#87 De Ryck

This is another beer that I'll report briefly to include it in the count, but it doesn't deserve much more than that.   It's a Belgian pale ale that comes in an ugly bottle.

Appearance: Red/brown amber.  Light bit of white head.
Nose: Hardly anything.  Subtle dry fruit notes.  A bit of apricot.
Palate: Bland.  Bready.

That's it, not very good.  4 out of 10

#86 Moonlight Brewing - Old Combine

Old Combine comes from Moonlight Brewing is a little brewery up in Santa Rosa which distributes only locally and only in kegs.  They are probably most well known for their popular black lager, Death and Taxes.  Old Combine is another lager of theirs, which is brewed with barley, wheat, oats and rye.
It might make a good session sipper; only 5% ABV, and a pale golden color.
Appearance:  Pale golden.  Hazy.  Thin white head, good lacing.
Nose:  Grassy and floral hops.
Palate:  Spicy rye bite.  Nice light hop bittering.  Big carbonation.  Slight lager yeast sour notes.
This beer has a medium/high body, the only thing that might keep it out of the session category.  I nice beer, but wasn't exceptional to me.
7 out of 10 

#85 De Ranke Noir de Dottignies

Here's a Belgian Dark Ale that's terrific.  De Ranke Noir de Dottignies is made in the village of Dottignies in the southwest of Belgium.  It's a very new brewery, especially by Belgian standards.  They brewed their first batch in 1994.

Appearance:  True to it's name, Black.  Totally opaque with a lingering creamy head.
Nose:  Maple, oak, earthy spice nose.  Notes of licorice and coffee.
Palate:  Malty bitterness and dark sweetness work together for exceptional balance and complexity.  Finishes dry after caramely sweetness on the front palate.  Good hop bitterness to balance.

It was not until I had tasted and decided that I really liked this beer that I realized where I remember De Ranke from.  They produced one of the few other 9 out of 10 ratings in this blog.  And today they get another 9 from me.