Piraat Ale
Name – Piraat Ale
Country – Belgium
Type – Belgian IPA
Appearance – Pours a clear amber color with a very big white head that leaves a lot of lacing on the glass.
Smell – Sweet malts and cherries are what I pick up the most. It is a big boozey.
Taste – More malts and cherries. A little bit of a yeast taste but not a lot in the way of hops going on. Alcohol has bite and it gets even bigger the more it warms up.
I’ve seen it time and time again at stores and it was time to try Piraat. Classified as a Belgian IPA I think it’s more like tripel if you ask me but a little darker. I really get no hop profile from it but the malts are very nice. And wow does the alcohol hit you once it warms up. It was a little to strong for my liking and I like big bold beers. This one just doesn’t seem to mask it all that well, if they even wanted to. So drink this with care in mind.
Overall Grade – C
Posted on February 5th, 2010 under Belgian IPA, Grade C • Tags: Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.. • 
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February 5th, 2010 at 9:50 am
Never had it, but those look like the same funny bottles that the Duvel comes in. Are they connected somehow?
February 5th, 2010 at 9:53 am
I don’t believe so but it is the same brewery that does Gulden Draak. I bought a pack of their beers. Here is what they make. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/48
February 5th, 2010 at 9:58 am
Best out of Draft…..and The Lodge and Buddha tend to have it on draft often. Currently @ the Lodge
February 5th, 2010 at 10:05 am
Yeah I’ve always seen it and Gulden Draak on tap at the Lodge.
February 5th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
I’m like you…I’ve passed this a thousand times but never picked it up. The price always deterred me. I didn’t realize it was a Belgian IPA. I’m going to have to try it now
February 5th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Yeah the price for a single didn’t impress me but I found a box of 6 different beers from the brewery and decided to give it a whirl. It’s the one in the bottom right at this page http://www.vansteenberge.com/htm/2en/21050en.htm
February 5th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Oh and my attempts with Belgian IPA have been minimal but it was nothing like the American versions I have had of the style.
February 5th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Me neither, I’ve only had a few. I prefer them over American so far though. Have you brewed your first beer yet? If so, you should brew up a belgian IPA yourself!
February 5th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Tomorrow is the brew day. I’m really excited. Maybe I’ll do Belgian IPA for the next batch. I was thinking of doing an IPA so maybe that will be the type.
February 6th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
This brewery (van steen berge) makes some great stuff. Bornem comes to mind as does Augustijn (my favorite of their beers). I actually have gotten the box twice and I don’t think you will be disappointed with the rest of the stuff. I actually had this on tap last night and I enjoy the beer quite a bit. I have to say that the beeradvocate classification (if that’s where you got it) is dead wrong (they misclassify pretty often). I’m almost certain this is classified as a Belgian Strong Ale, which explains why you didn’t get much on the hops. I hope I didn’t sound rude toward you when I said the stuff above…it wasn’t meant that way. I’m excited for you to start brewing. Let us know how it goes.
February 6th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
I’m looking forward to trying Augustijn.
I in no way would take any offense to what you said. I do commonly use BA for my classifications and just didn’t get this one.