Piraat is one of those beers, something of a classic for the Belgian beer lover. Heavily influenced by the US beer scene, Belgian breweries have been featuring hops more prominently in their beers. Or as in this case, making a variant of a classic to feature the hops (a la Duvel Tripel Hop).
But don’t expect a US-style hop bomb here. It is still very much a Belgian style beer, with very reserved hopping. There is a noticeable difference between this beer and the original, but it is more a more heavily-hopped Belgian strong ale than a Belgian IPA.
The normal Piraat is the base for this beer, with four different hops used at three separate times – hence the Tripel Hop. Saaz, Tetra and Aurora are used in the boil, with Cascade used for dry-hopping.
The result is a beer which smells of sweet grassy hops combined with Belgian yeast esters. It has a fairly thick malty body, lots of fruity sweetness with caramel malt and Belgian candi sugar. This is broken up by the earthy hops that provide a lift and a lingering bitterness to balance the sweetness before it becomes cloying. And it doesn’t shy away from the booziness either, but it is 10.5%!
An interesting beer from Alvinne, and one of Belgium's most bitter beers at 115 IBU
by Abdij Averbode (Brouwerij Huyghe)
A multi grain mix of barley oats and spelt, plus dry-hopping make this strong blonde ale a really interesting creation
A Strong Blonde Ale cross Belgian Tripel, with oak chips used in the brewing process to add a hint of vanilla
by Brouwerij De Hoorn (Palm - Swinkels)
A Belgian Strong Blond Ale aged on oak chips
The 'Devil's' little brother, made to the same recipe but without secondary fermentation in the bottle
by Brouwerij van Hoegaarden (AB InBev)
Like a super-charged Hoegaarden witbier...but better
A special Belgian Strong Pale Ale that is the only Belgian beer to use Witloof
A sort of Belgian style strong blonde ale, made using unsold sourdough bread
Like a bigger, tastier (and classier) version of the classic Leffe Blond
A strong blond ale in the style of Duvel, brewed by Het Anker brewery
A delicious strong blond ale with a crisp malt body and a nice hop bitterness
The world renowned Belgian Blond Ale from Orval Trappist Monastery. There simply is no other beer like Orval.
by Brouwerij Palm (Swinkels Family Brewers)
A fruity, malty Belgian pale ale, originally brewed in 2003 to celebrate the 90th birthday of the brewey's former head brewer.
by Brouwerij Verstraete (Deca Services)
An unfiltered, unpasteurised, dry-hopped strong blond ale with barley, oats and wheat in the grain bill
A classic strong pale ale from one of Belgium's old family breweries.
A delicious, complex but light and dry Belgian Strong Blonde Ale from Brasserie St Feuillien
A special Belgian Blonde ale, dry-hopped with Cascade hops. A tribute to Armand Desplenter, one of the founding brewers
A full malt body, spicy Belgian yeast and five different hops in this strong blonde ale
A fruity malt backbone, a spicy hop bite and a hint of vanilla
The newest beer for the Augustijn label - a rich, smooth balance of roasted malt and sweet stone fruits
A very drinkable tripel style Grand Cru from Van Steenberge
A classic Belgian dubbel brewed by Brouwerij Van Steenberge
A special Tripel brewed by Van Steenberge for an annual gourmet degustation
The unique dark tripel from Brouwerij Van Steenberge, named after the 'Golden Dragon' of Gent.
The new addition to the Gulden Draak label - a rich and boozy quadruple
The Brewmaster is Gulden Draak's classic dark tripel aged in various whiskey barrels
A beer dedicated to the original brewmaster, the Gulden Draak Quadrupel has been aged in whiskey barrels
Really this is more a cross between a Belgian Quadrupel and an Imperial Stout
The classic Gulden Draak has had smoked malt added to it
A tasty beer somewhere between a Belgian Dubbel style and a Belgian Strong Dark Ale
A classic strong pale ale from one of Belgium's old family breweries.
