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Piraat Ale
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Piraat Ale
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Before we get started, I have to get
a very important question out of the way. Very Important Question: What do Piraat Beer and $1 apiece corn have in common? Very Important Answer: They’re both a buck-an-ear. Excuse me while I duck. Okay, I’m back now, and I assure you that the rest of this review will be conducted in considerably better taste than the beginning. But such are the risks you take when you read reviews written under the influence. Well, not entirely under the influence, but I’m working on it. And Piraat, at 10.5% alcohol by volume (about twice as strong as most) will certainly get you there if you drink too much of it. That being the case, this is a beer best enjoyed in moderation. Piraat is a Belgian strong ale with a distinctive yeasty component characteristic of Belgian brews. Here’s what the brewer, Van Steenberge, has to say about it: In the 17th and 18th century, strong ale like the Piraat was highly prized by the seafaring captains for its keeping qualities and its high and healthy food value. The daily distribution of a pint of this ale kept the pirates in good health and gave them the spirit to survive the hard life on the sea. One had no water on a ship, but wine or strong beer that could be kept for months on the sea. Piraat is a wickedly rich and rounded brew that packs a mighty punch. And of course they are on to something. Water had a tendency to become brackish and infested with bacteria. But beer and wine had the benefit of containing alcohol, which acts as a preservative and creates a hostile environment for germs to live in. Still, it is unlikely that many of the seagoing ales tasted as good as Piraat does. Much of the above, then, seems to be simply a good marketing ploy. But we’ll let them get away with it, because Piraat is a very fine beer indeed. You can find it easily in 330ml and 750 ml bottles; it’s also available (though harder to find) in 1.5L magnums. Piraat pours to a hazy yellow golden color with a thick creamy head and an intensely yeasty nose. A thick layer of Brussels lace clings to the glass and follows the beer all the way down to the bottom as I sip. Piraat is packed with funky Belgian yeast notes that you really can’t understand until you’ve experienced them. But there’s much more to this very complex beer. It’s wonderfully spicy, with a tart, ever so slightly sour character and a smooth and enticing creaminess. There are hints of fruit, perhaps a little green apple and banana. Crisp, toasty malt can be picked up underneath it all. And a little vanilla. In the finish, there’s a lot of warming alcohol and a spicy but subtle peppery hop finish. I love this beer, and if I were shipwrecked on an island, I’d like to stumble upon a Pirate’s buried stash of Piraat. It’s not a beer I would pair with food, but it’s great before a meal as an aperitif or after one as a digestif. Now if only I knew why they have a Viking longboat on the label…….
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box. *Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer. (B)=Bottled (D)=Draft
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Try?