Rince Cochon Biere, 7.5% to 8.5%, Belgium

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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Dead Centre, Vivid Trinity, 9.5%

Imperial Stout Aged in ex-rum barrels.

Vivid Trinity c/othewhiskeynut

Rich, sweet dark molasses with a touch of coffee.

Slips down too easily for such a monster of a beer.

9.5% c/othewhiskeynut

Four months in rum barrels has added so much enjoyable flavour to the mix.

Yum yum rum! c/othewhiskeynut

Yet more delights from Dead Centre Brewing!

Sláinte

Killarney 8 Year Old, Imperial Stout Barrel Aged Irish Whiskey, 46% & Killarney Whiskey Cask Aged Imperial Stout, 9.6%

In advance of their €24 million combined whiskey distillery & brewery coming on stream, Killarney Distilling Co have released this limited edition duo.

Killarney Whiskey & Stout c/othewhiskeynut

Comprising of an 8 year old blended whiskey finished in their own Imperial Stout casks – as well as the Imperial Stout finished in whiskey casks – they make for an exclusive pairing.

Aged in Stout c/othewhiskeynut

The 8yo wasn’t giving much away. Quite soft & shy on the nose.

More powerful on the palate. Subtle sweet grain mixed with wholesome malt augmented by the undertones of barrel finishing.

A rather lively & fresh finish rounded this agreeable blend off.

Aged in Whiskey c/othewhiskeynut

The Imperial Stout had a richness & depth from the whiskey barrels – but I found the carbonation a tad too lively – which distracted my palate from the complexity within.

Leaving it to sit for a while brought out a creaminess – adding to the enjoyment.

A worthy pair to kick start the exciting journey Killarney Distilling Co are embarking on!

Sláinte

8 Degrees, Devil’s Ladder Belgian Tripel, Sherry Cask Aged, 11.5%

Very rich tasting.

Very moreish.

A mountain of a beer at 11.5%.

Devil’s Ladder c/othewhiskeynut

Part of 8 Degrees Brewing Irish Munro series – this beer’s casks are in turn used to age a whiskey creating the Crested Devil’s Ladder version.

Crested Devil’s Ladder c/oCelticWhiskeyShop

As both 8 Degrees & Crested are owned by Pernod Ricard – it’s great to see further developments from this partnership.

Enjoy them while you can!

Sláinte

Dingle, Around The Clock, Whiskey Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, 12%

What’s unusual about Around The Clock is that both the beer & the whiskey barrels it’s aged in are part of the same company – PorterHouse.

Rich! c/othewhiskeynut

Displaying a dark, heavy & rich treacly quality augmented by a sweetness from the Dingle Whiskey barrels – Around The Clock is a fine example of the barrel aged category.

Sláinte

Dead Centre, Preciou2 Cargo, Sherry Barrel Aged Belgian Tripel, 9.2%

I never got hold of Preciou1 Cargo – but popping down to the Dead Centre Brewery to collect my tasty takeaway pizza – Preciou2 was on display.

So I bought it.

Combining 2 of my favourite styles of beer – barrel aged – sherry this time – and Belgian Tripel – the results were a delight.

Despite the 9.2% ABV this is seductively easy to drink.

Starting off with a beguiling lightness on the palate, heavier rich notes of maltiness & treacly undertones develop.

A touch of nuttiness on the finish only adds to the experience.

Preciou2 Cargo was brewed to celebrate Dead Centre’s 2nd Birthday.

With beer this good – let there be many more!

Sláinte

DOT Brew Batch IV, Barrel Aged Rum Red Dark, 8.9%

It’s not only whiskey that’s exploring different varieties of barrel ageing – the craft beer world is too!

DOT BatchIV c/othewhiskeynut

DOT Brew excel in barrel ageing.

This Red Ale has been aged in used Irish Whiskey barrels that previously held rum.

Label info c/othewhiskeynut

Pours a lovely dark ruby red with a decent head.

Rich sweet dark caramel nose.

Quite a welcoming heavy molassey palate – very engaging.

All topped off with a winter warming hug of rum.

8.9% enjoyment! c/othewhiskeynut

Nice!

Sláinte

8 Degrees Brewing, Black Ball 8, Metric Stout, 11.2%

It’s a stout.

Black Ball 8 c/othewhiskeynut

It’s aged in Jameson Whiskey Casks.

It’s 11.2%.

Rack em up! c/othewhiskeynut

It’s treacly & rich,

And it packs a punch.

8yo! c/othewhiskeynut

Can you pot the Black Ball?

Sláinte

El Bandido, Tequila Flavoured Beer, 5.9%

In the absence of finding any beers aged in actual tequila barrels – I’m reduced to trying this tequila flavoured offering from Aldi.

It has similar packaging & a similar style to my previous encounter with Desperado.

Will it taste the same?

Not really.

El Bandido c/othewhiskeynut

If anything it’s less characterful, not as sugary sweet, blander flavoured & ultimately – a less offensive drinking experience.

At 5.9%  – it’ll get you drunk relatively easily – which is probably it’s main selling point.

It didn’t win me over.

Sláinte

Sierra Nevada, Narwhal, Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, 11.9%

Dark – very dark.

Aromas of coffee, sweet vanilla & molasses.

Sierra Nevada Narwhal c/othewhiskeynut

Almost nitro smoothness on the palate.

For such a high strength ABV offering this is quite a light experience.

Despite it’s full year in bourbon barrels – I didn’t pick up a noticeable bourbon influence.  Truth is – I got more of a rum vibe going.

Those heavy – slightly burnt –  molasses combined with rich dark brown demerara sweetness were actually more suited to the Narwhal & pirate ship motif displayed on the eye-catching can!

Beast of a Beer c/othewhiskeynut

A ‘beast of a beer’ indeed!

Sláinte