2 Halfs De Kirk

We don’t see many examples of Belgian pale ales in Australia. Unless you’ve popped over to Belgium for a cheeky crawl of the Trappist abbeys, there’s a decent chance you’ve never had one – or a fresh one, at least.

De Kirk isn’t the full-on experience of a dubbel or a strong ale, but it shines a deep golden-amber colour that promises more flavour than a blonde ale. The significant malt character of crunchy toast with an almost earthy edge is balanced out by the phenolic spice notes from the yeast, which offer up clove, bubblegum, and a touch of iodine like you’d find in certain peated whiskies.

But for all this flavour, it’s surprisingly approachable – a good introduction to the style while saving yourself a trip to meet the Trappists.

Mick Wust