Piraat Belgian Ale 25.4 oz

Belgian Golden Strong Ale Brewed by: Van Steenberge Country: Belgium Style: Belgian Strong Ale Color: Gold ABV: 10.5% Cellaring: Yes Ratebeer.com rating: 92 BeerAdvocate.com rating: 91 Piraat from the Van Steenberge Brewery is a Belgian Strong Ale that pours a clear golden color with a fluffy white head. Top fermented and bottle conditioned, the brew boasts aromas of pear, apple, brandy and grape as well as bubblegum, clove, honey and bread. Taste charts a similar course with added notes of butterscotch, banana and rum with some hop bitterness to balance the fruit. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and creamy thanks in large part to generous champagne-like effervescence; the 10.5% ABV adds heat and spice while never becoming overpowering. The finish is long and bittersweet. Food Pairings Pair with beef, game, and smoked meat or fish; works equally well as an aperitif or digestif.   Brewery Information: Located in Ertvelde, a village in the East Flanders region of Belgium, the Van Steenberge Brewery began in 1784 as a farm brewery (like many hundreds of others in the region) selling beer to local cafes and pubs. The brewcraft evident in the ales produced resulted in increasing demand; over time, beer revenue significantly outpaced farming revenue, allowing the Van Steenberge heirs to concentrate fully on the brew business. Today, still family-owned in the sixth generation, the Van Steenberge Brewery distributes award winning ales to more than a dozen countries including Italy, Spain, and the United States.