Dolle Brouwers Tasting in Cafe Botteltje
Author: Jim Deschepper / Published: 2013-02-01 10:36:09 +0100 / Last Updated: over 1 year ago
© BeerTourism.comOSTEND - We have been waxing lyrical, okay perhaps once too often about Stille Nacht (Silent Night), the (in our humble opinion) superb Christmas beer from the Dolle Brouwers in Esen, Diksmuide (not to be confused with Essen near Antwerp). However, as we had forgotten to place our order this year we arranged a Stille Nacht tasting in Café Botteltje in Ostend.
With over 400 beers on its rather robust menu, which, truth be told, is more like a beer bible, Botteltje is a dedicated beer café. Every beer lover will adore this venue; the menu is plentiful and includes various dishes with beer as a main ingredient. Also, the café owns its own hotel, “Marion”, right next door, convenient.
Enough about the location; let’s return to the beer. Dolle Brouwers’ beers enjoy international fame and are exported far and wide. Kris Herteleer has been brewing for several decades and knows his trade well. With support from local beer promoter Ive Mostry from Beershop 't Koelschip and beer lover Glenn Rotsaert from café Manuscript, we started tasting Dolle Brouwers’ six active brews. Our general ratings of each individual beer, as well as the history and background of the brewery, can be found on our detailed “Belgian beer” and “Breweries” pages.
As mentioned, t’Botteltje has an extensive choice of beers. However, even we were surprised to learn that the selection is so huge that, when ordering, we were given the choice between Stille Nacht 2011 and Stille Nacht 2012.
Enterprising and curious as we are, we obviously plumped for both options. After all, you have to be well informed and able to make a comparison before judging. Both brews arrived perfectly served in an Oerbier glass. (Admittedly, we have no idea if there is a dedicated glass available for Stille Nacht). We then embarked on our self-imposed tasting mission.
_1600x1067.jpg?1359995969)
Stille Nacht was first produced in 1982. It’s a dark blond beer, almost honey-coloured, with an ABV of no less than 12%. We were lucky to have a designated teetotal driver (bob/victim) at our disposal and of course, we started our tasting with the 2012 Stille Nacht. Our first impression of the aromas was unanimous: you can smell instantly that this is an exceptional beer with a rich palette. It has a strong fruity aroma reminiscent of sweet pear, green apple and even peach.
Brewed with the same Nugget variety of hops used for Arabier, this beer has a pronounced taste of hops, complemented with light touches of vanilla and caramel. You can taste the high alcohol content but it is not overpowering. This really is a beautiful, balanced but complex beer with a delicious aftertaste.
We were already pretty convinced that this beer was streets ahead of anything else produced by the Dolle Brouwers. However, there’s no arguing about taste and colour but some of our readers may find this beer slightly too strong or too heavy.
Having made our first acquaintance of Stille Nacht, it was time to taste the 2011 edition. We could tell the difference immediately, the taste of hops was somewhat less pronounced, the fruity aroma came across as milder; normal traits when the beer has been “rested”. We have not yet been awarded the honour of tasting this beer’s “Special Reserva” editions but we totally get the underlying concept of leaving it to mature for just that little bit longer.
Whatever age it’s at, we can highly recommend this brew. It will be a perfect addition to your beer cellar and will ripen beautifully. We’ll make sure to place our orders in plenty of time for next year.
