I love this little brewery located in Bouillon which is situated within the Luxembourg region of Belgium. It used to be located at Le Marche de Nathalie, 22 Grand Rue but had to re-located as demand for the beers grew. I purchased these beers at Nathalie’s shop, which celebrates its 22nd anniversary this year while I was there last summer and I had a chat with her reminiscing about my first visit many years ago when a bottling plant ran through the centre of her place. This was to bottle the celebrated Cuvee de Bouillon, reviewed here and which tastes fresher somehow when enjoyed at one of the many taverns in town. Nowadays beers are produced off site and the Brasserie de Bouillon produces six regular beers plus ‘tailored’ beers for villages and groups according to their specific recipes. It’s a real treat to taste a range of their beers, all different but retaining many of the same characteristics.
I really love this Walloon Blonde, more so when drunk in Bouillon and I certainly tried a few when we visited again last year. An amber/orange beer with a neutral thick white head, the aroma is malty, hoppy, honeyed and caramel sweet. The taste is classic, creamy and full-bodied with hints of orange peel and a balanced hop bitterness. The finish is slightly hoppy, dry with more bitterness coming later. ABV 6.5%
A nice white head tops off this Golden Witbier. The aroma is of lemons, pears, vanilla and baking soda. The taste is peachy and lightly sweet with malts, spice, citrus peel and wheat. The finish is slightly floral, acidic, dry and more soda. ABV 5.5%
Their ambree beer is dark amber with an off white head. The nose is malty and hoppy with caramels and honey tones. The mouth is a delicious mix of subtle hops, caramel malts, orange peel, toffee and (again) soda. A dry and sweet finish. Lovely. ABV 6%
The ‘Baker’s Beer’ for nearby Botassart, site of the Giant’s Tomb is a light amber blonde beer with a thick white head. The aroma is sweet with caramel and pears, slightly floral, spicy and soda (again). The taste is sweet with hops, malt, bicarb and the mouth is foamy. The finish is slightly hoppy and yeasty with spices and orange marmalade. ABV 6%
This ‘Woodcutter’s Beer’ is brewed for the village of Sugny which lies north of Sedan near the French border. A hazy tangerine colour topped with a white head, the aroma is creamy, hoppy and sweetly spiced. The mouth is spritzy with more of the signature bicarb and has a taste not unlike a vanilla cream soda. The finish is dry, bitter and malty. ABV 6.5%
This Bier Brune is dark ruby-red, almost brown, crowned by a thick white head of foam. The nose is toffee-sweet and reminiscent of malt loaf. The taste is full-bodied and creamy with caramel malts, chocolate milk, coffee grounds and raisins. A dry, bitter and sweet finish. A treat and I wish I had bought more of this. ABV 7%
A lovely selection of beers, some classics and others quite samey. The best way to taste these is in Bouillon itself, a beautiful town amid fabulous scenery. Hotel tip: Auberge d’Alsace, a bit old fashioned but a bargain and the best food in town. http://www.aubergedalsace.be/fr
Beer Sommelier Kew 