Piraat Ale - Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.

chinchill

South Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330 ml unusually heavy brown bottle served in a pint glass.

Pours a clear orange-amber with a 2 finger, creamy, off-white head that has good retention and leaves thick lacing. A large amount of exceptionally fine carbonation can be seen rising in the glass.

Aroma: sweet and sour fruits, yeast, light malt, hops, and surprisingly subtle hints of the high ABV.

T - The flavor, like the aroma, is most notably fruity, but both malt and hops are evident. No hiding all 10.5% ABV, but the alcohol-related flavors are partially hidden and integrate well with the fruity flavor. Some hints of banana, of course, but hints of pineapple, apricots, pear, apple cider and dark fruits (including dates) in here too. Flavor starts sweet and changes to a mild bitter finish, with some tartness throughout.

M - bonus points for the creamy smooth feel, but a not unexpected deduction for the mild alcohol burn.

O - a fine, powerful, bold, complex fruity Belgian ale; near 4.5 overall. Despite the playful pirate label, this is an ale for serious beer connisseurs.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2011 00:48:01 | More by chinchill

kvnstfrd

Missouri

2.75/5  rDev -32.3%

05-23-2013 04:52:16 | More by kvnstfrd

jiffymon

New York

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-22-2013 15:15:42 | More by jiffymon

archero

Texas

5/5  rDev +23.2%

05-22-2013 03:47:24 | More by archero

johntfox

Florida

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-21-2013 00:44:00 | More by johntfox

Photekut

Azerbaijan

3/5  rDev -26.1%

05-18-2013 21:12:49 | More by Photekut

outoffocus

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-18-2013 01:21:59 | More by outoffocus

aty11b

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +17%

05-17-2013 18:22:59 | More by aty11b

His_Royal_Hoppiness

United Kingdom (England)

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-16-2013 19:49:15 | More by His_Royal_Hoppiness

hotsudge

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-15-2013 01:10:51 | More by hotsudge

Janeinma

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-13-2013 23:18:22 | More by Janeinma

Nolen12

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

05-13-2013 17:10:39 | More by Nolen12

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A 330ml bottle with a BB of March 2013, so it's a little out of date.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

Bill235

Ohio

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-09-2013 19:25:55 | More by Bill235

SHerninko

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

05-09-2013 18:02:46 | More by SHerninko

Hopinista

Nevada

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-09-2013 02:01:23 | More by Hopinista

Stugotzo

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%

05-07-2013 21:42:44 | More by Stugotzo

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

Yello5

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

05-07-2013 00:51:28 | More by Yello5

ritwingr

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -13.8%

05-05-2013 04:56:04 | More by ritwingr

quirk6

Connecticut

4.75/5  rDev +17%

05-03-2013 01:41:04 | More by quirk6

jkball01

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -1.5%

04-30-2013 03:10:08 | More by jkball01

currysmegs

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +17%

04-30-2013 00:24:54 | More by currysmegs

soxandbeer

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -20%

04-29-2013 12:34:53 | More by soxandbeer

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