Floreffe is another beer label for the 6th generation family Brasserie Lefebvre. It is a quite well-known label, though the beers more commonly found in bars are the classic styles of witbier, blond and tripel.
The Prima Melior (which translates as something like ‘ahead of the very best’) is much less commonly found. We’ll bundle it into that catch-all Belgian category for dark beers of Belgian Strong Dark Ale.
Star Anise and orange peel are added to the brew, and it is the aniseed that comes through strongly in the aroma, along with Belgian yeast, dark dried stone fruit, chocolate and spice.
The flavour is a similar concoction of licorice and chocolate, plums and raisins, tartness from over-ripe berries, caramel and a slightly medicinal spice character. While there are lots of sweet notes, it somehow maintains a balance with the hops.
Above all else, it is really smooth and easy drinking for the 8% ABV.
by Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs
A lovely Belgian strong dark ale, balancing sweetness and bitterness so well
by Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs
A strong dark ale full of dark fruits, caramel malts and a gentle hop and yeast spiciness
by Brouwerij der Trappistenabdij de Achelse Kluis
A classic strong dark ale from one of Belgium's renowned Trappist Monastery breweries.
A Belgian Strong Dark Ale aged in both sherry and whiskey barrels
A strong dark winter beer which uses old whiskey barrels to impart an added dimension and depth of flavour
An intriguing dark ale, brewed with spices (ginger, coriander & cardamom)
A dark beer that was the first beer produced by the De Dolle brewery
The most well-known of the Golden Carolus beers is the 'Classic' - a beautifully balanced Belgian strong dark ale of 8.5% ABV
Gouden Carolus' Cuvee Van De Keizer Imperial Dark Ale infused with Het Anker's single malt whisky
A flavoursome strong dark ale, at the top of the abbey beer hierarchy
by Brouwerij Hoegaarden (AB-InBev)
The 'Forbidden Fruit' is a delicious balance of ripe fruits, sweet malts, earthy hops and gentle spicing
A tasty beer somewhere between a Belgian Dubbel style and a Belgian Strong Dark Ale
A Belgian Strong Dark Ale with the addition of caramel sugar and orange peel
A dark winter beer that has torrefied barley and a pinch of cinnamon amount the ingredients
by Brasserie d'Achouffe (Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat)
The lesser-known dark beer from Brasserie Achouffe
by Brasserie d'Achouffe (Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat)
The winter seasonal offering from the Chouffe brewery
The best features of a traditional strong ale, and the added earthiness of noble hops used in abundance
A solid malty backbone balanced by a good level of hop bitterness
The famous Old Fisherman's Ale from Struise is a spiced strong dark ale
The 2019 version of Pannepot aged in bourbon barrels
Struise's spiced strong dark ale Pannepot, matured in Bordeaux barriques for a full 4 years
Struise's famous spiced strong dark ale aged three years in wine and port barrels
A Belgian strong dark ale with smoked malt and grilled cherries
A strong dark Belgian ale created from 6 different malts, slightly spiced and with a little honey
A strong blond ale infused with honey, hinting at the old style mead with a Belgian touch.
A winter style bok beer, with a subtle infusion of honey from Mexico.
The 'Witteke' is a typical beer from the past; a cloudy unfiltered, aromatic witbier.
A Belgian tripel that is tasty, well balanced and easy drinking
A strong blond ale, leaning toward a Belgian IPA with a good dose of European noble hops
A seasonal batch of Hopus brewed in Spring, which is dry-hopped with Citra