Tasting Notes: De Ranke: Guldenberg

De Ranke: Guldenberg (Belgium: Belgium Strong Ale:8.5%)

Visual: Hazy grain gold with a large wheaty off white head of bubbled style.

Nose: Citrus fresh, wheat, popcorn. Slight pepper and wheat like hops. Jif lemon. Granary bread undertones and light bitterness. Slight golden syrup.

Body: Bitter front, big wheat and barley. Dry hops with a popcorn texture. Noticeable light fresh back behind the very obvious bitterness, Mouth filling flavour. Cream. Fruitcake near back.

Finish: Real bitter and dry hoppiness. Granite. Lays quite a punch in. Malt, greenery. Syrup lemon and barley.

Conclusion:  Deceptive wee bugger! I broke this open, expecting a light blond beer with sweet notes to round off the day. I ended up drinking one of the hoppier beers I’ve seen bounce out of Belgium.

Oh sure, its hazy body and lightly peppered nose will try and fool you otherwise, but touch it to your lips and massive hops and bitterness are sure to follow, though in as smooth fashion as you would expect from Belgium.

I doubt it will win most rounded beer of the year, but it sure is sturdy and will make you pay attention.

Smooth, sweet and hoppy as heck, a wake up call of a beer, not a night cap as I found to my surprise.