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(Photo: vzw Zythos)

The ranking of the 2010 Zythos Bier Festival competition, one of the most important brewing events in Belgium, was made public in these days. After the victories of Het Anker (2008) and De Dolle (2009), this year certainly triumphed a less known brewery, at least to Italians: Brouwerij The Musketeers, located between Ghent and Bruges. The gold medal went to their Troubadour Magma, considered an outsider.

As you can read on the blog of Steven Vermeylen the Troubadour Magma is a 8.5% ABV amber ale, characterized by the sharp presence of Saaz hops, which gives distinct citrus notes and a bitter end. A dry-hopping addition of American Simcoe completes the whole. Like many other Belgian brands, even the Troubadour is produced at the De Proef brewery.

Follows the complete ranking:

1.Magma Troubadour, The Musketeers
2. Exprmtl brew AD 2010, De Dolle Brouwers
3. X11, Boelens
4.Tripel Karmeliet, Bosteels
5. Trisser De Verhuisbrouwerij
6. Malheur 10 °, Malheur
7. Zonderik Tripel, Zonderik
8. Zonderik Dubbel Donker, Zonderik
9. Boon Oude Geuze Marriage Parfait, Boon
10. Hop Flower Power, De Ranke

As you can see, the Troubadour Magma preceded De Dolle‘ Exprmtl Brew AD 2010 and X11 by Boelens. The first production is a totally experimental brew by Kris Herteleer, on the podium again after the victory gained last year. It’s fermented with wine yeast and aged in barrels, resulting a very complex and not easy to approach beer. The X11 is a sui generis Tripel, created using 5 different spices and brewed with the usual skill that distinguishes the beers of Chris Boelens.

The rest of the chart is a succession of little-known names and timeless trademarks. Among the latter we can’t but notice the presence of Tripel Karmeliet (regularly among the firsts every year) and Malheur10 by De Landtsheer, which in 2009 had placed 3 beers in the first 20 places. Ninth stands a traditional product such as Boon Oude Geuze Marriage Parfait (which I personally do not like) followed by Hop Flower Power by De Ranke, another high-profile brewer.

An interesting chart, characterized by the presence of experimental or hard to find brews (even in Belgium itself) even more than last year. Not a secondary aspect, which perhaps betrays a propensity for rare and sensational beers, already seen in other contexts. It must be taken in mind in fact that is a popular contest and the ranking reckoned on the basis of the opinions of all the participants.