Van Steenberge

Piraat

ABV 10.5% • Vol 330 ml • bottle • Belgium • Mid-price • Flavour 7
Other beers from Van Steenberge
Other beers from Belgium

This is a very strong Belgian ale. It is pale golden in colour, with a thick, bubbly, very resilient head. There are lots of light phenols and esters on the nose, with a subtle touch of darker malt lurking in the background. On the palate it immediately makes its strength known through its potent alcohol mouthfeel and sweetness, but at the same time is surprisingly smooth and rounded in a warmingly spirit-rich, malty way. There is bitterness present, more easily attributable to malt flavours than hops, and dark, dry puddingy fruit notes such as raisins and sultanas. Its thickness in the mouth becomes cloying throughout the finish and well through the malty aftertaste. This is certainly a beer full of depth and character, perhaps a little sweet and unsubtle for some tastes, but nonetheless a quality strong ale.

OBBD reviewer: Sparks

ADD A COMMENT TO THIS BEER

If you've tried this beer and liked it, you may also like to try

Why have we suggested these?

Review updated 17 November 1998

Comments

A very nice beer, in the same style as Duvel, a strong golden ale. Hoppier in flavour, deeper in colour, stronger in alcohol and, dare I say it, much nicer in flavour than Duvel. Not quite so clean on the palate perhaps, but all the better for that. To be recommended. [Score: 9]
Ian

I drank the Piraat as well as Gulden Draak in a white bottle with Dustin Alcorn at one of our tasting sessions. Not taking any notes at the time, I remember alcohol taste, very strong. I would prefer a Duvel.
Darren Dieterich

I had this beer one evening after I had been drinking quite heavily so maybe my impressions of this strong golden ale aren't quite accurate. The nose was overwhemingly alcoholic with a tiny hint of hops. In the mouth it was definitely complex, but not nearly as refined as its golden ale counterpart, Duvel. This beer is by no means subtle, and is not for the timid or uneducated palate. Indeed it is a good beer, but not nearly as good as Duvel, and I will not be searching this one out anytime soon.
Dustin Alcorn

This beer is advertised as an IPA, but considered by most drinkers to be more of a strong triple, or strong ale. It is not really a direct competitor with Duvel as are Judas and Hapkin.
St. Inebrius

Is absolutely the best!!!! Really!!!
Nadir

Have you reviewed the 9% version of this beer?
[No - though we'd be interested to know how the two versions differ -ed]
Derek Smith

Aw, man! A Piraat's life for me!!
Mike Elliott

No finer beer on Earth...3 Piraat's will make you famous!!!
Joe Bad

Nice golden colour when poured, then seems to fade a little. Very sweet, strong alcoholic smells. A dominate hoppy and bitter aftertaste. I can see the (slight)comparison to a Duvel...but dosent hide the alcohol anywhere near as well.The strong phenol notes masks everything else.Too brutish for mine.
HopsHappy

INDEED!! this beer is absolutely delicious anyone appreciating good belgian beer has to try this one!! brilliant!!
STYMIE

I'm going to have to agree with HopsHappy. This beer is just too bitter. If you want such a strong taste, you can drink whiskey.
Howie S.

There are strong family resemblances to Boucanier- the blonde variety. Of the two I prefer Piraat, its being rather more flavoursome, perfumed, and heavily caramel in outlook. I drink no more than 150ml of these powerful beers at a sitting in order to retain my sense of discrimination; it is a complete waste of time, I find, attempting to apply one's critical appreciation to beer when the senses are dulled.
eric8g

I remember this stuff from when I lived in N London years ago. The local Oddbins used to stock it occasionally. It has to be the most flavoursome strong beer I have ever tasted. Exquisite!
Small Tim Bigheart

The 9% version I found to be very close to Duvel you could say it's a piraated copy :-) there is no sweetness there it's bitter and dry, also the label on the bottle is more upmarket than the one above.
David Piggford

9% version: 330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Extremely pale yellow colour, huge white head. Strong sweetish aroma with notes of Belgian yeast, ripe fruits (incl. bananas) and spices (incl. cloves). The flavour is moderately spicy and relatively dry, notes of Belgian yeast again, very light bodied and refreshing for its strength (which means that the alcohol is well hidden). Nice, but I’ve had more complex Belgians than this one, though. Score: 7
Sigmund

Add comment to this beer

Due to an overwhelmingly large number of spam comments we have disabled this feature for the time being. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

We run a free subscriber list with a weekly email; beer of the week and site news. To join, enter your email address here:

Site design and content © 1992-2008 Sparks
Comments/errors should be addressed to: feedback@bottledbeer.co.uk.
Please read our disclaimer.