Located in Bellegems in West Flanders near the French border, this one hundred year old brewery is one of the few remaining family run breweries still brewing Flanders sours using traditional spontaneous fermentation and barrel aged methods.

Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge

Cuvée des Jacobins Rouge is a Flanders Red Ale, garnet red in color with a balance of malty sweetness and acidic sharpness. The characteristics of the beer are a result of spontaneous fermentation and an 18 month aging in French oak cognac barrels. The beer has a strong aroma of oak and flavors of sour cherries, vanilla, and fruit abound.

Ratebeer 99. ABV is 5.5%

VanderGhinste Oud Bruin

This Flanders Old Bruin was the first beer brewed by Bockor in 1892 and is a regional product that can only be brewed in Southern West-Flanders. The aroma is dark fruit and wood; the taste is characterized by a balance of fruitiness from high fermentation and a soft tartness resulting from spontaneous fermentation. Ultimately tart and refreshing.

Most recently the Oud Bruin won a silver medal in the category “Oud Bruin” at the World Beer Awards in 2013.

Note: Labeled as Bellegems Bruin in the US.

Ratebeer 87. ABV is 5.5%

Located in Montignies-sur-Rocs in Hainaut province near the French border this small, three person, family run brewery started commercial operation in 1979 and is located on the original site of the Abbaye des Rocs. Some of the buildings date from the original abbey and water is still drawn from the original source on the abbey grounds.

Run by Nathalie Eloir, one of the few women brewmasters in Belgium, the brewery focuses on artisanal products using original recipes that have been handed down through generations. A number of dark, complex, Abbey style beer are brewed along with a number of lighter blondes and witbiers.

Abbaye des Rocs Brune

The Brune is an incredibly big, malty, Abbey style beer made with seven types of malts and three different hops. To the nose there are rich aromas of warm spice, dark roasted malts, dark pitted fruit, and raisins. Flavors are of toffee, dark cherries, dates, and spice. There is an inherent sweetness, but of interest, no sugar is added during production.

Ratebeer 100. ABV is 9%

Abbaye des Rocs Grand Cru

The Grand Cru is also a big malty, Abbey style beer. Not to be outdone by the Brune it’s also very complex, with more dark fruit, cherries, and caramel in the mix plus a bit of licorice and tobacco to make thing interesting. Smooth, medium to full bodied

Ratebeer 100. ABV is 9.5%

Abbaye des Rocs Triple Imperiale

The Triple Imperiale is harder to categorize. Perhaps an Abbey style or a Quad. Definitely a Belgian Dark Strong Ale. The Imperiale is malty, soft, full bodied, and sweet. There is definite dark fruit and malts to the nose, and the flavors carry these notes along with a good dose of caramel and a bit of orange/citrus. A good paring as an appetizer or with a desert.

Ratebeer 99. ABV of 10% is well hidden.

Abbaye des Rocs Blanche des Honnelles

Blanche des Honnelles is a complex and fruity Belgian Witbier. Along with the typical yeasty, wheat aromas of this style there is also a good dose of malt, fruity oranges/ bananas, and spice. It’s complex and full, but not overpowering.

Ratebeer 93 (99 for style). ABV of 6%.

Abbaye des Rocs Montagnarde

Named after a town in the proximity of the brewery the Montagnarde is a fruity Dark Strong. There are aromas of ginger, oranges, and toffee; and flavors of brown sugar, raisins, roasted malts and spice. Maybe gingerbread.

Ratebeer 95. ABV of 9%.

St. Feuillien is a family owned brewery founded in 1873 and located in the town of Le Ruoeulx – southwest of Brussels in Belgium. It is currently run by the fourth generation of the Friart family on the original site of the Abbey of Premonteres (now Abbaye St-Feuillien du Roeulx).

St. Feuillien is a small to mid-sized brewery producing less than 25,000 HL annually, still using the original water source, a deep spring located under the brewery

The brewery is producer of several international award winning beers. The full product line includes a Triple, Brune, Saison, Grand Cru, a yearly Noel, plus a line of fruit and blonde beers under the Grisette label.

St Feuillien Triple

This beer is a medium to full bodied Belgian Triple. It has a nice compact head, a light amber color, and a definite fruity aroma that also carries honey, spice, and typical Belgian hops and yeast aromatics. Flavors include a mélange of malts, apricot/peach/banana, spice, and Belgian yeast. Compared to other Belgian Triples this beer is crisp and dry, less yeasty and quite refreshing.

Nine litre bottles are also available.

Ratebeer:  98. ABV of 8.5%

St Feuillien Brune

The Brune is a classic example of a Belgian Abbey Dubbel, malty and fruity, with a good dose of caramel and a touch of spice. It is slight sweet, rich and medium to full bodied. The beer was a Silver medal winner in the 2012 Brussels Beer Challenge.

