Le Trou du Diable Albert 3 Belgian Pale Ale at 5.49% ABV (C$7.00 at NLC Stavanger, 600 ml, bottle date 31-Mar-2015)
Appearance: clear to hazy pale straw with a huge fluffy white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: Belgian yeast, coriander, wheat, apples and peaches, light funk. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light sour. (8/10) Palate: light body, lively carbonation, dry crisp peppery and slightly funky finish. (3/5)
I was going to ask what the hell a “Universal Beer” was, but now I realize it’s a beer whose head expands to fill the universe. A minor quibble for yet another quite good Belgian out of Quebec: reminds me of La Rulles, De Ranke, or Duvel. First glass pours crystal clear, but the second glass introduces a haze courtesy of the heavy lees on the bottom of the bottle. (Not a criticism by any means, just an observation – it’s not like I’m gonna throw out an inch of this because it’s a bit cloudy!) And it certainly ticks all the boxes of the description on the back – dry and hoppy, with a hint of sour in the aftertaste (courtesy of the rye, I’m guessing). Lots of fun, but I wouldn’t object to a more robust flavour. (And what’s up with the precision on that ABV – 5.49%? Seriously?) (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
