Piraat Ale - Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.

ktrillionaire

Florida

4.08/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I really like this beer. And not just because of the cool label, but it helps.

A - Brassy, slightly hazy golden amber. Moderate head, good, sticky retention.

S - Sweet yeast with no specific flavor or disposition, and a very slight hay / straw funk.

T - It tastes good, but not spectacular. Clean with a tad of bitter and ester, but not banana. And phenol / medicine, but not clove. Amazingly well-hidden 10.5 ABV.

M - Very smooth, but slightly 'hot'.

D - Hell yeah I'll drink it.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2009 06:35:36 | More by ktrillionaire

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A 330ml bottle with a BB of March 2013, so it's a little out of date.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

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