Poperings Hommel Bier - Brouwerij Van Eecke N.V.

pinotboy007

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

200th review: enjoyed on the deck in early fall heat.

A - Into a Duvel tulip: nice deep, hazy gold color with a white, dense crown that settled over time to a thick cap and modest lace. No floaties.

S - Belgian ale for sure - modest grassy hops, malt and sugar. Also has a bit of a Saison-like funk going on.

T - Delicious ale; World Class. Splendid rendition that's like a cross between Orval and Duvel. Beautifully balanced hops and malt with a sophisticated "Band Aid" accent. Wow.

M - Very soft, creamy, and dense but still manages some slickness; lip-smacking.

D - At 7.5% ABV, this is probably as good as it gets for a Belgian. Almost too drinkable. (Notice that I said "almost.") :)

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2009 22:33:47 | More by pinotboy007

campfirebrew

New York

4/5  rDev -1%

06-19-2013 13:01:11 | More by campfirebrew

JesseMurdock

Hawaii

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

06-16-2013 08:06:09 | More by JesseMurdock

jroberts8811

Missouri

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

06-15-2013 18:25:07 | More by jroberts8811

spoony

Colorado

3.86/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

From a 250 ml bottle (dated January 2014 in the notched label) into a wine glass.

A-The brew pours with a fat finger of off-white head that hangs around for a bit. The liquid is speckled with particles and lightly cloudy with a golden color. A few bits of oily lace remain on the glass.

S-The smell is surprisingly doughy for an IPA. There is an herbal honey sweetness here, which is sort of unique and not entirely unpleasant, but kind of strange. Bitterness is mild and the hops come through as more citrusy and lemony than anything else.

T-The taste is less doughy than the smell and more sharp and spicy. The pale malts are still there, but hops show up in an earthy, herbal, funky, Belgian way. Bitterness is moderate to high for a Belgian IPA, but nothing like a US-brewed IPA.

M-There is an opening wave of prickly assertive carbonation, but once that fades, the brew settles on the palate. Feel is nicely matched with the flavors.

O-This is a very unique beer. I tasted two bottles and the second had far more bitter, sharp hops than the first, but both had a strange honey-herbal sweetness to them. I'm not sure that I actually liked this beer, but I was so intrigued that I was left wanting to drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 02:12:55 | More by spoony

aflies

Arizona

4/5  rDev -1%

06-07-2013 23:55:57 | More by aflies

CBA

British Indian Ocean Territory

4/5  rDev -1%

06-07-2013 16:47:54 | More by CBA

Number3red

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

06-04-2013 20:38:06 | More by Number3red

apf

Utah

4.75/5  rDev +17.6%

06-04-2013 04:21:57 | More by apf

fishguyac

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

06-04-2013 00:04:44 | More by fishguyac

gabedivision

New York

4/5  rDev -1%

06-02-2013 02:54:54 | More by gabedivision

Rwalford74

Australia

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-31-2013 09:16:54 | More by Rwalford74

MelissaMonosoff

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-29-2013 21:15:09 | More by MelissaMonosoff

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-25-2013 12:56:01 | More by Slatetank

CBPAS

New York

4/5  rDev -1%

05-25-2013 02:50:39 | More by CBPAS

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