The story behind Kwak makes it worthy of purchase. Many a beer geek worldwide will disagree, citing the contents of the bottle as THE only reason for buying a beer. To which I say, “balogna.” While flavor is number one, certainly experience plays a role? Indulge yourself in a little introspection…have you ever bought a beer simply because of what it represented? You there with that Dark Lord…was your first purchase of Dark Lord based on a thorough knowledge of the contents of the bottle, or on an irresistible draw to all things esoteric? I thought so. It is ok.
The story of behind the naming of Kwak is fantastic. The beer? Well…decide for yourself. As for this beer geek…
The Pour:
Upon popping the cork top I expected a little more “oomf” from the carbonation in expelling the cork out of the neck of the bottle. Oppositely, the cork made a mockery of my presupposition and slid lazily onto my counter top. But, upon pouring the beer into my glass, it was evident that a wealth of CO2 was hidin gbeneath the surface. A fabulous 2 inch head made ensured the adequate release of the beer’s aromas.
The Nose:
A funky but pleasant aroma greets the nostrils. Up front are earthy malt aromas. You can smell the earth, grain, and farmer’s sweat in this brew! Sweet grape aromas are prevalent as well, a bready yeast smell, pleanty of mineral qualities (think well water), and a hint of bitterness. Based of the aroma, I am expecting a crisp flavor, and a clean mouthfeel.
The Taste:
Initially, as per the style (Belgian Strong Ale) displays, sweet fruity malts dominated my palate. Cane sugar, white grapes, chardonnay, and spiced pie caught my attention. But these flavors quickly were displaced by a prevailing salty flavor. In fact, this salty was so overpowering to me, subsequent sips surrendered all other qualities. Perhaps I am singularly minded… In fact, I pressed my friend tasting the beer alongside me, and he too conceded an odd saltiness. It was not unbearable, but distracting. Fortunately, the beer’s finish ended in a classic sweet then bitter punch.
Overall Thoughts:
The history of the brewery and of the beer make this a must try…like watching the Godfather. How can you be a fan of Brando and ignore such a monumental film? But for me personally, this is a one time bottle purchase. BUT…I still enjoyed the beer, and would jump at the chance to drink it from a tap.
Nate’s Review:
Overall Satisfaction: 
Among other Belgian Strong Ales:
Salt, ehhh? not the most pleasing of tastes in a beer. I’ll have to check it out. I can’t say that I’ve noticed on shelves here in Jersey, but the label does look kinda familiar…
Nice bit on the history, too.
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Yeah, I thought it was odd.
I hope you try it and let me know if I am way off base in tasting salt. Mike has been breathing in too much smoke from the CA wildfires and said it was affecting his tastebuds to give adequate feedback.
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