[Trappist]

Written by Administrator   
Monday, 08 October 2007
Hi,
Time for a message that perfectly matches the one I wrote In March of this year: http://www.belgianbeerboard.be/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=141&Itemid=88888986 (not working link)
Today, the prestigious beer from brew firm De Leyerth Urthel Samaranth 11.5 vol% is available here in Belgium too!
Note that I will not use the description "Brewery Hirer" anymore. I think the name "Brew Firm" is just that more appropriate.
Samaranth was designed and brewed for brewmaster Hildegard and husband beer design artist/manager Bas Van Ostaden own wedding, which they were still celebrating throughout their Alaska visit. This beautifully produced and wonderfully labeled beer is one of the beers that celebrates that imaginaire group of cute, baldish little gnomes that have become the brewery's defining character and namesake.






                                      Urthel Samaranth Quadrium 11.5 vol% strong

Exclusively available here in Bruges at Bierbrasserie Cambrinus, and ofcourse also tasted overthere.
Quadrium refering to Quadrupel, which means VERY strong. One step above Tripel.
The name Quadrupel is invented by the Cisterzian monks at De Koningshoeven.
La Trappe Quadrupel is the brand name of a strong beer brewed by De Koningshoeven Brewery in the Netherlands, the only Trappist brewery not located inside Belgium.
There are some foreign brewers and beer journalists who use the name "Quadrupel" or "Quad" for their beers too. Just to refer to the high alkohol strength. Is it a style on its own? I doubt...
After they left bry. Van Steenberge , brewmaster Hildegard and Bas Van Ostaden are nowadays brewing their Belgian recipes at De Koningshoeven in Tilburg. The social seat still being inside Belgium.
One of those really great recipes is the one from Urthel Samaranth. I would call this beer a real barley wine.
Amber colored, big longlasting head, bottle refermented, heavy stuff !
Tasting gave those spicy flavours, but be aware, NO spices are used. It is the combination hops and malts that give this beer that most wonderful spicy appearance.
Very dense, malt sweet, alkoholic, refreshing hoppy too.
For the record: The Van Steenberge brewed Samaranth and the De Koningshoeven brewed equivalent are remarkable close to eachother. Difficult to pick out some differences. The one thing that came into my mind was that the Koningshoeven brewed Samaranth has a more kind of Bush Ambrée feeling to it. This is clear, no change in recipe here !

Hildegard and Bas: My congratulations !!

www.urthel.com
www.cambrinus.eu

Cheers,
Filip