I've got a vague mistrust of organic beers. It always seem to me that their flavours are somehow compromised by their reliance on organic ingredients*. And it's not just me - this article about birds preferring non-organic food to organic is food for thought.
I've tried the two other beers in Daas range (Blonde (6.5%abv), and Witte (5%abv)), and they've left me a bit cold. There's nothing fundamentally wrong with them, but they seem to have sacrificed body for elegance, and rightly or wrongly, I attribute this to their organic credentials. To me, they are a touch lightweight, although the importer tells me that the beers have been reformulated and now are a bit more full-bodied. Only tasting them will tell.
However, body is something of which Daas Ambré (6.5%abv) has plenty. This copper-brown beer has a big aroma of slightly scorched caramel, and a faintly spicy, yeasty note. On the palate, caramelly sweetness is the order of the day until a little earthy hop character shows up late in the day to keep all that malt in check.
For me, this is the pick of the Daas range, although I should say I haven't tried the new Blonde and Witte. It's a big, uncomplicated slab of Belgian abbey ale, perhaps a bit too big to drink in any quantity, but sure to shine if paired with food - I'd suggest bread with paté or rillettes (and a pile of gherkins, for preference). Best of all, I didn't even suspect it was organic.
*the exception to this rule is Manchester's Marble Brewery, whose beers are organic and uncomparably delicious.
i had this the ohter day, i really enjoyed it too, only problem is i could have sat and supped loads of it and only had the one bottle
ReplyDeleteI agree that in the main organic beers are disappointing.
ReplyDeleteyep, me too.
ReplyDeleteSpezial of Bamberg, Black Isle of Ross-shire and Pitfield of Essex all make outstanding beers that are not compromised by their organic-ness. I find many non-organic beers very disappointing too.
ReplyDeleteAndy - I'm not sure I could drink a lot of it, But I thought it was pleasant enough.
ReplyDeleteBarm - you're right, and perhaps I was over-generalising. But equally, I do find that the majority of organic beers I've tried have seemed compromised on flavour, especially when compared with non-organic beers in the same brewer's portfolio.
Compromise is the important word. If being organic is treated as more important than making a good beer, it's going to be a mediocre beer.
ReplyDeleteBear in mind that some beers marketed specifically on their organic-ness are targeted at consumers who would be happily drinking Beck's otherwise, so you might well find they are bland and generic by design.
Barm - "If being organic is treated as more important than making a good beer, it's going to be a mediocre beer". My point exactly.
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