Occasionally, when opening a bottle of Belgian beer, the brew erupts from the neck of the bottle resulting in half the contents washing across a kitchen bench and the rest appearing as mostly froth in the glass. There doesn't seem to be a pattern as to why this happens.
I always let my bottles 'rest' in the garage for a week before opening, in case they have been agitated in transit. I have tried chilling the beers in the fridge - lowering the temperature sufficiently to allow excess gas to dissolve in the liquid (gas becoming more soluble as the temperature drops as opposed to solids which become more soluble as the temperature of the solvent rises) and this doesn't seem to affect the result either.
Must I become resigned to this periodic mishap or does anyone have a handy Viz-like tip to help me avoid it?

Maybe you could learn how to work a bottle opener with your tongue. That way, you wouldn't spill a drop.

I'm going to have a bottle of Gulden Draak later and will open it over a cereal bowl, pouring any spillage into my glass via a plastic funnel.

GeordieLes wrote:

I'm going to have a bottle of Gulden Draak later and will open it over a cereal bowl, pouring any spillage into my glass via a plastic funnel.

A perfect pour into a Duvel glass without the need for any of the other paraphernalia. It looks like a regular brown ale but with the aroma of an abbey beer. Sweetish tasting with a caramel wash in the mouth. The high alcohol content is subtle at first but steamrollers any hoppy aftertaste. Malty, smooth, but not as complex as similar Trappist ales.

Gulden Draak ABV 10.5%
£2:19 for a 330 ml bottle from Beers of Europe (who else ).
I should be on commission!

Tonight's tipple is Brigand. Brewed by the Van Honsebrouck Castle Brewery, the bottle shape makes you think of Duvel straight away. It's also similar in strength at 9%ABV. I notice that the archer on the label has a cross of St George badge on his tunic. Hmmm... Brigand.
It has a tight, long lasting head but not as dense and creamy as Duvel's. It's a darker colour and has a very similar aroma. The taste is the difference. There's only a slight hint of hops in this, nothing like the pale ale explosion of bitterness that you get with Duvel. It's milder, more subtle and doesn't warn you of the high alcohol content. There's a slight suggestion of cough drops and a leathery tang though. Pleasant enough but not as good as Duvel I'm afraid.

Anyone else going to do some beer reviews? Udo?

GeordieLes wrote:

Anyone else going to do some beer reviews? Udo?

no review, but a hint: close to train station Wandsbeker Chaussee (U1, about 9 minutes from Hauptbahnhof/central train station) there is Bierland

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Maybe it would be worth to check it out when your are in Hamburg again.

Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs 'Montagnarde' Ambree ABV 9%

Not nice. Burnt orange colour with a healthy enough head but taste and aroma of boiled cabbage and marmite. Flakes of yeast sediment floating in the beer (my fault - but usually acceptable) don't enhance the appeal. Not quite as bad as Rodenbach Grand Cru (tastes like vinegar) but I won't be buying this one again.

les , where are you getting all of those nice beers taht I can only find in pubs in rouen ?

Funny you should ask that! Online from

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I'm not going to mention them again because it does seem like an advertising campaign now (albeit a poor one, that I'm not getting paid for!) ....

Tonight's beer is 'La Divine' from the wonderfully named Brasserie de Silly in Belgium. I assume that there is a town/city called Silly? The beer pours smoothly, a dark amber /copper colour with a thin but long lasting head. A leafy, malty aroma that is complemented by the smooth, slightly sweetish taste in the mouth. Bananas? A waft of cinder toffee as the liquid runs over the tongue, the hops far back in the palate but quite definitely there amidst the oaky malt. I'm getting a citrus note somewhere in the mix as well. After the swallow the alcohol lingers on the breath like a fine cognac. Wow, the alcohol after taste lasts a long time! This is an autumnal beer. I could imagine drinking it while standing around a bonfire (then falling in - it's 9.5%ABV)

you really sound like a pro

I am just drinking half a liter of white russian - nice country milk with some Finlandia Vodka and Kahlua coffee liqueur. Not too bad either and very healthy!

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Of course, it's probably pronounced "See ye!"

les is to beer tasting descriptions as what Zim is to football games reports

What a compliment! I'm deeply flattered by that comparison...
Maybe another one later.

Zim wrote:

Only registered users can see links on this forum! Register or Login on forum! Of course, it's probably pronounced "See ye!"

at least the scilly islands are not French