Castelain Korma

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

I didn't even notice that this was a French beer, until I fired up my browser and started looking up this beer. Of course, it's a little odd for a French brewery to be doing Belgian beers style with a Scandanavian Viking on the label, but whatever works, eh? Regardless of all that, once this beer hits my glass, nationalistic semantics can be easily put aside.

Nice appearence and aroma, that fully puts the drinker in the mood for a nice Farmhouse Ale. Fluffy-white and ultra-thick head of foam only reinforces this, IMO.

Quite "rustic" in the presentation of the flavor profile -- very much in line with what I imagine should be your "standard" French Farmhouse Ale. Nice and clean, with hints of some mustiness only in the mouthfeel (the middle and backend, mostly). In other words, what could be considered to be faults for some styles only add to the charm of this beer.

I've recently been more and more attracted to Belgian ales that *don't* neccesarily overwelm your taste buds like some sort of Reverse Benelux Blitzkreig. Rather, when a beer can't hide behind a massive amount of alcohol or ultra-complex mouthfeel, it's true merits are able to shine through unabated.

And it's beers like this that truly show off that you don't need a virtual onslaught of sensations to showcase a fine Ale. Recommended.
//TB