An immediately recognisable brand, Liefmans has gained a reputation for brewing world class beer, and the Goudenband is no different. First known as Ijzereband which translates to Iron Band as a reference to the band around the beer barrel, it later changed its name to Goudenband, meaning Gold Band. One of the most distinctive dark beers around, it is made by masterfully blending matured beer of 12 months with younger beer, to merge the complexity of old with the sharp edge of the new batch. This restarts the fermentation process, resulting in a beer brimming with quality. It appears dark red with notes of caramel, fresh fruits and malt on the nose.
The palate isolates hints of apple and cherry followed by wood with nuts and raisins to finish. This can be stored for years as it improves while it ages and in perfect conditions can be fresh after a decade or more. It can be paired with blue cheese as well as an excellent after dinner beverage just on its own.
Originally this sweet-acid drink was made by adding fresh black cherries to a barrel Lambic of 6 months young. The addition of fruits provokes new fermentation in the oak barrels and after 8 to 12 months only peels and stones would be left and the Kriek-Lambic would be ready to be filtered and bottles. The residual sugar could be adjusted with fruit juice to give refermentation in the bottle but this traditional type of fruit beer is more acid and less fruity.Because of the limited availability of the “Schaerbeekse Cherries” and to brew a less sour and fruitier Lambic beer, Lindemans farm brewery developed
an unique alternative natural method using pure cherry juice from unfrozen cherries. This straight cherry juice is blended with selected Lambic of different ages. Kriek has a pink-red colour and a delicious taste of sparkling cherry champagne.
Hoegaarden Julius is a Belgian strong ale from Hoegaarden Brewery in
Belgium. Famous internationally for their wheat beer, this strong ale from Hoegaarden is full of character and flavour at 8.5% ABV. Pouring a pale golden colour, Hoegaarden Julius offers up aromas of freshly baked bread and white pepper. The flavour is fruity, with plum and orchard fruits, hints of clove spice and bready yeast flavours. Surprisingly light and drinkable for a strong ale, buy Hoegaarden Julius to explore something a little different from Hoegaarden Brewery.
Leffe 9 is a top fermentation beer with a deep golden colour and strong flavours. The spicy, bitter and fruity aromas are beautifully in balance, and the long, slightly smoky after taste gives it a special charm.
This brown beer was originally only brewed for Christmas, but over the centuries it became a force to be reckoned with.Maredsous Brune has a creamy foaming head and is a dark burgundy colour and
is easily recognisable by its expressive aroma. A generous caramel bouquet is completed with masterly fruity touches.
Vleteren Dark Old Strong Ale is a Belgian strong dark ale from Brouwerij Decaestecker, known as Deca for short. Founded in the 1880s just north of Ypres in northwestern Belgium, Brouwerij Deca was destroyed in World War I and had to be rebuilt after the war was over. The brewery produces a range of traditional Belgian strong ales. Vleteren Dark Old Strong Ale pours a deep, clear reddish-brown colour, with warming aromas of gingerbread and biscuits mingling with dried fruits and apple. The flavour is rich, with smooth malts and ripe fruits complementing the slight alcoholic sweetness.
Buy Vleteren Dark Old Strong Ale for a superbly balanced example of a Belgian strong dark ale.
Gulden Draak Imperial Stout is an imperial stout from Belgian brewer,
Brouwerij Van Steenberge. As the rather imposing bottle suggests, this is a seriously strong, flavourful beer. The name Imperial Stout comes from a particularly strong stout that was produced in England and shipped to the Imperial court of Russia back in the 1800s. This regal beer is brewed with double, or even triple, the malts and hops, to produce a rich, complex flavour and strong alcohol content – generally around 10-12% ABV. Gulden Draak Imperial Stout pours a deep black colour, offering up aromas of cherries, dried fruit and chocolate. The flavour is rich and fruity, with chocolate, roasted malt and brown sugar, alongside a hint of clove spice.
Buy Gulden Draak Imperial Stout to explore a dark, complex beer with an interesting history.
A very complex artisanal Wallonian blond ale with an unusual hoppiness, bitterness and a touch of spice. A bizarre grainy punch of taste preceding hops and waves of flavours whizzing over the tongue.
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