Squatters - Hell's Keep Belgian Style Golden Ale

This is probably my last Squatters review for a while.  I'll have to check my cellar, but I'm pretty sure this is the last of the beers I purchased at the brewery on my last stop.  It's kind of sad.

But Untapped just informed me that I've had 10 different Squatters beers in less than 30 days.  So, maybe it is time to move on.

I don't have a whole lot of experience with the Belgian Golden Ale style. I'm more of a Trappist & Lambic Belgain beer drinker.

A couple things to get out of the way:   1) Not a fan of the label art.  Be cartoonish or be realistic.  Don't be vague.  2) Foil wrapped.  Again, I ask "Why foil wrap a beer?"  This is not wine.   But if you want it to be like wine, make it easier to remove, like wine.   Besides, if prettiness is the goal, bottle caps can be pretty too.

Aesthetics rants aside, this is a great beer.

This beer is smooth with a bit of fruitiness with musty/earthiness thrown in.  The head on the beer is stiff and thick.  It reminds me of egg whites beaten stiff for a meringue.


What are you going to get with this beer? The twang of Belgian yeast.  Esters in the form of lemon and banana in both the aroma and flavor.  Musty and earthy aromas.  Hops that are noticeable but hangout in the background.  Sweetness on the nose but dryness on the palate.  And finally, a 7.75% ABV that is barely noticeable.

It is said that the hallmark of a good Belgian ale is that you don't notice the alcohol until you stand up from the table.  With such a dry finish, this beer definitely meets that criteria.