The history of the brewery in which this beer was brewed is as interesting as the beer is tasty. In 2014 the Palm Corporation (which is majority owned by Bavaria NV, the Netherlands second-largest brewery company; after Heineken of course!), restored the 300-year old brewery in the town of Steenhuffel.
They installed a 1000-litre microbrewery, with the sole intention of using it to ‘experiment with herbs, spices, hops, fruit and wood’. The brewery was named De Hoorn, in tribute to the 500-year old inn that once stood on the site.
I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to put this beer in the ‘Strong Blonde Ale’ or ‘Belgian Tripel’ basket; it probably sits somewhere in between. Either way, it is an interesting beer to experiment with.
The beer is not aged in oak barrels, rather oak chips from an old barrel were added during brewing. As a result, the oak character added is minimal to be fair. But if you look, I’m sure there are added notes of vanilla and a little spice.
The base is a good beer, with a lovely malt body, lots of Belgian yeast character, strawberries, a gentle spicing and of course a bit of vanilla!
An interesting beer from Alvinne, and one of Belgium's most bitter beers at 115 IBU
by Abdij Averbode (Brouwerij Huyghe)
A multi grain mix of barley oats and spelt, plus dry-hopping make this strong blonde ale a really interesting creation
by Brouwerij De Hoorn (Palm - Swinkels)
A Belgian Strong Blond Ale aged on oak chips
The 'Devil's' little brother, made to the same recipe but without secondary fermentation in the bottle
by Brouwerij van Hoegaarden (AB InBev)
Like a super-charged Hoegaarden witbier...but better
A special Belgian Strong Pale Ale that is the only Belgian beer to use Witloof
A sort of Belgian style strong blonde ale, made using unsold sourdough bread
Like a bigger, tastier (and classier) version of the classic Leffe Blond
A strong blond ale in the style of Duvel, brewed by Het Anker brewery
A delicious strong blond ale with a crisp malt body and a nice hop bitterness
The world renowned Belgian Blond Ale from Orval Trappist Monastery. There simply is no other beer like Orval.
by Brouwerij Palm (Swinkels Family Brewers)
A fruity, malty Belgian pale ale, originally brewed in 2003 to celebrate the 90th birthday of the brewey's former head brewer.
by Brouwerij Verstraete (Deca Services)
An unfiltered, unpasteurised, dry-hopped strong blond ale with barley, oats and wheat in the grain bill
A classic strong pale ale from one of Belgium's old family breweries.
A variation on the acclaimed Piraat strong blond ale, this time with four different hops added at three separate times during the beer-making process
A delicious, complex but light and dry Belgian Strong Blonde Ale from Brasserie St Feuillien
A special Belgian Blonde ale, dry-hopped with Cascade hops. A tribute to Armand Desplenter, one of the founding brewers
A full malt body, spicy Belgian yeast and five different hops in this strong blonde ale
