1 May 2021

Brel Belgian Style IPA (Aldi - William Brothers Brewing Company) By @SpectreUK

Brel Belgian Style IPA William Brothers Brewing Company


I'm not sure why this Belgian Style IPA from William Brothers Brewing Company in Scotland is called Brel. There seems to be a bar in Glasgow called Brel, but also and possibly more likely there was a Belgian singer, songwriter, actor and director called Jacques Romain Georges Brel, who died in 1978. Perhaps the bar is also named after him...?

Anyway, a Belgian style India Pale Ale generally has a fruitiness and spiciness from its Belgian yeast, and is generally amber or copper in colour. Brel also has American yeast added to slightly counter the fruitiness and give a crisper flavour. Strong American hops have been mixed with milder European hops to add to the fruitiness. Orange peel and coriander were also added in the brewing, which should go very well with my fish and chips we're getting delivered from the local Chippy in the next few minutes...

On opening the can there was indeed a strong spiced yeasty smell with a fruitiness at the back of the aroma, and a little sweetness from the malts. Brel has a deep amber colour and poured with a fluffy head. Complex in flavour Brel has a deep spicy flavour to begin with, followed by fruitiness from the mixture of yeast and hops. Then there are sweet pale malts into the aftertaste. There is also a little coriander and a smidgen of orange peel mid flavour. This adds to the spices in this craft Belgian IPA, and a touch of citrus from the orange peel.

This is a very flavoursome beer indeed and I shall enjoy it with my battered fish, battered sausage, and chips. I've just heard a knock on the front door, so I'm really looking forward to my takeout and beer meal. Yum!

2 comments:

Stella said...

I expect too it is called Jacques Brel the singer, the most famous Belgian singer ever I believe. I expect you have tried to find out via de worldwideweb too and like myself couldn't find any information about the name of this beer. Anyway.. I don't drink beer, but I do like to listen to Jacques Brel from time to time!! Regards Nicolet - Schiedam, The Netherlands

cinabar said...

Oh wow - thanks for sharing, I'll have to seem if I can find that on Amazon Music.