By Jeff Evans

Nose

A bit rubbery, with soft pale malt and a touch of apple.

Palate

Mostly sweet and warming, with pale malt aplenty but also some spicy hops buzzing around. There's more apple in evidence, and also more rubber.

Finish

Dry and increasingly bitter, but still thick and malty.

Comment

On this evidence, an enjoyable but not particularly complex beer. It's basically sweet and then gets more bitter, but my earlier tastings of this strong, golden French ale have shown up more of an apple and pear character, which adds to the interest considerably.

By Sally Toms

Nose

Bananas. Light malt and a bit of mustiness.

Palate

There's that familiar Belgian sweet and sourness, but it's actually quite light in the mouth.

Finish

Long and bitter.

Comment

A very decent biére de garde.