Poperings Hommel Bier - Brouwerij Van Eecke N.V.

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

From a 750 ml bottle. Sorry for the long review, but this is a strange brew that requires some description...

A slightly cloudy, gold/tan color brew with a fair head that dissipated fairly slowly. Nice lacing on glass. Thick sediment in bottle. Considerable sediment and almost reddish* chunks in the glass, even with a careful pour, enough to distract some from the appearance, but not enough to make it completely unappealing.

Quite sweet, somewhat spicy smell with plenty of hops, a slight touch of grain or hay, and a little lemon or citrus. Overall a pleasant smell.

It tastes of hops, spices, lemon and yeast with a touch of maltiness and a slight bit of an alcohol taste. There's a sweetness that lingers as well. Light to medium bitterness that doesn't really linger.

It's got a creamy, honey feel and plenty of carbonation. A very pleasant sensation on the tongue.

I would rate the drinkability average, and that's all. I'm not in a huge rush to buy another, as 750 ml was a bit overpowering. This is a beer that I would prefer to share (when served in this 750 ml bottle size). That being said, there's a specific beer buddy of mine who I'd like to try this one, tho I'm not sure what his reaction would be to this somewhat odd brew.

I would note that anytime the letters "IPA" are included in a beer description, I tend to either dislike it a lot, or at least not prefer it. That is not the case here. This beer is rather strange, but I actually liked it, despite the strange appearance and iffy drinkability.

*I looked at the sediment in several different lightings and even shone a flashlight thru it, trying to figure out what the heck were the "floaties." More experienced reviewers should probably ignore this observation, but I found it rather interesting, although not especially appealing.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2010 14:54:37 | More by AlCaponeJunior

Ciocanelu

Romania

4/5  rDev -1%

05-21-2013 12:14:41 | More by Ciocanelu

Mattias

Sweden

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

05-20-2013 20:51:53 | More by Mattias

2GOOFY

California

4/5  rDev -1%

05-15-2013 01:01:37 | More by 2GOOFY

OregonGrown7

Nebraska

4/5  rDev -1%

05-12-2013 03:27:04 | More by OregonGrown7

dcbeers

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-09-2013 03:25:27 | More by dcbeers

fdig23

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-04-2013 12:50:07 | More by fdig23

JayQue

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Really good beer!!! Pours a hazy orange color into my Chimay goblet from a corked and caged 750 ml bottle. Nice big delicately bubbly white head with better than average retention. Little lacing.

Smell is pretty good. Light fruit, mostly apple with some pear and Belgian yeast. Very inviting

Tastes great. Kind of like a lower .abv Tripel without the spices. Plenty of fruit, Strong yeasty taste (I always am reminded of ripe cheese when I encounter this level of yeast flavor in a good Tripel.) This is delicious and light. I could drink a ton of it.

Mouthfeel is rich, smooth and pillowy soft. There is a little IPA bitterness but not much. Apples, Belgian yeast, no hint of alcohol . You could drink this stuff all night!!!!

Excellent Belgian ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 02:53:41 | More by JayQue

rangerred

Tennessee

3.99/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

330ml bottle into a tulip.

Pours a slightly hazy medium orange with a huge billowy white head. Some sediment from the bottom of the bottle sneaks into the glass. Abundent carbonation ensures the head remains throughout and leaves tons of lacing.

The aroma has a metallic note but is also clove and banana so typical of Belgian ales. Grassy and earthy hops poke through much moreso than in other Belgian beers.

The flavor is quite a bit more hoppy than I was expecting! Clove and yeast combined with Earthy hops leading to a very assertive and drying bitterness. A little tropical fruit flavor comes in towards the finish lingering along with the lasting bitterness. A very clean and dry finish.

Overall, I really feel like I could drink gallons of this beer all day. It is really that good. A great flavor and mouthfeel combined with a hefty bitterness makes this one extremely quaffable and well put together brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 01:26:38 | More by rangerred

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

04-27-2013 23:41:29 | More by onix1agr

soxandbeer

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

04-20-2013 22:51:43 | More by soxandbeer

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -19.6%

04-19-2013 10:08:05 | More by Thorpe429

lauries444

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

04-18-2013 02:59:05 | More by lauries444

Immortale25

Florida

4/5  rDev -1%

04-17-2013 22:22:02 | More by Immortale25

tastymug

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -19.6%

04-12-2013 22:30:04 | More by tastymug

newton99

Belgium

3.41/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Nose is citric, grassy, green raisin, honey. Kiss of funky yeast. Not bad at all.

Very metallic, really drags the whole thing down for me. Raisin. Ripe grape. Clovey nips, but mild. Peppery. Hops cut through nicely, not over the top. Metallic imperfection fades a tad as I drink; about halfway. Still, it's there, and it messes up the otherwise nectar-like profile.

Medium body, little biscuity feel. Slightly sticky.

I'd like like to try again, see if the metallic flavor/compound is less present.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 10:02:26 | More by newton99

Elbrownbag

Netherlands

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

04-01-2013 19:53:35 | More by Elbrownbag

Gagnonsux

Texas

4/5  rDev -1%

04-01-2013 01:24:17 | More by Gagnonsux

chris1919

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -19.6%

03-31-2013 20:10:02 | More by chris1919

safaricook

Netherlands

4/5  rDev -1%

03-23-2013 10:29:15 | More by safaricook

grahamboudreaux

Tennessee

4.75/5  rDev +17.6%

03-23-2013 06:10:30 | More by grahamboudreaux

BeerOps

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

03-21-2013 13:47:09 | More by BeerOps

Shatter

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

03-13-2013 23:32:40 | More by Shatter

mizx

United Kingdom (England)

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

03-12-2013 13:21:15 | More by mizx

spycow

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

03-11-2013 06:01:16 | More by spycow