Honsebrouck, Brouwerij van
Kasteel Winter
Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Belgium
11.0%
25.4oz, Single
$10.49
Not much of a head, enough to cover the surface and then simmer off, a lot of larger bubbles contributes, the lacing is lackluster as well. The liquid is a predictable murky brown with a yellow outside ring, running counter to the visual impression it’s like the whole glass is filled with a swarm of tiny bubbles, overall close to fully opaque. The nose lays on some serious roastiness with coffee bean, caramel, crème brûlée notes, candied nuts, mocha powder, peach, cherry and plum fruit, lower level of baking spices, it has a dry kind of feel to it which keeps the sweetness in check, no overt hoppiness but again it does have a sort of stiff posture which hops can provide. In the mouth it’s fairly full-bodied, smooth for its weight and here too it starts sweetly and ends drily. The roast and toast extravaganza continues, crazy nuttiness, all this coffee, then butterscotch, toffee, chocolate dust and vanilla bean. Light bread and scone notes before something akin to tobacco ash and open fire cinders. More herbaceous and leafy if never outright hoppy. The carbonation is moderate but shows up when it’s needed most. Very flavorful and vivid, a total cold winter night in front of a roaring fire sort of quaff.
4 our of 5