Beers
1. Primus
Flavour
Primus is a bottom-fermented beer of a clear, light-blond colour and with a head containing lots of small air bubbles. The flavour starts off sweet with a moderate bitterness and develops into a dry and thirst-quenching aftertaste. The malt used for this beer comes from Belgium, The Netherlands or France. Several Belgian and German types of hops are carefully selected to produce the right aroma and bitterness. The water is provided by the brewery's own springs.
Characteristics
Category: I
Density: 11.9° Plato
Volume % alcohol: 5.2%
Ideal serving temperature: 3°C
2. Witbier Haacht
Flavour
This white beer is an unfiltered, slightly cloudy wheat beer brewed with wheat malt and un-malted wheat, besides the classic barley malt. Its spicy aroma is obtained by adding coriander and orange peel. The top-fermentation process also adds some superficial fruity notes to the beer. The taste in the mouth is fuller than its density leads one to believe, due to the yeast cells and proteins, which together also create the slight cloudiness of the beer.
Characteristics
Density: 10.9° Plato
Volume % alcohol: 4.9%
Ideal serving temperature: 3°C
3. Keizer Karel Robijn Rood
Flavour
"Keizer Karel Robijn Rood" is a dark beer with a sweet, fruity aroma. The beer has a soft, yet full flavour and a sweet hoppy aftertaste.
Characteristics
Category: S
Density: 20° Plato
Volume % alcohol: 8.5%
Ideal serving temperature: 8 to 10°C
4. Keizer Karel Goud Blond
Flavour
"Keizer Karel Goud Blond" is a blond beer with a spicy and hoppy aroma, a sweet flavour and a pleasant aftertaste that is both dry and bitter.
Characteristics
Category: S
Density: 18.1° Plato
Volume % alcohol: 8.5%
Ideal serving temperature: 7°C
5. Gildenbier
History
Of old there have been strong bonds between this beer and the archers' guild of Diest. This beer was only drunk on the occasion of their annual "guild ball". The barrels were stored under strict surveillance in the cellars of the town hall, only to be brought out on the evening of the annual ball. It was at this ball that candidate-members had to stand the crucial test: at the stroke of midnight they were asked to drink a whole litre of this "guild beer", while standing on one leg. Whoever was up on his feet at the end, despite the nasty shoves from the other members, was accepted as a member. At the end of the ball, the remaining Gildenbier was bottled. Only the members of the guild were allowed to take these bottles home, where they would let them mature till they had become a true nectar of the gods. Nowadays one doesn't have to belong to the archers' guild to be able to enjoy this wonderful guild beer! Brouwerij Haacht brews this unique beer for everyone's enjoyment with the utmost of respect for the old traditions.
Flavour
This top-fermented beer has a dark toffee-like colour and a light creamy head. The first swig from the typical glass beer mug has a mild sweet taste.
The aftertaste is quite strong, though slightly sweet with a bitter tang. This beer is the perfect accompaniment to a chocolate dessert.
Characteristics
Category: S
Density: 15.8° Plato
Volume % alcohol: 7%
Ideal serving temperature: 8 to 10°C
6. Speciale 1900
History
When Brouwerij Haacht took over Brouwerij Bavaro Belge in the 1930s it continued to brew its own "Belge Double Speciale" for 30 years. During the 1960s it joined forces with Brouwerij Aerts for the distribution of its "Speciale Aerts" and, at a later stage, its "Aerts 1900". Brouwerij Aerts shut down its production in the 1980s.
As a tribute to the "Spéciale Belge", a traditional type of Belgian beer created at the start of the 20th century, Brouwerij Haacht decided to create its own amber-coloured top-fermented beer back in 2007.
Flavour
"Speciale 1900" is a smooth drinking beer that is characterised by a malty and hoppy flavour with slightly fruity notes.
Characteristics
Category: I
Density: 12.3° Plato
Volume % alcohol: 5%
Ideal serving temperature: 5 to 6°C
7. Mystic met krieken
"The 'cherry' version of the beer is sure to entice all devotees of sweet and fruity beers."
Flavour
"Mystic met krieken" is a delicious fruit beer that fuses the strong taste of the cherry (25% cherry juice) with the refreshing qualities of a true "witbier" (white beer).
All your senses will be aroused by this surprising fruit beer. This eye-catching beer with its pleasant smell will undoubtedly tickle your taste buds. The countless shades of its natural red colour all seem to melt together and lend a stylish elegance to this fruit beer.
However, the 'mystical temptation' of this beer lies mainly in its rich spectrum of flavours. Though fruity and slightly tart at the start, its flavour develops into a sweetish, though not at all sticky aftertaste. Follow your instincts and allow yourself to be seduced...
Characteristics
Density: 12.8° Plato
Volume % alcohol: 3.5%
Ideal serving temperature: 3°C
8. Mystic met cranberry
"In the case of this refreshing fruit beer it is the subtle bitterness of freshly-picked fruit that accompanies the taster from the first tickle of the taste buds to the depths of the aftertaste."
Flavour
The "cranberry" (called "veenbes" in Dutch) is a special type of fruit that is not commonly known in our regions. Its origins can be retraced to North-America and the fruit can boast touches of sweetness, sourness and even bitterness (to find out more about cranberries, go to http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cranberry).
This Mystic beer merges fruit (7% cranberry juice) and unfiltered "witbier" into a delicious fruit beer possessing the subtle bitterness of freshly-picked fruit. The sweet undercurrent, stemming from natural fruit sugars, softens and completes the tasting experience.
Characteristics
Density: 12.2° Plato
Volume % alcohol: 3.8%
Ideal serving temperature: 3°C
9. Mystic met limoen
"The refreshing 'lime' version of this beer emphasizes the combination of a slightly tingling and exotic citrus flavour with a sweetish aftertaste."
Flavour
This "Mystic" is a spicy thirst-quenching beer made from an unfiltered “witbier” (white beer). While the remaining yeast cells ensure a slight cloudiness, the natural aroma of the lime and lemon lend the beer a surprisingly refreshing and exotic touch.
Its velvety outlook and its head containing a multitude of little air bubbles herald a refined tasting experience.
The gentle tingle of the citrus fruit effortlessly melts together with a pleasant sweetness and ends in a deliciously refreshing aftertaste.
Characteristics
Density: 9.3° Plato
Volume % alcohol: 3.5 %
Ideal serving temperature: 3° C