Dolle Brouwers Information
De Dolle Brouwers
Roeselarestraat 12 B
8600 Esen (Diksmuide)
Tel: +32 (0) 51 51 91 46
Botteltje Information
Café Botteltje - Hotel Marion
Louisastraat 19
8400
Oostende
Phone: +32 (0) 59 70 09 28
Ostend Blog Posts
.jpg?1472724734)
North Sea Beer Festival’s second successful showingOSTEND - For the last weekend of August, Ostend moves its location to the shores of the ‘beer sea’ as Belgian breweries, local restaurants and food trucks pull out all the stops for the annual North S ... [ read more ]
Café Manuscript, a quarter of a century youngOSTEND - The Neville Brothers come bursting out of the musical wallpaper. Just for a moment or two, café Manuscript in Ostend has been shipped to the shores and swamps of New Orleans. ... [ read more ]
First North Sea Beer Festival attracts 5,000 visitorsOSTEND - A cosy, relaxed atmosphere and happy expressions on the faces of beer lovers from all around the world greet me. This is, above all else, what strikes me when I visit the first ever North Sea ... [ read more ]
Belgian North Sea Beer PoppoLou officially launchedOSTEND/OOSTENDE - We witnessed it with our own eyes. There was more than just one solitary message in a bottle washed up on Ostend beach. Far more than that... an entire armada of bottles came ashore, ... [ read more ]
Manuscript, one year on from its launch as a Beer Tourism CaféOSTEND - One year ago, the Manuscript café in Langestraat, Ostend, outed itself as a Beer Tourism Café. At first glance not a lot has changed since then. Regular customers remain loyal to their cosy l ... [ read more ]
Comments
You must be logged in to leave a comment
SHARE:
OSTEND
TRAVEL GUIDE
For Beer Lovers
Beer Shops
Cafés
Nightlife
Where to Eat
Sweet Tooth
Hotels
Bed and Breakfast
Chocolate Shops
Holiday Rentals
Shopping
Takeaway Food
Music Scene
Festivals and Events
Culture
Sightseeing
Things to Do
Health and Beauty
Sport
World War I
World War II
Local Transport
Useful Information
B2B and MICE
You Might Like
The ultimate book on Belgian beer; a 704 page illustrated hardcover written by Erik Verdonck and Luc de Raedemaeker. Discover how brewing works, how to tap, pour, taste and store your beer; which beer styles and types there are, how to pair beer and food, must-try beers and what about the new craft beer trend? The Belgian Beer Book covers it all.
Looking for lambic, geuze or kriek, Trappist beer, Belgian speciality beer, abbey ale, limited editions or a gift voucher? Belgian Happiness offers a wide range of Belgian beers, beer glasses and mixed beer boxes. Worldwide shipping and get 10% off by ordering a full box!
The Duvel Moortgat Brewery caters to everyone’s tastes with 3 different brewery experiences. From complete novice to experienced beer lover, Duvel has the brewery visit package for you.
Established in 1991 and located in the heart of the “Montmartre” nightlife district of Ostend, this is a favoured hangout for beer and music lovers alike. The Manuscript is an official Beer Tourism Café and is a must visit for lovers of Belgian beer and 'brown' café culture.
Brewery Van Honsebrouck - Bierkasteel
Castle Brewery Van Honsebrouck, well known for it's "Kasteel" beer range, now offers their Bierkasteel beer experience; brewery visit, event location, restaurant, bar and shop. Open from 10th August 2016.
On August 24th, 25th and 26th we look forward to welcoming you to the 4th edition of the North Sea Beer Festival. Taste over 200 Belgian beers, eat some delicious food and enjoy the music in the wonderful surroundings of Leopoldpark in Ostend.
BLOG
POSTS
Hop picking time at Palm Belgian Craft Brewers!
STEENHUFFEL - The annual hop harvest at Palm Belgian Craft Brewers is truly a festival of and for the people. We survey the busy crowds on the last Sunday in August in the hop field in the shadow of the ... [ more ]
Lindemix... the art of blending Lambic by Lindemans
VLEZENBEEK/DILBEEK - It is often said that lambics are only for those with an experienced palate. At Brouwerij Lindemans, one of Belgium’s favourite brewers of this traditional style, they beg to differ. ... [ more ]
Omer Vander Ghinste celebrates 125 years of brewing craftsmanship
KORTRIJK/BELLEGEM - It was in 1892 that Brouwerij Omer Vander Ghinste opened for business in Bellegem, a village near Kortrijk in West Flanders, close to the French border. Since then, countless... [ more ]
Brasserie de Brunehaut - In tune with the seasons
RONGY - In Rongy and all around it, spring is in the air. The fruit trees are in bloom and nature has put on its most beautiful face. I’m on my way to http://belgium.beertourism.com/belgian-breweries/brasserie-d... [ more ]
Westmalle Dubbel or Westmalle Tripel?
WESTMALLE - If you order a Westmalle you’re likely to be served with a Tripel. This is no coincidence as this strong blonde Trappist beer now accounts for 75% of the beer output of this http://belgium.beertouris... [ more ]
More Beer
As far as the monks of Maredsous are concerned, the Maredsous Tripel is a party beer, their ‘nec plus ultra’. This tripel is a tipple that is imbibed on special occasions, standin... [ more ]
Beer Tourism Newsletter Signup
Enter your name and email address on the right and click "SignUp" to join.