In an effort to talk about more beers, we are planning to review an additional beer or two a week.  This will happen on top of our Drink It with Us Friday beers.  We want to beginning building a database a beers for those who visit to scroll through.  We’re also hoping that this will create wider exposure to our site. 

The first beer in this series hails from Belgium.  The Oerbier website has a history and blurb about this beer and its others; check out their site.  It may take a little bit of looking to get this beer, but it is worth it.  I found mine at the Hop Shop in Indianapolis.  Without further ado, I will offer my thoughts on this beer.

When I poured this beer, there was an extreme amount of carbonation.  Who’s to say that this isn’t appropriate to the style?  I’m sure it is intended in the brew.  The extra carbonation may come from an extra does of candy sugar in the bottling process.  Of course, Belgian beers are known for utilizing candy sugar in the brewing, as well as conditioning, process.  Either way, the head was creamy and slightly bitter.  The head retention (because of the high carbonation) lasted a virtual eternity.  The light brown color of the head was a beauty.  The body of the beer was a murky/hazy brown.  It looked like a normal brown ale, but at 9% alcohol it is actually considered a Belgian strong ale. 

The aroma as well as the taste of the beer had a slight metallic and winish quality.  There was a very nice ripe fruit aroma.  Once again I caught some cherries in the aroma.  It seemed to be put together very nicely.

In terms of flavors, there was a sweet malty and dry bitterness to the brew.  The alcohol was warm and apparent in this Belgian beer.  The fruity tartness and flavors did come through, although I did not think they popped out at me.  All in all I found the beer to be very refreshing.  After a few sips I decided to try the beer out with fresh veggies and a very garlicky white bean dip.  I found that the white bean dip and cucumbers went especially well with this beer.