La Brasserie de St.-Sylvestre 3 Monts Bière de Garde at 6.4% ABV (€3.32 at Casino Shop Issy Les Moulineaux, 750 ml, best before 11-Mar-2016)
Pours clear pale straw with three fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and moderate patchy lacing. (4/5) Nose is sweet pale malt, green apple, doughy yeast, grassy hops, slightly dusty. (7/10) Taste is moderate sweet, moderate bitter, slight tart and funk. (7/10) Medium bodied, slightly oily, moderate carbonation, dry vinous bitter and boozy finish. (4/5)
Not as sweet as some other Bières de Garde, with a dry vinous character. There’s also a little funk and tart to keep things interesting, and the hops are relatively pronounced – lots of Belgian character from both the yeast and the hops, actually. A French style made with Belgian (Flanders) hops, and it shows characteristics of both lineages. The ABV is definitely present, but largely in the finish, and is actually fairly subdued for the weight. I prefer this type of interpretation of the style over the sweeter, maltier ones. (15/20)
My 163rd from the 2010 Edition (154th from the 2013 edition), and 173rd combining both editions.
7.5/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
