HEAD-TO-HEAD #6: De Molen's Engels vs. De Molen's Amerikaans

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Brouwerij de Molen need no introduction so I'll get straight on to the beers. Engels is an English style bitter dry-hopped with Sladek hops whereas Amerikaans is an American style pale ale dry hopped with Amarillo.

I'll start with Engels as this should be less hoppy and intense being based on an English style - in theory. It pours a dark honeycomb colour with a dull white head. Deliciously pungent orange honey marmalade nose. Unexpectedly dry up front with soft citrus (especially lemon), pear, hop resins and tongue tingling bitterness. Engels' becomes sweet and sappy.in the finish but remains distinctly bitter. The body is medium with a slightly oily consistency.

Amerikaans pours a paler hue than Engels with a similarly frothy, off-white head. The aroma of this one features more floral (carnations?), sherbert and lemongrass accents. Soapy lemongrass, lavender and violets up front. It finishes much the same with some pine notes coming through. This one is a sweeter and surprisingly less bitter beer than Engels, despite its American title and its high alpha-acid aroma hop. The body is much the same as Engels but with a foamier consistency.

• MALTS: ENGELS =PALE, CARA / AMERIKAANS= PALE, CARA
• HOPS: ENGELS = SLADEK & AMARILLO (BITTERING) + SLADEK (AROMA) / AMERIKAANS = SLADEK (BITTERING) AMARILLO (AROMA)
• IBU: ENGELS = 30 / AMERIKAANS = 30
• ABV: ENGELS = 4.5% / AMERIKAANS = 4.5%

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------