Another Belgian classic, the Bush beer pours a dark orange to amber colour, and is a little hazy. The small fluffy orange-white head, sinks in on itself to settle quite flat. It smells of sweet bready malts, caramel, ripe tropical fruits and hints of spice. And alcohol!
12% of rich and smooth Belgian tradition greet the palette. There is a strong malty backbone, and big sweetness in the form of caramel, burnt sugar and ripe tropical fruits. Light grassy hops combine with some gentle yeast spiciness to cut through the thick body. The big alcohol provides a gentle warmth on the finish, though the balance of the beer is such that the alcohol is well disguised.
An interesting story: this beer was once Belgium’s highest strength beer. It is exported to most countries under the name ‘Scaldis’. (We got this in on the original label). A family brewery dating back to 1769, Bush was first marketed in 1933. Never imagining that their beer would be exported worldwide, the family did not register the name in most countries. A challenge by an American brewery with a similar sounding name enforced the name change. They could only hope people confused their beer with Bush!