Some of Belgium's beers are difficult to place in a category.
Unique is, for once, the word to describe them.
Arabier
ABV 8.0% | Volume 33cl | Price £3.70
This strong, pale bottle-conditioned Belgian ale could be categorised as a tripel. Its has a lumpy head, with loose irregular lacework, which sits on the hazy body, and a lemon-spicy nose. The yeast is also present in the nose; also coriander and vanilla. The head is very bitter and hoppy, with coriander hints, again, probably the yeast. On the palate it is very bitter and hoppy, with strong coriander notes and a slight alcoholic edge. Its liveliness is apparent within two or three mouthfuls, after which a polite belch may be necessary. Following this, the bitterness takes over. It isn't an amazingly pleasant bitterness - probably due to overstewing the hops. However, to a certain extent this is softened by a vanilla smoothness that helps the brew to achieve balance. Finish is bitter and slightly cloying.
Bush 10 Scaldis
ABV 12% | Volume 25cl | Price £3.50
It was created in 1933 by Alfred Dubuisson, grand-father of the present family brewer, Hugues. Its former name was "Bush Beer 24°" (the density in Ballings), but today it is known as Bush Amber. Its amber colour is due to the use of caramel malt in the production process. Its bitter sweet taste provides it with firmness and personality. What's more, it helps digestion.
Chouffe Mc - Dark
ABV 8.5% | Volume 75cl | Price £3.60
Another medal winning beer from this very innovative brewery. This was inspired by a Scottish friend - darker in colour and with more aroma.
Chouffe La - Light
ABV 8.0% | Volume 75cl | Price £3.30
A hazy yellow gold complex beer in a serious 75cl bottle. Coriander and hops give stunning but delectable touch to the aroma and palate.
Forbidden Fruit
ABV 8.8% | Volume 33cl | Price £3.50
Forbidden Fruit is a complex beer made with a mixture of malts and spiced with coriander. Deep claret in colour, rich, sweet, malty and full bodied. Originally brewed for a local town festival, now a classic exported worldwide.
Gulden Draak
ABV 10.5% | Volume 33cl | Price £4.60
Gulden Draak is a dark brown Triple Ale, which makes it an exception among the Belgian Triples. The second fermentation offers the nice creamy head, the full body and all the vitamins of the centuries old brewers yeast. It is a "thick" beer, that you can actually "eat" to adventure the complex taste. Gulden Draak balances a natural malt toffee-like sweetness with a mellow happiness and some hoppy accents. The aroma is round, sweet and reveals the 10.5 alcohol by volume. Another name for this type of rich beer is: "Barley wine". You sip and enjoy this beer slowly, probably as a dessert, or as a treat you definitely deserve.
Kwak
ABV 8.0% | Volume 33cl | Price £3.20
Dark and warming with a licquorice like flavour. Served in what has to be the most unusual glass in the world, a sort of stirrup cup. Kwak isn't a Khaki Campbell but was once an innkeeper in East Flanders who first brewed the beer and used the glass.