Tasting Notes - Mustard Beers: Alvinne Melchior

Brewery: Picobrouwerij Alvinne
Style: Mustard Beer
ABV: 11%
Date Poured: January 2009

It's a hazy orange with a billowy white head. Very sweet and fruity in the nose with some spiciness from the hops. I'm not picking up any mustard seed aroma.

Boozy and sweet but a strident spicy hoppiness (Challenger and East Kent Goldings according to the label) give it some balance. I'm not sure I would notice the mustard seed flavors if I didn't know they were there but underneath the hops is a distinct bitterness of the mustard seed. Sticky body with a strong lingering hoppiness with a hint of mustard in the finish. Strong hoppy aftertaste.

The mustard is not as pronounced but like Wostyntje, it makes it work.


Picobrouwerij Alvinne

Tasting Notes - Mustard Beers: t' Smisje Wostyntje

Brewery: Brouwerij De Regenboog
Style: Mustard Beer
ABV: 10.5%
Date Poured: November 2008

Part 1 of a mini-theme about "mustard beer". I may have heard of beers made with mustard peripherally but they really didn't come to my attention until my trip to Belgium. I was further surprised to find not one but two Belgian ales made with mustard as a prominent ingredient! This is the first one from Brouwerij De Regenboog.

Pours a hazy orangey copper with a dense sandy colored head. Chunky lace left on the sides of the glass. Fruity, yeasty and sweet malt, spicy in the nose. Is that the mustard? I think so. Spicy hops too.

There's a fair amount of bitterness in this ale. A fruity sweetness provides a nice backbone for the spicy hops and the spicy mustard seed. Spiced apple and an earthiness form the yeast. Well -balanced sweetness and herbal\mustard spiciness. The hop\mustard spiciness lingers through the finish and aftertaste.

Really nice. The mustard seed lends a unique flavor that is not heavy-handed and therefore works quite well. Delicious!

Brouwerij de Regenboog