St. Stefanus - Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.

dooger

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Great feel, nice taste. Good drink. The aroma does not do the taste justice. Good deep flavor but not overwhelming. Very good looking blonde beer, keeps head, and does not flat when sitting. Cant beat the lasting taste. Drink it cold. Better bite up front, then smooth at the end.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 01:07:48 | More by dooger

mrsheeps

3.83/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A) golden yellow, hazy, moderate carbonation
S) aggressive aroma chock full of fruit esters, green apples, oranges, spice; some malt and yeast, though a bit overpowered by the esters
T) first, and most importantly, the taste significantly improves as the beer approaches room temperature - what starts as overly hoppy/bitter (for the style and/or my taste for the style) finishes with what the aroma promised but failed to deliver upfront: sweet fruits, malt, yeast, and spice
M) some alcohol in the finish, which got more subtle as the beer warmed; light, creamy, and dry; fairly easy to drink despite alcohol presence... I'm done already?!?
O) fairly good, but far from outstanding; P.S. I could see this being described as a Light Tripel

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 22:20:34 | More by mrsheeps

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.53/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

11.2 oz bottle poured into a Duvel tulip.
7% ABV, Cellar Release: 1-2012, 8°C, "maturation calendar" on side, Best Before: 03/11/13 on back label.

A - A steady stream of strong carbonation billows from the glass' etching, through the vibrantly clear golden yellow beer, to the effervescent and pillowy egg shell-colored head. Gobs of lace decorate the glass in a whole-y Swiss cheese pattern.

S - Giant fruit esters erupt from this fresh Belgian yeast-laden beer! Sweet orange peel citrus masks, ever-so-slightly, a dribble of white grape juice while earthy clay and white pepper spice follow through. Pilsner malt adds plenty of sweetness to the aroma as alcohol finishes out gently. Abounding aromatics make this one hell of a great smelling beer!

T - Sweet pilsner malt is traded for an unpleasant grainy pale malt as the explosive yeast esters fade to the background. Apricot hints come out and white pepper is still pretty strong, but the finish is very dry and almost metallic tasting.

M - Strong carbonation should come as no surprise, making this a perfect beer to pair with some cheese as it'll scrub your tongue nicely. Medium-bodied and leaning towards the sweet size, hops never enter the picture; instead, the beer is balanced by an overwhelming dryness along the finish that lingers for quite a bit.

O - This beer loses track somewhere between the aroma and flavor, changing drastically. The first sip was quite distasteful as it finished out with a metallic-like dryness, but after a few further sips, it became more drinkable. It's aggressive and inviting aroma is near perfection, it's just the flavor that doesn't quite follow in the footsteps. I'd imagine that this beer with it's fruity, earthy, and spice characteristics would be a good beer to pair with a handful of different cheeses and explore their interactions.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 16:34:52 | More by BeerFMAndy

Fux

France

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a clear golden color with a 2 fingers fizzy head that turns quickly into a thin film

S: Smell is fruity esters, yellow fruits (peach, banana), citruses, yeasts.

T: Sweet caramel malts make a good balance to the hoppy character of this beer. Quite big alcohol presence and lots of residual sugar. Dry aftertaste.

M: Light bodied with a huge carbonation. Easy to drink despite the alcohol presence.

O: The brewer advises to compare the evolutions of this beer from 3 to 18 months of maturation. This one has been drunk young (3 months) and is pleasantly hoppy and fruity. Should age well given the sweetness and yeastiness.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 21:27:24 | More by Fux