Breaking News - Urthel Belgian Ale Now In U.S.
January 31, 2002 -- WIFE AND HUSBAND BREW BELGIAN CULT CLASSIC
(Ruiselede, West Flanders, Belgium) The newest Belgian Ale to hit American shores is Urthel, a creation of wife and husband team Hildegard and Bas van Ostaden, owners of Brouwerij de Leyerth. The duo share responsibilities with Hildegard formulating recipes and brewing the beer, and Bas, an artist and expert marketer, designing the artwork, packaging, and sales materials. Currently two Urthel Ales are offered in the United States: Urthel Tonicum Finiboldhus Amber Ale and Urthel Hibernus Quentum Tripel Ale. Both are bottle conditioned and unfiltered artisanal ales packaged in unique, eye-catching three packs and 750 ml bottles. Draft is also available. All are exclusively imported by Artisanal Imports and will be distributed nationwide.
In the fourteen months since it’s introduction in Europe, production of Urthel has doubled and redoubled to keep up with demand. The van Ostaden’s never planned to brew a cult beer, it just turned out that way. Having met at the Dutch brewery La Trappe, it was clear that they both had an interest in beer. From their home in Ruiselede, West Flanders, Belgium, Bas and Hildegard created the recipes for the beer as well as the charming labels, three packs, tap handles and other sales materials.
The gnome-ish figures on the labels actually pre-date the beer itself. Bas had been working on a modern-day fairy tale for some time when he and Hildegard decided to start brewing. Searching for a brand image was going nowhere, until Bas had the idea to combine his fairytale characters, the Erthels, with their new beer. Thus, Urthel was born.
Urthel Tonicum Finiboldhus Amber Ale was the first beer of the fledgling Browerij De Leyerth, and, according to the Erthels, possesses the power to restore hair and prevent baldness. Of course, they don’t make this claim for humans! Urthel Amber is a moderately strong specialty ale at 7.5% ABV with a cloudy, orangish appearance. It is fruity and slightly hoppy in the nose, and malty with just a hint of hop bitterness.
Urthel Hibernus Quentum Tripel originally appeared as a winter specialty, but demand was so great that Hildegard and Bas began producing year-round. It’s a strong (9% ABV) beer, slightly cloudy burnished-golden in color with white, voluminous foam. It has a honey note in the nose, and a spicy, flowery aroma. Urthel Tripel is full-bodied with a beautiful hop bitterness in the finish.
For more information or samples of Urthel, contact Lanny Hoff at (612) 522-3108 or by email at lhoff@mn.rr.com
Browse the Archive of Breaking News.
