Herevana – Emporium – Belgian Strong
Mid week, and so here I am with the Emporium Belgian Strong. I previously had this beer in December 2020, with a mixed reaction This appears to be from the same brew batch, a never ending supply. I wonder how age has made it.
Emporium Brewing are based in Kaikoura, Canterbury, 🇳🇿 and they make the Belgian Strong in the style that is of course Belgian Strong ale – and this is 10.5% ABV. The 375ml Bottle is 3.15 standard drinks in NZ
I got my wonky glass out, I can’t help that it has appeal.
There’s quite a pleasing odour of malt but there is a hit of the sour.
A lovely pour of a orange brown bright beer with a lovely had that is biscuit coloured and sitting stubbornly on top. I never cease to be amazed about how good beer can look.
Aroma in the glass is the rich more familiar Belgian yeasty sweetness.
This has two things going on in parallel. There’s quite a ping go bitterness that goes wit this, it is quite sharp and prickly. There’s also a lovely cushion of sweetness that wants to be more assertive.
This seems to be the same, or similar to my previous experience, bitterness and a softer underbelly.
There’s also a quick kick at the end from a dryness unexpected.
But I think that the toffee notes in this are the thing that you reflect on and are driven to,
It is a beer that there is pondering over, and is that sharp boozy alcohol tang a feature of style or a quirk of this beer. It isn’t ike you get to drink a lot of the Belgian Strong Ales to remember. When when I then went and checked it seems I’m a bit of a liar. The last two I had were the Duvel and the 8Wired beers. They didn’t have the tang.
This got slightly warmer, as they do, and those warm sugary toffee things came up and out. The general consensus seems to be, on the app feedback, is that this might be ‘sharper’ than some were expecting, but once you’re past that you’re into some goodness.
The Pdubyah-o-Meter rates this as 8on the arbitrary number scale. A contemplative beer, one that needs your attention and interest. I like this version as it seems bigger and boozier but not cloying and too prickly. Perhaps it is me that is mellowing.
Music: Tall Blak Guy – Airplane Mode. When I last drank this I was listening to 8 Miles to Moenart by Tall Black Guy on the Spotify player.
Herevana beers are those I drink at home, I’m not at some beer festival, like, for instance, Beervana, but am just in my kitchen, usually, dining room table, sometimes, or outside, occasionally, where I can take an average picture and write in real time about the beer that I’ve invested in, both in a monetary and emotional way.
Philip himself.
Brewed in July 2018, this boozy Belgian has aged beautifully and is now ready for you to enjoy at home.
Brewers Notes
A nice dry finish with stone fruit characters, Belgian spice and a touch of banana from the yeast.
Belgian Ale – Strong Dark
The Belgian Strong Dark Ale is a dark, complex, strong Belgian ale with a delicious blend of malt richness, dark fruit flavors, and spicy elements. Like a larger dubbel, with a fuller body and increased malt richness. Not as bitter or hoppy as a tripel, but of similar strength.
A life just as ordinary 