On a dreadful afternoon after an equally onerous class my classmate and I ventured into Antwerp to find a new beer to taste. We scoured the internet to find an establishment that was open in the early afternoon and to our luck we found one in the theaterbuurt; Cafe Kulminator.
The 30 year old establishment emanated an exclusive atmosphere as visitors could only be admitted by ringing the doorbell, which at that moment was broken. After what felt like an eternity waiting in the rain, the owner noticed us peering through the window and slowly shuffled her way towards the door.
Upon entering it was almost as if we were transported to another time. Huge wooden beams, large wall fixtures and plant overgrowth gave the cafe the feel of an medieval tavern. When we inquired for the beer list the owner presented us with what could only be described as a beer encyclopedia.
Thirty minutes had passed and we finally selected our beers. Steenbrugge dubble bruin would be my salve for the miserable afternoon weather.
Steenbrugge had a distinct flavour reminiscent of prunes and the carbonation was flatter than I was expecting. The rich malty character coupled with the unique mix of spices called "gruut" was welcoming and blended nicely with the rich fruity character of the beer. My best guess is that the hop variety used was creating the prune sensation. What I couldn't determine was where the sourness was coming from. It added a nice complexity that further balanced the sweetness from the hop.
I found the mouthfeel to be quite smooth and mellow. There was a full-bodied character to the beer, but somehow despite all these good qualities the beer tasted as though it was lacking spirit. I understand the irony of this statement as the beer was both 6.5% and an abbey beer.
Overall I enjoyed the steenbrugge dubble bruin beer, but I can't say I would go out of my way to have it again.
Rating: 2.75/5
