives a bready character to the beer once it warms a bit the glass. Nice complexity with this beer as the alcohol is also well masked behind the flavor diversity.

Mouthfeel: Very smooth and extremely clean at the finish.

Overall: Excellent beer to be included with a session of Belgian Pale Ales or Tripels, or quite honestly to be enjoyed on its own.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 21:28:23 | More by BobZ