Brouwerij De Dochter Van De Korenaar
Baarle-Hertog. Antwerp, Belgium
De Dochter Van De Korenaar. Or in English, “the daughter of the corn ear” - an old Flemish synonym for beer dating back to the 16th century. Now reincarnated as the moniker of a new, tiny craft brewery from the Belgian enclave of Baarle-Hertog (actually located about 10 kilometers across the Dutch border). And when De Dochter opened its doors in 2007, folks immediately started taking notice. Despite its recency, the beers turned out by this little gem suffer from no lack of experience. Brewer/owner Ronald Mengerink tells us he’s been brewing beer since he was 16, and we believe it. What you get from each of his three creations thus far is a stunningly well-honed focus; a vision that’s clearly been years in the making. Stylistically, Ronald’s beers are virtually impossible to categorize – borrowing characteristics in each of multiple styles and regions. The Noblesse, the first beer from the brewery, is an ultra-crisp, bone-dry session ale of 5.5% with explicit bitterness given off by its Magnum hops. The Bravoure, Ronald’s second, is a step more complex but still designed to be easy-drinking; perhaps the most subtle and balanced smoked beer we’ve ever come across. And then his newest creation - the Embrasse. A beer that we had to have at all costs when it debuted this year at the Kerstbier festival in Essen. A stunning achievement from a small house brewery deserving of your attention. And Ronald now promises us there’s one more to come. We’ll soon see; but the bar’s been set awfully high with these…
Beers
