Beer #134 – May 16, 2010: Corsendonk Abbey Pale Ale
Beer: Corsendonk Abbey Pale Ale
Brewery: Corsendonk Brewery, Oud-Turnhout, Belgium
Style: Tripel
Serving Type: 12 oz bottle
Price: $3.99 / bottle
Availability: Year-round
Glassware: Brandy Snifter
Strength: 7.5% ABV (alcohol by volume)
Drinkability: Light but strong; Complex but highly drinkable.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Hazy, golden-orange hue with big, foamy, white head
Aroma: Zesty citrus and spicy yeast
Mouthfeel: Full mouthfeel with prominent creamy and fizzy carbonation
Taste: Overall very dry, but with a touch of honey sweetness in the middle and notes of tart green apple. Crisp, light and refreshing, with a mildly bitter and spicy finish of green peppercorn, coriander and lemon balm.
Pairing: If you are lucky enough to find it, Corsendonk cheese would be an ideal pairing.
Trivia: Corsendonk beers are bottle-conditioned, meaning that rather than being force-carbonated, the carbonation in the bottle is a result of a little yeast added to each bottle that naturally creates the carbon dioxide that forms the bubbles. It takes three weeks for the bottles to carbonate prior to leaving the brewery, but the yeast continue to develop and change the beer over time, a true “living” beverage. The brewery says that their beers are at their peak six months after bottling.
