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Van Steenberge
 scrapes in
 decent
 good
 excellent
 sublime
Van Steenberge, Augustijn (Belgium) 
My bottle of this live (yeast in) Abbey beer poured with an enormous, high rise white head over a hazy light yellow/caramel coloured body. Brewed to a recipe by the Augustinian fathers of Ghent from 1295, it has a lovely nose of spices, rotten oranges, sour cherry and complex floral and yest-derived estery notes. On the palate it is medium-bodied and has a fresh, light mouthfeel that defies its 8.0% ABV. There are citrus and malty, honey and mollases notes, and plenty of that clove and ginger spice. It has a long, quite powerful sour finish that is rather moreish. 8.0% ABV, 33cl, �1.95, Onlyfinebeer, . |  |
Van Steenberge, Bornem Dubbel (Belgium)
A live, dark Dubbel Belgian beer, Bornem pours a hazy, pretty opaque brown with a foamy, coffee-coloured head. The nose is quite subtle here, with a caramel and toffee note, but not flamboyant. Some clove and sour yeasty notes come through, and a soft, berry fruited suggestion of sweetness. On the palate it is quite rich, but a decisive note of lemon and underripe pear acidity gives real bite. There is a malty, almost chocolaty richness that comes through on this, but the medium-bodied format and that very steely, crisp finish make this a refreshing beer yet, one that sits somewhat at odds with the warming depth suggested by the nose. 8.0% ABV, 33cl, �1.59, Onlyfinebeer, .  |  |
Van Steenberge, Bornem Trippel (Belgium)
This strong Blonde beer pours a pale yellow colour with a high-rise, foamy off-white head that leaves plenty of lacing as it subsides. It has a very attractive, yeasty nose with estery notes of banana and clove, freshly-baked bread and citrus fruit. Despite being a Tripel beer, there's no overriding maltiness. On the palate it is quite full and chewy, with a firm, almost liquoricy edge to the fruit and firm, precise bitterness and tangy acidity that is dry and savoury. There's a strong herbal streak and plenty of mouth-tingling spice, in an unusual, assertive, but very interesting beer. 9.0% ABV, 33cl, . |  |
Van Steenberge, Bruegel Amber Ale (Belgium)
This live amber ale pours a glowing amber colour with a lacy, off-white head. On the nose there is a sour fruit quality of cherry and apples, with a sweet malty note and quite a sour, Lambic character. On the palate it is fairly light-bodied, making a good introduction to the style - one to break a lager-drinker in gently! Flavours are citrussy and fresh, with a little malt sweetness and slightly weak finish. 5.2% ABV, 33cl, . |  |
Van Steenberge, Gulden Draak (Belgium)
This "Barley Wine" comes in a faux-stone bottle, and with a whopping 10.5% ABV, it is fittingly named "Golden Dragon". The beer pours a dark brown with a thick, persistent cappuccino-coloured head. It has a lovely nose, filled with raisins, chocolate-coated cherries and a spicebox of clove, sandalwood and tobacco. On the palate it is full and thick-textured, with a weight of malty, chocolaty flavours and sumptuous depth. It is not cloying however, nor one-dimensional, as lots of bitter flavours emerge, with grapefruit pith dryness balancing sweeter tones, and nutmeg and clove warming the finish. Like sitting in front of a crackling log fire in the depth of winter. 10.5% ABV, 33cl, �1.99, Belgianbeerclub, Cave Direct, The Offie, Onlyfinebeer, , Beerritz.  |  |
Van Steenberge, Piraat (Belgium)
A very strong, amber ale from Steenberg that pours a cloudy medium yellow/gold colour with a fluffy off-white head. I got an intriguing whiff of bacon fat on this at first sniff, with warming, honeyed malt character coming through and notes of sour preserved lemons in the mix. On the palate it is very smooth, thick and mouth-filling, with an unctuous quality suggesting a malty sweetness at first, before more fruity, plummy and orange flavours push into the mid-palate. The finish is powerful with an array of spices, and then the sweetness in the beer reasserts again. The finish is rich and rolling, with plenty of alcoholic warmth. 10.5% ABV, 33cl, Onlyfinebeer, . |  |
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