Whilst we never buy the beers, wines or spirits that we sample and review, we always ensure that what we write is unbiased and honest, otherwise what’s the point in our reviews?
When we were sent two new fruit-flavoured beers from Haacht Brewery in Belgium, our review was very balanced and measured – it was certainly no ‘hatchet job’ – but our conclusion was that the fruitiness of these new brews overpowered the base beers.
Our review ruffled a few feathers, which was not our intention, but as a result of the feature we were sent a selection of the brewery’s extensive range of what were excellent beers.
In the office we were falling over ourselves to find the right superlatives, but often we simply resorted to ‘wow’ and ‘amazing’, which feels like very lazy writing, but it did reflect our opinions.
So, what did we sample?
The hearty OMMEGANG TRIPEL (8% ABV), brewed with Belgian hops and re-fermented in the bottle, was surprisingly light given the high alcohol content.
Not a session beer, in our opinion, but one that we would definitely choose again. A confident beer, with an on-trend citrus finish and an underlying bitterness for balance.
Weighing in at 5.1% ABV was SUPER 8 BLANCHE – a refreshing wheat beer that produces a very good head. It is brewed with ground coriander and orange zest for a subtle spicy citrus finish, which everyone liked. Not the favourite beer of those that we sampled, but a close second.
Billed as a genuine abbey beer, TONGERLO BLOND (6% ABV), is coppery-orange in colour with a creamy head. This is also re-fermented in the bottle producing a smooth and refreshing mouthfeel with an almost spicy finish.
Ten years ago, this beer was named as the World’s Best Beer and some of us in the office wondered why this beer hasn’t won the same accolade every year since.
Another Belgian abbey beer was TONGERLO BROWN (6.5% ABV) – an intriguing and complex beer.
Dark brown in colour, with a contrasting cream-coloured head, this beer is also expertly re-fermented in the bottle to produce rich and intense flavours, but at the same time it was a surprisingly refreshing beer and one which we were competing for to have the final taste.
For those not used to brown beers or who have perhaps never tried this variety before, this beer will transform your perception, it will tantalise your taste buds and you will come back for more.
India Pale Ales (IPAs) have witnessed a resurgence in recent years, especially where citrus flavour profiles have been introduced.
Haacht’s SUPER 8 IPA (6% ABV) is amber in colour, produced with a higher proportion of hops producing the relatively high ABV.
Yes, the higher alcohol content does produce a bitter flavour, but this on-trend beer is balanced with citrus notes that deliver a near-perfect IPA – a mature, fully rounded ale from the first sip to the last drop.
The SUPER 8 FLANDRIEN at 6.4% ABV was surprisingly easy drinking. This blond beer was very popular in the office and was another favourite.
Its flavour profile is complex given the range of ingredients, which include oak, vanilla, coriander and hops, including Saaz and Belgian hops, along with herbal and floral hops.
It wasn’t a taste competition so there was no winner, which was a relief because it would have been hard to choose. Each beer provided a unique experience, but for me the Tongerlo Brown was the most memorable.
Hats off to the brewers at Haacht, who are producing delightful and deservedly award-winning brews.
For more information visit their website