Belgian Beer Board

I'm a frequent user of the RateBeer (and less BeerAdvocate) site. While beer tasting is a highly subjetive experience, I find that over 90% of the times I mostly agree with the overall score of beers with many ratings. So it's a great tool for finding and selecting beers to try/order.

But, there have been exceptions. Beers that are very highly-rated, but which I tried a few times (once is rarely enough to tell) and did not become a fan. Or beers of which I was a fan for some time but at a point got a bit over.

• Pannepot: Surely a quality brew, but I find a bit too sweet and "flat" (uncarbonated).
• Kasteel Donker (less highly-rated): Same "complaints" as above. Is this a cheaper copy of Pannepot?
• (Hoping Filip won't get upset) Straffe Hendrik Quadrupel: Much smaller "complaint", and further tastings required, but I've found it a bit too hoppy/bitter for a quad.
  
• Tripel Karmelit: Been a big fan for many years, but recently favour more and more Westmalle. Has the recipe changed, or is it me?
  

Any similar experiences?

Heady Topper from The Alchemist. Rated 100 on RateBeer. Rated #7 in the world on BeerAdvocate. Was #1 there for a long time.

I've tried this beer about a half dozen or more times now, and it didn't wow me the first time, and if anything my opinion of it has dropped each subsequent time that I've had it. It's not a bad beer by any means, you can tell it's well made. But for all the hype this beer has gotten over the years I expected it to at least stand out a bit from most beers, yet whenever I have it it always leaves me with the feeling that there are plenty of other beers out there as good or better.

Hi,
There's not that many beers that get high scores which I don't like.
If I name one, it is the Saison Dupont that gets a 98 on RB.
For me, it is not such an outstanding beer. Don't get me wrong, it IS a great beer but I don't like it that much.
More kind of a session beer. a good thirst-quencher. Still a great beer, brewed traditionally.
But there is so much better from this brewery. To name Moinette blonde or the wonderful Avec les Bons Voeux.
Straffe Hendrik Quadrupel and Pannepot are actually very similar products. They have those burnt malts, sweet and spicy, and a satisfying hop profile.
That's a combination you really have to like. Apparently not yours JRJordao.

About Kasteel dark.
That's a tricky one.
I always had my doubts about this beer.
It is not hoppy, it is very candy sugar sweet, no bottle refermentation, actually not what an artisanal beer should stand for.
Many people like it because it has a very satisfying feeling. Quite alcoholic, dense, sweet, creamy head, and that woody touch is there !!

Cheers,
Filip

Quote from: Trappist on September 02, 2023, 11:04:39 AMAbout Kasteel dark.
That's a tricky one.
I always had my doubts about this beer.
It is not hoppy, it is very candy sugar sweet, no bottle refermentation, actually not what an artisanal beer should stand for.
Many people like it because it has a very satisfying feeling. Quite alcoholic, dense, sweet, creamy head, and that woody touch is there !!

There aren't many well-known belgian beers which are not bottle refermented, right? Can you think of a few others?

Indeed, Kasteel Donker for me is kind of a beer-based dessert.
Speaking of desserts, they added some cherry liqueur and made Kasteel Red, with artificial sweetener

Quote from: JRJordao on September 02, 2023, 09:59:13 PMThere aren't many well-known belgian beers which are not bottle refermented, right? Can you think of a few others?

Indeed, Kasteel Donker for me is kind of a beer-based dessert.
Speaking of desserts, they added some cherry liqueur and made Kasteel Red, with artificial sweetener

Hi Jorge,

Grimbergen, Keizer Karel, Rodenbach are a few I can think of. But there's many more, mainly from the bigger breweries.
Kasteel red is a typical example of a Belgian candy beer. Syrup sweetened into a candy like liquid.
The heavier alcohol fruitbeers are doing VERY well here in Belgium. Actually, it is already passed its trend and has become a fixed value.
The new Lindemans Tarot beers are another example!

Cheers,
Filip

Quote from: Trappist on September 04, 2023, 09:49:35 AMThe heavier alcohol fruitbeers are doing VERY well here in Belgium. Actually, it is already passed its trend and has become a fixed value.
The new Lindemans Tarot beers are another example!

Yet another Lambic crime.
It must be the most misrepresented beer style. Many will say they dislike lambic beer because it's too sweet. If only they tried the real stuff...