Tournay Noire

Much better this one, it's a vast improvement on the blonde from the same brewery. The key thing being it actually tastes of something. Living up to its name it is very dark almost black. It has the look of a stout about it. On tasting it has a lot in common with a stout, almost like a stout light. Now my dislike for stouts is well known but I was rather happy with this one. It wasn't quite as intense as most stouts and quite frankly I was just happy to drink a beer that had flavour.

2.5 out of 5

Tournay Blonde

I like blonde beer, it's my favourite. I like that it's not too heavy, I like it when it's really hoppy, I like the colour. And so I was excited to have this blonde Belgian beer. It was an utter disappointment. It was like having a fizzy water. Just didn't really have any flavour.

1.5 out of 5

Corsendonk Pater

I'm in the final furlong, the big push, the last 50. I know I haven't blogged about every beer but sometimes work and life gets in the way. I have decided to put the effort in and really go for it. I want to be finished by Christmas. To that end I have taken up going for a beer straight after work at least twice a week.  

So after work I had this brown Belgian abbey beer and I was highly impressed. It was rich with good flavour, malty and slightly sweet, a real delight. I got a bit carried away and drank the beer before I took a photo, it was a deep dark beer in case you are wondering. 

3.5 out of 5

Chimay White

I didn't actually order this beer but the barman stamped my book first in the wrong place and so I had this one instead of the one I had ordered. It is a very nice beer. A Belgian tripel brewed by some Trappist monks. It has a lovely almost warm flavour, it really helped with being at the end of a long week at work. 

 While having this I was chatting to a fellow passport booker. He was well into his session and decided to start drinking Deus, the £35 a bottle champagne beer from the list which I am saving as a final treat. He decided he so liked the first one he should have another bottle. An expensive night for him. 

4 out of 5. 

Slaapmutske Bruin

I like the name of this type if beer, Slaapmutske, it rolls off the tounge nicely. I've had various brews from this range before and the brown version is a nice example of a Belgian brown beer without being super strong, it's only 6%. It's go a good flavour, quite sweet. 

Rodenbach Grand Cru

When I order this the bar staff thoroughly approve telling me it's a great beer. On pouring it's quite dark  and doesn't really give any head. The first taste brings a big surprise, it's a hit of vinegary sourness. Another sour beer. I find with sour beers at first I hate them, about a third of the way through I start to like them. I think a lot of it is getting over the initial shock to the system and after that they are palatable. It was the same with the Rodenbach it got better as it went on.

2.5 out of 5. 

Adriaen Brouwer Dark Gold

I'm informed by the barman, Ian, that he has never sold a bottle of this beer before. Is that a good thing? I think probably not. 

The bottle depicts Belgian artist Adriaen Brouwer who was apparently famous for doing paintings of people after having a fair few and engaged in bedauchery.

The beer itself is very pleasant. A well balanced strong dark Belgian style beer, I can't really imagine why it doesn't sell more in the vaults. It's by no means a brilliant beer but it's well above average. 

3.5 out of  5.