St. Stefanus - Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.

JackieTH

Minnesota

3.38/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Rob for sharing this bottle.

Poured with two fingers of fluffy head. Nose is very mild, some crackers perhaps. Not much there. Taste is zippy with big carbonation, when this yields, then some underlying cloves and bananas, sweet fruit esters. Not too bad, but not a great deal of flavor. Too light on the flavor and nose.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 16:30:38 | More by JackieTH

nickfl

Florida

4/5  rDev +2.6%

05-18-2013 20:51:32 | More by nickfl

kylehay2004

Florida

4/5  rDev +2.6%

05-18-2013 00:13:27 | More by kylehay2004

eskybassplr

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +21.8%

05-13-2013 21:56:55 | More by eskybassplr

PEIhop

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.6%

05-12-2013 13:05:24 | More by PEIhop

sendbeer

Georgia

4/5  rDev +2.6%

05-01-2013 15:50:30 | More by sendbeer

philbe311

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A bottle does not make a beer, but this is a pretty wicked bottle... Dated 4-2012...

A - An audibly fizzy active pour that yields three plus fingers worth of airy crisp off-white colored head comprised of huge chunky bubbles... Decent retention gives way to a fluffy delectable frothy lacing and moderate to thick collar... A light to moderate bit of carbonation which is a mix of sluggish and rapid... There is a slight haziness that lingers in this pale gold colored offering... A slight bit of lacing clings to the glass...

S - Golden raisins... Pear... Apple... A kiss of honey... Some candied sugar notes... Very light Belgian yeastiness... Apricots... Perhaps even some light peachy notes... Well rounded and quite complex... A very nice aroma... Each whiff reveals a new dimension...

T - A mix of over ripened sweet fruits... Apple... Pears... Banana... White grapes... Golden Raisins... Apricot... Peaches... Tangerine... There is also some very subtle Belgian yeast component mixed with a slight spiciness... Some rich doughy undertones... A very light bitter astringency on the finish that lingers for a bit...

M - Medium bodied sturdy... Perfect level of slightly prickly carbonation... A bit sticky... Sleek... Smooth... Sophisticated and refined... Goes down easily sip after sip...

D - A very nice Belgian Strong Pale Ale... I would gladly revisit and can recommend without hesitation... I only wish this one were a bit more widely available... Lots of character and depth in every facets... Truly enjoyable...

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 02:28:15 | More by philbe311

FliryVorru

Alabama

4.25/5  rDev +9%

04-29-2013 18:05:09 | More by FliryVorru

soxandbeer

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.6%

04-28-2013 00:37:41 | More by soxandbeer

scottbrew4u

Pennsylvania

3.81/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: Pours into chalice a slightly hazy blonde color with a light orange tinge and a bubbly white head that settles at a relatively quick rate.

S: Some fresh and lightly roasted malt aromas and a touch of honey with some fresh apricot. Light and flowery hop aromas and light phenolics from the yeast round out the aroma.

T: Honey kissed apricots with a pleasant fresh bread flavor from the grains and from the belgian yeast. Light floral and spice from the hops give the beer more balance and drinkability.

M: Light to medium body with bubbly carbonation and mellow alcohol.

D: Interesting but not too complex. This beer got better as you got half way down the glass. It is refreshing with a somewhat sweet aftertaste but not cloying. Worth a try if you have not had this before.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 21:12:26 | More by scottbrew4u

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Celler Release (8-12) so its been maturing about 8 and a bit months more. Poured into a wine glass there was a crowning head of pillowy soft white head with really good retention and lacing. Colour is dark for a blonde, more of a honey caramel brown, with a lot of visible carbonation. 4

S- malty notes and some aged fruitiness, cherries, lemon, also some definite strong yeasty farmy aspects. A bit of a light spice prickle, still some estery minerally florals, some caramel malt, but the yeast is the star, giving a bracing yet complex aroma character. 4

