Malheur Bière Brut (Brut Reserve) - Brouwerij De Landtsheer NV

Todd

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Notes from the 2002 Kerstbierfestival, Essen, Belgium.

This beer has been subject to a similar process to Champagne production. The yeast sediment settles in the neck of the bottle while in the cellars ... there it is frozen and removed by a technique known as "degorgement." It's then bottled traditionally, "bouteille Champenoise."

Dark, honey blond color with thin wisp lace. A bit cloudy, where I expected a lot of clarity. Funky, musty, cheesy hop character with a dose of raw herbal in your face. Prickly carbonation. Huge sweetness. Notes of honey, candy, caramel, pear, apple and a distinct and very notable vanilla bean flavor. Some sharp lemon mingles with the carbonation. Confectionery sweetness comes to mind. Dirty yeast underneath with some herbal phenols on the top of the mouth.

What a wonderfully different approach to beer! I'm sure this will be recognized as a new style someday.

Love it.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2003 22:12:23 | More by Todd

Jason

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: The head was not much to talk about but was present, a bit on the hazy side donning a yellowish beige hue.

Smell: Musty cheese hop aroma with a nutty earthy yeast and vague fruitiness in the back.

Taste: Fruity palate of apple skin, pears and lemon zest. Powdery yeast and a dry malt character form from middle to end with a warming alcohol.

Mouthfeel: More smoothness that actual sting crispness, again smooth with an unwavering light body.

Drinkability & Notes: A bit champagne like but with the beer qualities there is no confusion. This is beyond Duvel and the like, not better just more complex.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2003 10:27:43 | More by Jason

Dactrius

Wisconsin

3.25/5  rDev -20.3%

05-07-2013 02:51:35 | More by Dactrius

BierMeJohn

Germany

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

04-21-2013 12:43:03 | More by BierMeJohn

Dope

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

States best before "DL 109/112 B102B03". Whatever that means.

A: Pours a super cloudy gold with a lots of sediment. Enormous frothy white head. Head fades slowly, leaving a nice island behind. Spotty little thin chunks of lacing.

S: Grassy notes. Light, crackery malt. Some tart grape skin.

T: Again, grassy up front with lemons. Sharp, cracker-like malt. Has light tart components, again like a green grape skin. Not sour, just a little tart and sharp. A little honey in there. Kind of a dry, yeasty finish with a little pear, almost typical of a regular champagne. No real sign of alcohol.

M: Medium bodied, quite airy with good carbonation (of course).

O: Not a bad biere de champagne. It's surprisingly light with hidden alcohol, especially given 12% ABV. Not nearly as good as the Enlightenment Brut I had recently though, I doubt I'd get this one again. This one is a little drier and more like a typical champagne, I will say.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 03:50:26 | More by Dope

baybum

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2%

03-27-2013 23:28:48 | More by baybum

oldp0rt

Quebec (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

03-24-2013 15:52:48 | More by oldp0rt

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2%

03-10-2013 19:29:07 | More by spycow

smithj4

New York

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

02-08-2013 02:43:31 | More by smithj4

brikelly

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

01-04-2013 04:06:58 | More by brikelly

stereosforgeeks

Virginia

4/5  rDev -2%

12-17-2012 17:56:26 | More by stereosforgeeks

danieelol

Australia

3.25/5  rDev -20.3%

12-04-2012 11:57:52 | More by danieelol

ErwinGS

Belgium

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%

11-24-2012 15:02:19 | More by ErwinGS

ReeseMax3

Alaska

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

09-14-2012 18:54:27 | More by ReeseMax3

beerpadawan

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

08-27-2012 18:50:20 | More by beerpadawan

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Shared by Thorpe429. Thanks Mike.

Served side by side with Malheur Brut Noir (Black Chocolate).

The beer is hazy and straw yellow hued with a half inch of lasting white head. The aroma brings yeast, lemons, bready malts, grass. Smells good. Nice flavor as well. Easy drinking, especially considering the 12% abv. Bold yeast flavors with a touch of hops. Additional notes of citrus and a light, bready sweetness. The finish is dry, with warming alcohol notes. Overall, this a tasty beer. I would have it again.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 22:57:54 | More by Huhzubendah

nickfl

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%

05-06-2012 02:31:28 | More by nickfl

tbeer40

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2%

05-04-2012 01:43:20 | More by tbeer40

gcgarcia

Brazil

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%

04-01-2012 22:46:05 | More by gcgarcia

drabmuh

Maryland

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Let's do this, top 5 Bière de Champagne / Bière Brut, Thanks Thorpe. Beer served in a cervoise from Town hall because it was handy. Beer is yellow, really cloudy, nice big white head, low retention, some lacing.

Aroma is estery and yeasty, dominate, strong, smells good.

Beer is light in body, airy on the palate, sweet up front with a little bit of a dry finish to the whole thing. I like the yeast on the palate, probably the best Bière de Champagne / Bière Brut I've ever had, I might even have it again.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 17:39:51 | More by drabmuh

mdfb79

New York

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 03/03/12 notes. Bottled shared by Thorpe429; thanks Mike. Poured into a tulip.

a - Pours a bright yellow with a ton of fluffy white head and moderate to high carbonation evident. Very carbonated but guess that's to be expected.

s - Smells of Belgian yeast, spices, citrus, wheat, some earthy notes. Pretty nice.

t - Tasted of Belgian yeast, spices, citrus hops, lemon, lightly sour, floral hops, and earthy notes. Like the taste a little better then the nose.

m - Light body and moderate carbonation. Can't believe this one is 12% ABV; definitely drinks much easier then that.

o - Overall a very nice, crisp beer. I thought it was more like 7%% so was surprised to see such a high ABV. Worth checking out and woul revisit it.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 20:58:18 | More by mdfb79

Thorpe429

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle from Whole Foods P Street in DC. Served in a SAVOR wine glass.

Pours a fairly-clear straw-golden color with a nice white head and some good lacing on the way down. The nose brings some pear, melon, and green grapes. Plenty of light fruit and a bit of spice. The flavor continues down the same path, with the fruit in the front. A bit of booze on the back end. Light body with high carbonation and a crisp, clean finish. Quite good.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 01:45:35 | More by Thorpe429

ygtbsm94

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -20.3%

03-05-2012 01:30:52 | More by ygtbsm94

KickbacksSteve

Florida

3.7/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle poured into Malhuer chalice. White frothy head, medium retention. Suddsy lacing. Lots of small bubbles climbing to the surface. Straw gold in color. High clarity. Aroma sweet/malty, slight butter. There is a champagne like taste to the beer of course but less so than expected. High carbonation, pretty nice. 

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 00:55:53 | More by KickbacksSteve

zonker17

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2%

02-18-2012 16:57:06 | More by zonker17