Tag: Belgian

Beer of the Week 52: PranQster

 

North Coast Brewing Company’s Pranqster Belgium Style Golden Ale

From the bottle:

Belgian ales represent the height of the brewers’ art, with sophisticated brewing techniques, yeast blends, and unique flavorings. PranQster follows in this tradition using a mixed culture of antique yeast strains that produces a floral nose, full fruity flavor, and clean finish.

From my notes:

Cloudy, with a straw-like complexion. Thin fine white head. High carbonation. Malt sweet, spices, yeast. Tastes delicious. Tropical fruit, malt sweet, pepper, and cloves on the tongue. Did I saw it was delicious? Crisp finish, smooth, no hops.

Did I say it was delicious?

Belgian Ales are strong and complex enough to stand up to whatever you want to pair them with. PranQster is an excellent example of a Belgian Strong Pale Ale, lots of flavor and spice in the brew. Just be careful because with an ABV of 7.6% you’re not going to be chugging these down. PranQster is a sipping beer!

In other news, this is my 52nd beer. A year in beer if you will. And as much as I enjoy beer and writing up these short reviews. I think a 52 is a good number to end on. Thanks for following the blog as I reviewed them. I don’t know what my next project will be but I hope you’ll continue reading!

Rating (out of five):

Beer of the Week 50: Chainbreaker

Deschutes Brewery’s Chainbreaker White IPA

From the bottle:

What if wheat wasn’t the goal in itself? But a route to something awesomely new?

You pair wheat, hops and Belgian yeast and suddenly ‘bingo, a wheat like nobody  else’s.’ With real depth, coriander and sweet orange peel, it’s citrus-packed and silky smooth going down.

From my notes:

Cloudy straw white color with thick, creamy looking white head that leaves a light lacing on the glass. Citrus, pine, and spices on the nose. Yeast and wheat when it first hits the tongue with hints of citrus, grapefruit specifically, and some spices, coriander I assume. This is quickly followed up by the crisp hop flavor as it goes down. Smooth and dry finish. Surprisingly juxtaposition of a Belgian and an IPA.

The smoothness of a Wheat beer with the intensity of an IPA?!

I’ve already reviewed a number of Deschutes Brewery’s beers, and they’ve become one of my favorite brewers, Chainbreaker cements my opinion further. The fact that it’s a Witbier and an Indian Pale Ale makes for some interesting questions. IPAs are generally paired with robustly flavored foods that can hold their own against the strengths of the beer. Witbiers are usually paired with lighter fare: seafood, salads, citrus dishes. Chainbreaker is both. So what would it go well with? I think both. Chainbreaker won’t overwhelm delicate, subtle foods but it will stand up to spicy, strong and bold flavored dishes. This beer was a real surprise and a real treat.

Rating (out of five):

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