Mike Loves Beer

Name – Wild Devil
Country – United States
Type – Belgian IPA

Appearance – Pours a very cloudy copper color with a big white head that leaves some lacing on the glass.

Smell – Definite brett smell that is funky.  Some earthy notes to it as well.

Taste – Brett presence throughout.  Some citrus fruit tastes to it as well but most is just funky.  Very dry finish.

I’ve had this one a few times and felt I finally needed to give it a proper write up.  Don’t really go into it thinking it’s Hop Devil with brett because it really is much of a completely different beer.  The brett and funk are the main point here and if you aren’t down with the funk yet then maybe you should wait a bit.  I think this isn’t a bad funky beer though.

Overall Grade – B-

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

Name – Raging Bitch Belgian Style IPA
Country – United States
Type – Belgian IPA

Appearance – Poured a very clear amber color with a big foamy white head that left some lacing on the glass.

Smell – Belgian yeast dominates the nose but grapefruit type hops come through.

Taste – Grapefruit hops and the Belgian yeast were really what I picked up the most.  It was very crisp and refreshing

Only my second Belgian styled IPA and both have been American made.  If anyone wants to offer me the names of some real Belgian IPAs I would appreciate it.  But this was good.  It reminded me of Stone’s Cali-Belgique quite a deal.  I would have to imagine that if I was given them blindly I wouldn’t be able to tell them apart.  So I guess with so much similarities I have to give it a similar grade.

Overall Grade – B+