by Brouwerij Van Viven

Another of Tony Traen’s beers – the Viven Imperial IPA.  This was the first Viven beer I’d ever tried, about 6-7 years ago sitting in t‘Brugs Beertje (The Little Bruges Bear) in beautiful Bruges. (Coincidently, I’d thoroughly recommend it as a venue for such research!)

It was a Belgian IPA, but very different to most Belgian IPA’s I’d tried.  These are generally quite reserved in hop character, tending much more to the earthy, grassy hops rather than the fruity, aromoatic hops we’ve come to expect from IPA’s.

After taking over the reigns of the brewery, brewer Tony declared ‘the idea to apply our Flemish brewing art to non-Flemish beers’.  I think he achieved that with this beer.

The Viven Imperial IPA doesn’t shy away from using the typical hops, and in decent amounts.   Simcoe and Tomahawk give a lovely citrus and peach fruitiness and assertive bitterness, which is then balanced by a caramel malt body heavy and strong enough to carry all the hops.

When this beer was first introduced at the 2009 Bruges Beer Festival, it was voted second best beer – beaten only by Westvleteren 12!

 

Sign up for the monthly six pack »

See all of the November 2016 monthly six pack


Country
Belgium
Alcohol
8.0%
Style
Imperial IPA
Size
330ml

More Imperial IPAs

De Molen Amarillo

by Brouwerij De Molen

A big, juicy American style double IPA, dry-hopped with Amarillo

De Molen Fresh Hop '18

by Brouwerij De Molen

A Double IPA made for Boreft's, featuring hops from De Molen's own hop fields

De Molen/Omnipollo SitiS

by Brouwerij De Molen

This collaborative brew between De Molen and Omnipollo is an Imperial Pineapple IPA

Dochter van de Korenaar Extase

by De Dochter van de Korenaar

A Belgian double IPA, with fourteen different hops added continuously during the brewing process

Emelisse DIPA

by Brouwerij Emelisse/Slot-Oostende

A cracking Double IPA, in the true West Coast US style

Ignis & Flamma

by De Struise Brouwers

A double IPA from Struise, originally made for De Molen's Borefts beer festival as a tribute to De Molen Vuur & Vlam

Insel-Brau German Coast Double IPA

by Rügener Insel-Brauerie

A DIPA with 100% German Magnum hops, open fermented over pinecones and pine branches

Kees Double IPA

by Brouwerij Kees

This beer replaces the Double Rye IPA, loaded with Mosaic, Simcoe and Loral hops with a crisp malt body

Kees Double IPA (Simcoe & Amarillo DDH)

by Brouwerij Kees

The second variant of Kees' Double IPA, double dry hopped with Simcoe & Amarillo

Kees Double Rye IPA

by Brouwerij Kees

A spicy Rye Imperial IPA, with generous additions of Citra, Simcoe and Cascade

Kees Enough Is Never Enough

by Brouwerij Kees

A triple dry-hopped Imperial IPA, the 2020 single hop edition features Chinook hops

Kees Hoppy By Nature

by Brouwerij Kees

A delicious fruity and floral double IPA from Brouwerij Kees

La Debauche Cat-Soup

by Brasserie La Debauche

A Citra single hop double IPA

L'Ermitage/Frontaal Californication

by Nanobrasserie L'Ermitage

A collaborative West Coast Double IPA from L'Ermitage/Frontaal

Maltgarden Delayed Spaceship

by Browar Maltgarden

A double dry-hopped hazy double IPA featuring Galaxy and Sabro hops

Problem Solved

by Stewart Brewing (UK)

A Belgian Double IPA collaboration brew between Stewart Brewing (UK) and De Molen

Troubadour Magma

by Brouwerij de Musketiers

The body of a Belgian triple style beer, hopped like an American Imperial IPA - the best of two brewing cultures in one beer.

Uiltje Dr Raptor

by Brouwerij het Uiltje

Uiltje's hoppiest beer ever, with a big caramel malt body supporting more hops than you can throw a stick at

Uiltje El Chapo

by Brouwerij het Uiltje

A collaboration between Uiltje and Bireol (Austria), this double IPA features seven types of hops, pilsner malt and wheat

Uiltje The Big Fat 5

by Brouwerij het Uiltje

A West Coast US style double IPA featuring Simcoe, Chinook, Citra, Amarillo and Columus hops

Also from Brouwerij Van Viven

Viven Bruin

by Brouwerij Van Viven

A traditional style Belgian dubbel from a little brewery in the village of Damme, just outside Bruges

Viven Master IPA

by Brouwerij Van Viven

A Belgian style IPA, taking a step back to an older style IPA recipe

Viven (Smoked) Porter

by Brouwerij Van Viven

A delicious English style porter, with the addition of a subtle smoked malt