Here we go with a “new” (2008) version of the Keizer. The older, dark version is one of my favorite brews of all time so the expectations are very high – we’ll see.
750 mL corked and caged bottle from Green’s on Buford, Atlanta, GA, USA. Opens with a stunning pop and some white gun smoke – impressive start.
Typical, well carbonated pour with lots of fine bubbles. Obviously this fades, but still leaves impressive lace and thin, fine head across the surface. The head is a little better than “spotty” and is about as good as one can expect for a beer of this style and ABV.
Great honey, gold body with continued fine and persistent carbonation.
Nose is essentially exactly as I would expect; an alcohol soaked, Belgian yeast based brew.
This is a simple beer to describe because it is the quintessential example of the style. I LOVE it when this happens. Alcohol, Belgian yeast and Belgian candy all come together in a pleasing package with a pleasing dry almost champagne like character to finish the job. Interspersed is a collection of mild, white pepper bitterness. Again, impressive. It maintains the creaminess of the mouthfeel despite the relative high carbonation.
Drinkability is off the charts for me, and part of that is the alcohol being so well hidden – don’t get me wrong, its still there, but nowhere near the advertised 10%
If you don’t like this then you just don’t like the style – period.