Leute Bok - Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.

CalebHiliadis

3.25/5  rDev -14%

10-16-2012 23:30:58 | More by CalebHiliadis

spoony

Colorado

3.65/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap into a special Leute Bok orb-looking glass with wooden holder.

A-This is a pretty good-looking beer. It is dark brown, nearly black, and topped by a dense two-finger khaki head. The head has good retention and leaves some lacing behind.

S-The smell is not very strong for a BSDA. There is a bit of milk chocolate, some dark bread, and a bit of vague, hoppy bitterness.

T-The taste is slightly more impressive than the smell with a hint of dark, dried fruit and some milky chocolate. There is also a little bitterness towards the finish, but all-in-all, this brew is kind of boring.

M-The beer is light to medium weight for the style with light to moderate carbonation.

O-Once you get past the looks, which are pretty solid, there is not much happening with this "Bok." The smell and flavors are uninspiring and the feel is strangely light. On the positive side, the alcohol is well-hidden. Also, the orb-type glass and stand are kind of fun to play with.

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2013 15:35:29 | More by spoony

Luiz0930

California

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

05-31-2013 06:03:33 | More by Luiz0930

Mervjahn

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +5.8%

05-24-2013 11:56:32 | More by Mervjahn

djcreepshow

Nova Scotia (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

05-17-2013 05:21:36 | More by djcreepshow

Janeinma

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +5.8%

05-13-2013 23:18:37 | More by Janeinma

Stugotzo

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%

05-07-2013 21:42:23 | More by Stugotzo

mwilbur

Minnesota

3.81/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from 33 cL bottle into snifter.
A: Pours a murky caramel brown with 1 inch light tan head. Good retention.
S: Sweet bready belgian yeast, caramel malt, and dark dried fruit (e.g. raisin, fig, etc.).
T: Sweet caramel malt, fresh belgian yeast, and dark dried fruit. Follows aroma, but comes across quite sweet.
M: Light body. Sweet and a bit chewy feel. Hint of peppery spice tingles the tongue.
D: Nice drinkability in a fairly straight-forward beer. Nothing special, but certainly a decent brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 02:59:57 | More by mwilbur

quirk6

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

05-03-2013 01:41:31 | More by quirk6

schopenhauerale

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

05-01-2013 00:03:23 | More by schopenhauerale

JJStorm

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

04-28-2013 03:20:34 | More by JJStorm

NilocRellim

Minnesota

3.51/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bottle.

The beer poured out clear, dark-brown. It smells like a lot of Belgian beers, with the sweetness of the Belgian yeasts. It has a slight toastedness to it, but nothing that stands out too much. It taste similar to the smell; you get the initial taste of most Belgian-beers, but then the toastedness comes through and is very balanced and drinkable.

Would I buy it again? Possibly.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 02:55:27 | More by NilocRellim

browniewithnuts

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

04-18-2013 20:07:41 | More by browniewithnuts

magictacosinus

California

3.68/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a chalice out of a 11.2oz glass. Obtained this through a Van Steenberge gift pack back in December 2012.

Pours a dank, plum-dark looking beer with brownish hues circling the glass. Some light goes through it, but it definitely is nearly opaque overall. There's plenty of carbonation all around, alongside a fluffy two-finger large head that coats the top of the glass as the yeast drifts in. The head settles down, but a ring with lots of large bubbles and yeasty residue remains atop. Lacing is excellent to say the very least, and overall it looks pretty delectable, if not slightly lacking viscosity.

The aroma contains various classic BSDA flavors all around, ranging from dark fruits, but interestingly enough there's a malty backbone that highly resembles German doppelbocks. This being a Belgian "bok" beer, I'm honestly not surprised there. Plums, dark cherries, raisins, lightly scented clove, rosemary... And then, soon after, these phenols are followed by juicy, caramelized malty flavors that are known in bock beers. Some pepper and herbal stinging sensations follow, but it's subtle. Doesn't smell too boozy overall. Quite good.

