Juan Lopez No 2 - Duchesse de Bourgogne Ale

Coming to the end of the bundle of odds and sods of seconds Rob left with me for Kenfessions.

This JL2 looked far more like a fourth than a second, but I am not one to complain. The wrapper was torn and ragged. If this had been a mongrel puppy then sorry to say, it would have been put down by now – to digress, currently both mother-sitting and puppy sitting for the family. The puppy is an incredibly energetic, even more than usual for a puppy, Springer Spaniel. Great dog but needless to say, needing all manner of vet care. Has finally got rid of the cone to stop it doing stuff to stitches etc, although I am wondering why, as it still has “socks” for some reason.

Well, it manages to remove one of the socks. I go to put it back on but this dog, which has never shown the slightest sign of anything but endless exuberance – it would lick Hitler – suddenly decides that this sock is worth defending with its life. Growls and snaps and no one is getting near the filthy sock – granted I am perhaps not giving it the old college best, and having saved the tv remote from it minutes earlier, I decide I have given my all and it is a problem for my sister when she gets home.

A problem shared, is a problem I no longer have.

So, back to the mongrel cigar, the JL2. Definitely ‘book by its cover’ time. This was a lovely little cigar. My score is either 90 or 96 – writing is not always as immaculate as one would wish. I'm 99% certain based on the notes, we are talking 90, but that is not bad at all. Whatever, it was infinitely better than the way it looked.

Opened with immediately appealing flavours, gentle notes of cream, spice, tobacco leaf and a hint of honey. Below medium in weight, it is nicely balanced and offers a delightfully creamy texture. Certainly smoked far better than it looked.

The drink was something a mate from a craft beer store recommended. He is normally spot on but I'm not so sure about this one.

The ‘Duchesse de Bourgogne’ from the Belgian brewery, Brouwerij Verhaeghe (Brewery Verhaeghe), located in Vichte, which may mean something to those more familiar.

It is a “Flanders red ale-style beer”.

Now, two things.

First, who among us did not think it a bit odd that Flanders has a beer? Homer, Moe, even Bart, but Flanders?

Secondly, an “ale-style beer”. Wouldn’t that be an ‘ale’? I just have endless visions of David Suchet as Poirot with his twirly mo, sipping his ‘ale-style beer’.

It undergoes a primary and secondary fermentation and then spends another year and a half maturing in oak barrels. The final ale includes a blend of a younger ale, which is typically done for this style. The hops chosen are for their low bitterness.

For what it is worth, the beer is named after Duchess Mary of Burgundy, who was the only daughter of Charles the Bold (some maintain that the correct title was Charles the Reckless), son of Philip the Good – all very Game of Thrones. She was born in Brussels in 1457, and died in a horse-riding accident, not before her marriage sent a great fortune and extensive lands to the Vatican. As far as I am aware, she never had a cigar in her life.

This Ale is considered one of the better examples of the style, a style which is often seen as close to wines in some taste aspects. The alcohol level is 6.2%.

It is very similar to a Lambic beer, with those sour/fruity notes, though for me, more sweet and sour. Even a slight apple cider note. The sour note comes from lactic acid notes, I'm told. The red colour comes from the use of red malt.

Brewery Verhaeghe was established in 1875. They also, among a reasonably extensive range, make a Kriek style beer with cherries, which I'd love to try.

The Duchesse was an interesting beer to try, but in all honesty, not one I'd be racing off to search for more.

For our purposes, what is most important is how it went with the cigar. Not very well. The acidic note was a bit jarring. A cigar which deserved better.

KBG