This beer comes from the Van Den Bossche brewery, which dates back to 1897. Better known for their ‘Pater Lieven’ label, though the ‘Buffalo’ beers have an interesting story as well.
We’ve had a few beers for which we have been thankful to US importers requesting a certain new beer be created. This time, it is an Italian importer who asked for this beer to be made.
It is a hazy, golden orange colour, with a rocky white foam. Typical for Belgian IPA’s the nose is not an assault of citrus hops – rather a subdued mix of lemon citrus, grassy earth, a woodiness and spice.
There is sweetness early on, maybe more than the nose suggests. Hop bitterness joins in, along with the dry spicing and just a hint of wild earthy funk. This beer has a very clean and lively mouthfeel.
Buffalo?: The label was created in 1907 following something of a brewing accident, when the brewers left the daily brewing actions in the hands of the most junior member. He was elected to stay at work while the res of the team attended Buffalo Bill’s travelling circus, which was performing in the town centre.
More on this story in later beer notes!
A second version of this beer, with a dominant display from the Morpheus yeast supported by Cascade and Chinook hops
A Belgian IPA with Challenger, Smaragd and Citra hops, finished with a Belgian saison yeast
A bigger, hoppier version of the Noblesse Belgian Pale Ale
A Belgian classic - Duvel - with a current hop-driven twist
The classical Belgian Strong Blond Ale, jazzed up with an extra hop that changes each year
The 2015 special edition Duvel Tripel Hop features the Equinox hop
The 2016 version of Duvel's Tripel Hop, featuring an experimental hop from the Yakima Valley
This is now the permanent feature in the Duvel range, with the Citra version being voted the favourite of all the Duvel Tripel Hop varieties
The 'other' Duvel Tripel Hop in the range shows of Cashmere hops
The favourite of the Duvel Tripel Hop series is the Citra hop version
Five old-world hops are used in this fresh grassy Belgian IPA
The original Belgian IPA, from one of the three breweries in the 'Brewers Town' of Watou.
A seasonal batch of Hopus brewed in Spring, which is dry-hopped with Citra
by Brasserie d'Achouffe (Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat)
Best described as an extremely hoppy Belgian tripel style
A Belgian IPA with a strong citrus character and nice earthy bitterness
A Belgian IPA using Mapuche hops grown exclusively for Leffe on the plains of Patagonia
Another riff of the Troubadour Magma, this one is a more sessionable, last of the summer sun type of beer
The 2016 variation of Troubadour's flagship beer Magma features Maris Otter premium malt
The 2017 variant of Magma sees a change in malt and hop quantities, resulting in a fruity, earthy and dry IPA
The 2019 variant of Troubadour's Magma is a beer that has been made more sessional, with the addition of El Dorado and Nelson Sauvin hops
A perfectly balanced Belgian IPA, deceptively drinkable for the 9.5% ABV.
Not really fitting in to a style category - inviting sweet malt backbone with a good dose of hop bitterness.
Ella hops from Australia provide a tropical fruit character to this crisp and refreshing Belgian IPA
A Belgian style IPA, taking a step back to an older style IPA recipe
The second incarnation of this beer, featuring Columbus, Simcoe, Amarillo and Centennial hops
by
An Anglo-Belgian style IPA, with a big malt body and balanced hop character
A lovely rich and decadent Christmas beer from Brouwerij Van Den Bossche
