In this series of reviews I recently embarked upon entitled Around the World in Eighty Brews, I’ve been traveling the world, visiting various countries without ever setting foot in them. How have I done that, you might ask? Why in a bottle, of course. Today, I’m visiting France in this fashion.

There were several beers that made good candidates to represent France. The logical choice might have been a Biere de Garde, a spicy, bottle conditioned French farmhouse ale. But for my purposes, I wanted something out of the ordinary. Thus my choice of Belzebuth Pur Malt.

France is certainly a nation better known for its wine than for its beer. Still, the French do make some very fine beer indeed. Would it surprise you to learn they make some of the strongest beers in the world? It’s true. Belzebuth is one of them. The label calls it Biere pur malt la plus forte du monde.

Allow me to put some of my college French to work and translate: this means Pure malt beer, strongest in the world. And while this is emphatically not the strongest beer in the world, it is certainly one of them. Brasserie Grain D’Orge, the makers of Belzebuth, put out an even stronger version themselves.

Some might call Samuel Adams Tripel Bock the strongest at 17%, but there are stronger beers still. And of course, that beer is brewed with the addition of maple syrup, so is not technically a “pure malt” beer.

All bragging rights aside, Belzebuth is a very potent brew indeed at 13% alcohol by volume, a fact they proudly and blatantly advertise in large lettering on the neck label. The beer is sold in 8 ounce bottles, which may seem small, but keep in mind that little bottle has about as much alcohol as two 12-ounce bottles of your average brew. Good things do come in small packages.

Lets give the beer a try. Belzebuth pours to a deep amber gold color with a thick foamy head and a rich and sweet malty nose. A good amount of Brussels lace follows the beer down the glass, and tiny bubbles continue to rise from bottom to top of your glass like a fine champagne.

The palate immediately hits you with warming alcohol, sweet cotton candy, licorice, and candied fruit. There are crisp, biscuity malt flavors too. The beer is very smooth and creamy and simply glides across the tongue. In the finish, there is a peppery hop character and lots more sweet alcohol warmth.

And you thought the French didn’t make great beer. They do, and this is one of them. A perfect nightcap beer, well suited to cool fall or cold winter evenings just before bed. This little gem truly is France in a bottle.



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