T- initial cloying malty sweetness, leading to some aged lemon, roast ham, toffee notes. A full yeast grip to it, straw, sour cherries, faint farm notes. Some residual malty sweetness and a blackberry note. A bit of a malty biscuit and also plummy notes, some roughness toward the end though. Finishes clean and drying. Some interesting complexities hidden in an allround tasty beer. 4

M - lots of soft carbonation, only a moderate slick body, with a bit of oiliness on the finish. But a surprisingly light and drinkable example of this style. Yet a bit cloying. 3.75

An interesting beer, it looks and smells very good. A decent yeast influence, yet short of fully embracing it. It tastes very nice as well, but I think the standard for potential complexity in this style is a bit lacking here. A bit heavy on malty sweetness, and I might have liked some more hops coming through. It has quite an interesting flavour with some complex notes, but the balance doesn't keep up for me to might have rated it higher. Really glad I tried this though, and its an allround pretty solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 17:04:53 | More by mick303

Strix

Wisconsin

3.7/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear dark-yellow with lots of tiny bubbles, huge lingering head.

Aroma of light fruit, mild bready yeast

Sweet grains punctuated by green apple, coriander, black pepper. Crisp, but not flavorful.

Delightful bubbly mouthfeel.

Certainly pleasant, but seemed to lose flavor the longer it sat. Didn't quite live up to my expectations.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 03:03:12 | More by Strix

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml caged and corked bottle, 4-2012 Cellar Release. Served in a Unibroue tulip, the beer pours a hazy dark gold color with about an inch and a half off-white head. Head retention is good, and there's a decent amount of lacing. Aroma is nice, the brew smells like orange and lemon peel, peppery spice, herbs, root beer, and some green apple. It tastes like cloves, peppery spice, orange and lemon peel, bubblegum, tangerines, pears, and a bit of licorice and apple. Very yeasty. Mouthfeel/body is medium, with a good amount of soft carbonation that makes this easy to drink. I liked this brew, certainly worth trying if you've never had it before. $11.99 a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 21:51:14 | More by bluejacket74

johnnydicfore

Ohio

3/5  rDev -23.1%

03-25-2013 00:36:10 | More by johnnydicfore

Danobold

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +9%

03-23-2013 00:30:21 | More by Danobold

RadfordBrewing

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.6%

03-18-2013 14:37:00 | More by RadfordBrewing

JimmyCop

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +28.2%

03-14-2013 00:40:06 | More by JimmyCop

MarkyMOD

Colorado

4/5  rDev +2.6%

03-10-2013 01:53:30 | More by MarkyMOD

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.06/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Now that is the coolest bottle cap ever. Ever.

I can't remember the last time I tried a Belgian-brewed ale. This is a nice one. Nice yeast tones with a good level of sweetness. Carbonation is a but aggressive. No matter though; another nice brew from Steenberge.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 04:32:03 | More by RblWthACoz

shehateme

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

03-07-2013 00:49:30 | More by shehateme

Peyton5410

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +28.2%

03-02-2013 23:07:34 | More by Peyton5410

Myst

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +2.6%

02-24-2013 04:16:30 | More by Myst

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

4.36/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

11.2 oz, dated April 2012, tasted today.

Pours a slightly hazy orange-lemon gold, half inch coarse white head retains as a film.

Smells of lemon, orange zest, light grassy herbal notes, coriander, bretty yeast and candi sugar.

Tastes mildly citrusy with elements of lemongrass, candi sugar, bananas, coriander and orange peel. Some slighty grassy bitterness in the aftertaste.

Full body with bubbly carbonation on the roof of the mouth and going down.

A really tasty, well-balance strong Belgian ale, lovely aroma and flavor profiles, good body, and highly drinkable. A definite winner.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 22:44:38 | More by Cylinsier

Brushkanna

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +2.6%

02-09-2013 20:32:46 | More by Brushkanna

emile772

California

3/5  rDev -23.1%

02-07-2013 16:15:36 | More by emile772