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Kobe & Kriek

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Spéciale Belge Taproom

Ginger BeerA few months ago, a friend of mine introduced me to an new area, not far from the Ginger Tipple brewery called De Pakt. Built out of some industrial buildings next to the old military hospital complex, it hosts a selection of restaurants, trendy shops and an organic rooftop garden. The old hospital is now a hub of modern apartments, businesses and a Michelin star restaurant, The Jane.

It also has a tremendous new beer bar, Spéciale Belge Taproom. Run by four friends, it offers about 13 craft beers on tap and many more in bottles. Selling craft beers from kegs is risky, because you have to finish off the keg quickly, preferably within a week, nevertheless, they have some great ales on draught.

I particularly enjoyed drinking Rye of Sun, a rye saison with a mouthful of funk nut less than a  sour and a lovely hops but less than an IPA with the added dimension of rye. The wonderful creation is a collaboration between Tanker in Estonia and Hedonis in Belgium. The there was the Petrus Sour with passion fruit from  and De Brabandere, where the passion fruit subtly underlies the 2 year old lambic.

Kobe & Kriek

Ginger BeerI have tried to convince them to make Ginger Tipple their gluten-free offering and delivered some of my bottles. They tasted the Ginger Tipple 4, but it was not what they were looking for; the regular Ginger Tipple and the soon to be launched Tipple Quad (11% ABV ginger donker aged with oak) are waiting in their fridge.

One of the partners, Kobe, was very skeptical about the kriek, how could I balance the contrasting ginger and morello cherry flavours? Then at 1:10 am on Wednesday morning he sent me an SMS that he loved it and I should be in contact with him.

He loved the kriek and ordered my last 22 bottles. What can I say? He has great taste! Every customer is important to me, but an order from a craft beer bar with such tremendous selection of excellent beers, made us feel proud.

Straight into the Fridge

Ginger BeerIt’s there in the fridge, only 22 bottles, so if you want one, you’ll have to be quick. Catch one if you can, otherwise you will have to wait until the end of the year when the 2018 vintage is ready.