The flavor is not quite as lively as the smell, but it still holds itself pretty solidly. The first sip is filled with a creamy, juicy texture of more plums and raisins, as well as figs, but soon afterwards is followed by a malty flavor that mutes the yeasty flavors, in spite of providing a rich texture. The finish ends pretty smoothly, without any distractions from the alcohol, but it is overtly yeasty, and unbalanced especially in giving some off grainy notes. Slightly watery towards the finish. The flavors meld decently well, but I'm wondering if I should have had this fresher - the hop characteristics seem muted. It's not a chore to drink, but it's not super astonishing.

Van Steenberge are particularly known in my experience for their yeast strains and dry hop wizardry. The pleasant, juicy yeasty properties are here, but it's lacking in substance and feels like a strange hybrid between a doppelbock and a BSPA rather than something more balanced. Not bad by any means, but I'd probably not return to this one as readily as their other beers.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 04:47:54 | More by magictacosinus

chinchill

South Carolina

4.09/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

330 ml bottle out of a De Koninck tulip glass.

A: Pours a clear but dark amber color with an off-white, fizzy, head that is of moderate size and very good durability. The side of the glass is nicely coated with each sip.

S: Sweet mix of dark fruits, roasted malts and Belgian yeast.

T: As yeasty but less sweet than suggested by the aroma, it is nonetheless fruity with hints of caramel and spicy hops over a baked bread base.

M: Medium body; medium-high carbonation; finishes semi-dry.

O: A very good beer that mostly hides the 7.5% ABV. It seems more of a Belgian strong ale than a "Bokbier".

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 21:48:21 | More by chinchill

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

3.46/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A 330ml bottle with a BB of March 2013, so it's just out of date. Picked up ages ago in Lidl as part of a Belgian selection box. The goat on the label reminds me of German bock bier, though I'd be surprised if this is similar.

Poured into a Delirium chalice. Bottle conditioned. A dark, hazy reddish-brown colour with plentiful carbonation. Forms a large head of creamy beige foam with excellent retention; this slowly subsides to a thick surface layer. Aroma of rich malt with notes of fruity yeast esters, raisins, caramel, a mild nuttiness, faint grain and a hint of brown sugar. Slightly sweet, with a warming whiff of booze in the background.

Tastes of sweet, fruity malt with a yeasty character and a mild finish. Notes of caramel malt, fruity yeast esters, subtle nuttiness, mild brown sugar and faint clove. Slightly sweet and quite dry. No hops to speak of, and the flavour doesn't linger. A light yeastiness upon swallowing, followed by a twinge of alcohol. Mouthfeel is smooth and tingly, with decent body and prickly carbonation that mellows out after a while. An aftertaste of dry, fruity yeast and caramel malt.

A decent brew that goes down nicely. Looks great, and the aroma is well-rounded. The flavour is somewhat less interesting - it lacks depth and seems to hollow out after the first few seconds. The caramel malt and yeasty notes are pretty average. Body is OK. Overall, a drinkable beer but nothing special. Worth sampling if you stumble across it but no need to seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 23:24:21 | More by jazzyjeff13

Duchesse

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%

03-21-2013 06:10:35 | More by Duchesse

harpus

Alabama

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

03-18-2013 19:52:39 | More by harpus

djrn2

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

03-01-2013 00:01:19 | More by djrn2

beerdhabelly

Nebraska

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

02-21-2013 17:26:05 | More by beerdhabelly

jduprey007

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%

02-17-2013 01:21:46 | More by jduprey007

VALIS666

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

02-12-2013 23:36:25 | More by VALIS666

biernack

Netherlands

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

02-09-2013 20:10:24 | More by biernack

ckollias

Maryland

4.45/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

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

A: Pours a dark, clear, amber hue black with a thick, off-white, fizzy, 3-finger head that slowly dissipates leaving a nice trail down the side of the glass and ending in a thick lace.

S: Sweet fruity wine-like aroma.

T: Similar to the smell there is a sweet fruity flavor with hints of caramels and bread, and finishes on the dry side.

M: Medium body and high carbonation.

O: This was a really good Belgian brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 02:20:01 | More by ckollias

pirmannt1

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.8%

02-04-2013 00:49:21 | More by pirmannt1