Belgium is a beer lovers paradise.
The sheer variety of styles on offer & – from my limited experience – high quality results are a delight to explore.
So when some buddies suggest bringing a few back to Ireland – you don’t refuse.
The garishly coloured yet striking selection pack from Difcom – a beer distributer based in France – were unknown territory for me but did include a Biere Whisky – so a few were opened.
Rince Cochon Biere Blonde, 8.5%
The Rince Cochon range sport a cheeky pig – in a variety of colours – and are all high strength offerings.
Biere Blonde displayed a lovely rich malty nose, deeply flavoured palate yet still ‘lagery’ attitude in an eminently quaffable easily over drunk 8.5% ABV.
Nice!
Rince Cochon Biere Whisky, 8.5%
Light golden brown – like whisky with bubbles!
The nose offered soft sweet notes of treacle.
The carbonation on tasting proved too much for me & blew away the rather muted flavours within. Even leaving it stand for a short while didn’t improve matters.
A tad disappointing.
Rince Cochon Biere Rouge, 7.5%
Ribena red! Wasn’t expecting that.
Fruity & very sweet nose flowed into a drinking experience I can only liken to imbibing a liquid pack of fruit pastilles.
Now this style is popular in Belgium – but plainly doesn’t work for me.
Thoughts
Only Biere Blonde pleased me.
On closer – geeky – inspection a few things emerged.
The use of sugar – to boost ABV – & natural flavouring rather than allow taste to emanate from the raw ingredients took these beers in a direction both my palate & ethos didn’t particularly enjoy.
It’s fun to experiment however & I’m glad of the opportunity to taste far & wide.
Even if only to confirm my palate preferences!
Sláinte
All images authors own.
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