Ratebeer: 96. ABV is 8.5%

St Feuillien Grand Cru

The Grand Cru is a strong blonde ale unique to St Feuillien. It pours with a big head, delivering big hoppy/citrusy aromas. Flavors are complex with interesting yeast, spice/pepper, and lemons notes. The beer was a Gold medal winner European Beer Star 2011, Europe’s Best Belgian Strong Pale at World Beer Awards 2012, and a Bronze medal winner at the Australian Beer Awards 2011.

Ratebeer: 93. ABV is 9.5%

St Feuillien Saison

This St Feuillien product is a great beer in the hard to define Saison category. It is crisp and fruity, and yeasty and tangy. Quite refreshing and well known in Europe. It was a Silver medal winner in the the US Open Beer Championship 2011, World’s Best Saison at World Beer Awards 2009, and a Bronze medal winner Australian Beer Awards 2011.

Ratebeer: 96. ABV is 6.5%

St Feuillien Cuvee de Noel

The Noel is one of the best Belgian winter beers, and is generally available after September. The beer is creamy and warm, and has a big malt and toffee presence with lots of spice. Brewed for cellaring.

Ratebeer: 98. ABV of 9%.

St Feuillien Belgian Coast IPA

Brewed in Belgium in collaboration with Green Flash the Belgian Coast IPA is a unique “European” IPA. With a deep copper color and full head there are mixed aromas and flavors of pine, banana, and malts. Just like mixing the Grand Cru with a west coast IPA. Full and smooth with a lingering bitter finish.

Ratebeer 89. ABV is 7.5%

St Feuillien Car d’Or

Introduced in early 2014 the Car d’Or is a new beer that has recently received a number of European awards (Gold at the Brussels Beer Challenge and Gold in the European Beer Star competition.) The beer is based on an older recipe with the intention to be thirst quenching and easy to drink. Flavors are light sweet fruit and malts, with a subtle bitter finish. Very limited quantities at this point – to see what the buzz is all about!

ABV is 6.5%. Available in 330ml bottles, case of 24.

Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck is a family owned brewery founded in 1811 and located in Ingelmunster (West Vlaanderen) Belgium. The family is the owner of the Ingelmunster Castle from which the Kasteel line of beer is named.

The brewery is of medium size and produces less than 100,000 HL annually. A number of products are brewed on site:

• Kasteel: Cuvee du Chateau, Donker, Triple, Rouge, and Blond
• St Louis: Kreik, Framboise, Peche, Lambics and Gueuzes,
• Brigand
• Bacchus: Old Flemish Brown, Cherry, and Raspberry

Kasteel Donker

Donker is a Strong Dark Belgian Ale with complex flavors including chocolate, banana, licorice, spice, and dark fruit. This beer is slight sweet and the ABV is well hidden. It ages well with the flavor becoming softer and sweeter over time.

Ratebeer: 96. ABV is 11%

Kasteel Tripel

The Tripel is full bodied Belgian Triple and has the distinctive aromas and flavors of this classic style. There is a good dose of spice, pepper, and citrus in the nose and flavor.

Ratebeer: 90. ABV is 11%

Kasteel Rouge

The Rouge is a very interesting cherry beer and is made by mixing Kasteel Donker with cherry liqueur. As expected there is big cherry taste and it has a good dose of carbonation.  The beer is sweet but not overly so; it is neither sweet like fruit juice or sour/sweet like a Lambic kriek. A close description may be an 8% Dr Pepper.

Ratebeer: 94. ABV is 8%

Cuvee du Chateau

The Cuvee du Chateau is the Grand Cru of the Kasteel line. It is brewed to reflect a decade aged Donker, and is complex like the Donker but with big malt, dark fruit, and caramel flavors of a Quad. Beautifully packaging like a fine champagne.

Ratebeer: 95. ABV is 11%

Van Honsebrouck Gueuze Fond Tradition

A highly rated, enjoyable Gueuze, the Fond Tradition brand is a blend of young and old lambic that was introduced in 1997 and continues to be produced in a traditional manner in small quantities. Crisp with notes of sour berries, green apples, and wood.

Ratebeer 94. ABV is 5%. Available in 375 ml bottles, case of 12.

Van Honsebrouck Fond Tradition Kriek

The Fond Tradition Kriek is created by adding cherries to a young lambic and aging six months. It pours

a beautiful red with a pink head, and delivers boatloads of cherries in both aroma and flavor. Initially somewhat sweet with lots of fruit then finishing tart. Like the Gueuze, also small production.

Ratebeer 93. ABV is 6.5%. Available in 375 ml bottles, case of 12.

Van Honsebrouck Bacchus

Bacchus is an Oud Bruin with more traditional soft flavors and a good balance of sweet and sour. Great for folks new to the style, flavors are dark dry fruit with wine like notes. Light and refreshing.

Ratebeer: 76. ABV is 4.5%. Available in 375ml bottles, case of 12.