by Brouwerij Corsendonk (at Brasserie Du Bocq)
The beers of Corsendonk are Abbey Ales, meaning they have an historical connection to an abbey, but the beers are no longer brewed or even owned by the abbey. Instead Brouwerij Corsendonk operated from 1906 til 1953, at which time the brewery was closed down.
Fast forward three decades, and the original brewers grandson revived the brand. No longer having a brewery, they arranged for their beers to be brewed at Brasserie Du Bocq in nearby Pernode in the Namur province.
For forty years, this arrangement has served both parties well, and the Corsendonk beers continue to be a part of the Belgian brewing landscape.
This is their witbier, which is really only made for export. It is classically Belgian in style, with a slightly hazy appearance and an aroma of banana, coriander and orange peel.
It is light and well carbonated, with a crisp wheaty body. The coriander and orange are present in the taste, along with the over-riding banana esters from the yeast. It has a prickly, somewhat spicy finish, maybe a little sweeter than some of the other witbiers I’ve had.