Augustijn Grand Cru - Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.

Jason

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: Stubby brown 330 ml bottle with a “consume before date” on the back label.

Appearance: Pale golden hue with a champagne like carbonation that shows the bubbles keeping up the sticky white lace.

Smell: Such a faint mustiness in the aroma, fresh cut apple and an earthy grain in the aroma show that simple can be great.

Taste: Close to spritzy with the lively carbonation, moderate body that is quite effervescent. Fruitiness bursts here and there with a light and dry malt palate. Herbal and earthy with soft yet over sized medicinal phenols, the dryness takes care of them any way. Faint refined honey like flavour. The finish is dry in stature with a leafy presence. Dry and fruity throughout, spiciness and a puckering yeast character control the rest.

Notes: Drawn more to its drinkability than lack of sweetness the 9.0% abv gets lost in the mix and seems like it is a brew of 5% abv but the twang tells it otherwise. One of the driest grand cru beers to come my way. Damn did some one say dry?

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2002 21:10:38 | More by Jason

archero

Texas

4/5  rDev +2.8%

06-11-2013 06:27:36 | More by archero

superspak

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 7/20/2011. Pours slightly cloudy golden amber color with a nice 2 finger foamy and fluffy white head with good retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Spotty foamy lacing clings down the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big apple, lemon, pear, grape, banana, floral, clove, pepper, honey, candi sugar, bread, light bubblegum, and yeast earthiness. Excellent aromas with great balance, strength, and complexity of fruity/spicy ester notes with moderate malt balance. Taste of big apple, lemon, pear, grape, banana, clove, honey, floral, candi sugar, light bubblegum, bread, and yeast earthiness. Lingering notes of light fruits, banana, clove, pepper, honey, candi sugar, bread, light bubblegum and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Damn nice balance and complexity of fruity/spicy ester flavors; with a moderate malt balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a slick and lightly prickly mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a small warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a highly excellent Belgian strong pale ale! All around great complexity and balance of fruity/spicy esters with moderate malt sweetness; and very smooth to sip on. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 04:32:12 | More by superspak

rrski198

Georgia

3.81/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Color is a pale yellow/orange. Massive white head with two textures of foam. The foam sitting on the beer has a bunch of little bubbles that transition to the center of the glass where a huge meringue like head sits. I poured the beer 10 minutes ago and it is still quite visible.

S: Earthy, funky, lemon. Almost sour or DMS like corn adjunct scent. Sort of like a pilsner with Belgian yeast. Very odd.

T: Sour, funky Belgian yeast. Flavor profile of a tripel and a saison. Can't get over the sour....it's good, but unexpected. It coats the mouth and finishes with the heat of the alcohol, mild bitterness and malted grain and corn.

M: High carbonation which leads to a spicy, full mouthfeel. The heat form the alcohol lingers and burns the gums.

O: So this beer just didn't smell right. Bizarre. The flavor however was awesome. I really enjoyed it and thought that for a 9% it was easily drinkable and all the flavors were great.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2013 01:24:07 | More by rrski198

JJStorm

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -29.3%

06-01-2013 01:15:49 | More by JJStorm

Luiz0930

California

4/5  rDev +2.8%

05-31-2013 05:52:01 | More by Luiz0930

desint

Belgium

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%

05-24-2013 11:19:33 | More by desint

dmorgan310

Panama

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

05-17-2013 01:32:07 | More by dmorgan310

Stugotzo

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%

05-07-2013 21:41:21 | More by Stugotzo

quirk6

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

05-03-2013 01:43:49 | More by quirk6

schopenhauerale

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

05-01-2013 00:02:03 | More by schopenhauerale

jkball01

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +2.8%

04-30-2013 03:10:23 | More by jkball01

Janeinma

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.8%

04-25-2013 01:12:09 | More by Janeinma

browniewithnuts

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%

04-18-2013 20:13:58 | More by browniewithnuts

mwilbur

Minnesota

3.53/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 33 cL bottle into snifter.
A: Pours a clear yellow (slightly golden) with high carbonation producing a 2-3 inch frothy white head. Good retention.
S: Citrus, belgian yeast, and some candi sugar. There is something here that also makes me think pilsner...which is odd.
T: Pretty much follows aroma. I think it's the hop character that is making me think pilsner.
M: Light body. Slightly oily feel. ABV is well hidden.
D: Fairly average offering here. I bet it was a hell of a beer back in 1295 though...

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 02:51:14 | More by mwilbur

JDavidRice

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +2.8%

04-09-2013 23:28:38 | More by JDavidRice

aranton

New York

3/5  rDev -22.9%

03-27-2013 00:40:54 | More by aranton

brin611

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%

03-16-2013 04:35:51 | More by brin611

chinchill

South Carolina

4.09/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Curvy and stubby brown 330 ml bottle served in a De Koninck goblet.

Appearance: Pale gold-amber color with like loads of tiny carbonation bubbles like a champagne. A creamy, durable bone-colored head that thoroughly coats the glass with sticky, whitish lace.

Smell: It is a bit faint and slightly musty, but overall appealing, with a fairly solid earthy grain base and nice fruitiness.

Taste: Fruitiness initially dominates and lasts into the aftertaste, but a nice light baked bread quality is as obvious by the finish. Hints of herbs, light honey, pears, and faint spices. A slightly metallic quality noticed early on seem to disappear with warming (and more tasting).

Feel: This beer has a remarkable lively yet soft feel, and is creamy smooth with a body that is nicely full for style.

Overall: High drinkability and exceptionally pleasant, thanks in part to the very well hidden 9.0% ABV, a slightly bitter/tart balance, and a truly great mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 21:47:08 | More by chinchill

shick1

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +22.1%

03-11-2013 16:00:45 | More by shick1

jduprey007

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

02-24-2013 15:16:19 | More by jduprey007

stephens101

Oklahoma

4.36/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

An always welcomed light phenol phunk floats in the air upon pouring this murky orange brew. Head is thick and resilient with the last of the foam out of the glass slowly flowing at it's own glacial pace.

An array of light fruits play into a world sweet bubble gum, cotton candy and Belgian yeast. A second whiff scores some faint medicinals and barnyard.

Piquant light fruits and spices fill the palate. Butterscotch, a touch of grain, and a simple but lingering hop bitterness makes for a pleasing finale.

Medium bodied with a delectable creaminess and just enough spicy alcohol heat to let you know despite it's calm demeanor, this is a big beer that holds its own in any arena.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 20:59:41 | More by stephens101

VALIS666

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +15.7%

02-12-2013 23:23:52 | More by VALIS666

Hunter

Arizona

4.54/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Lovely pale gold/yellow color, minimal carbonation. Thick pillowy head of white foam, minimal lacing pattern.

Smell: Unfortunately, poured into a glass with it's own distinct smell. So I'm having to go by the bottle itself to get any fair assessment. Light notes of citrus, spice, grass, honey.

Taste: Taste reinforces the aroma. Very light on the palate, despite the high alcohol content. Candi sugars, subtle spice, lemon notes, light hops. Very tasty.

Mouthfeel: The alcohol comes out here more than the taste. Scouring, bracing, but not overbearing.

Overall: I'm pleased with this one. sometimes I think the Belgians can do no wrong when it comes to beer, and this is no exception. I will be coming back to this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 23:42:35 | More by Hunter

birddawg

3.5/5  rDev -10%

02-06-2013 18:21:56 | More by birddawg