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Taras Boulba

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De la Senne's most expressive beer and one of Belgium's finest session ales. Hugely effervescent with a thick meringue head, Taras Boulba delivers a bright lemon character stiffened by minerality and a dry, herbal finish closer to cocktail bitters than typical hops. Inspired by English cask ales, it redefined what low-alcohol Belgian beer could be.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
citrusymineralherbal
citrusy
mineral
herbal
hoppy
clean
Aroma
Bright lemon citrus dominates the nose, lifted by a distinct mineral undertone that suggests stone and chalk.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Taras Boulba

◎ Appearance

Golden-yellow hue with excellent clarity and a striking meringue-like head that clings persistently to the glass. The carbonation is visibly lively, generating fine bubbles that maintain the dense foam collar throughout the tasting.

golden-yellowthick meringue headhighly carbonatedexcellent clarity

◌ Aroma

Bright lemon citrus dominates the nose, lifted by a distinct mineral undertone that suggests stone and chalk. Herbal notes emerge in the background, with a subtle hoppy character that reinforces the dry, aperitif-like quality rather than a floral or resinous impression.

lemon zestmineral, stone-likeherbal, drynoble hop character

◐ Taste

The palate opens crisp and citric, with the lemon character immediately evident. A mineral backbone runs through the mid-palate, stiffening the body and preventing any sweetness. The finish dries sharply with herbal and bitter-cocktail notes that resemble gentian or quinine more than typical bittering hops.

citrus-forwardmineral-drivenherbaceous bitternesscocktail-like finish

◑ Finish

Clean and persistent, with the herbal bitterness lingering well into the aftertaste. The refreshing dryness lingers without harshness, inviting another sip.

dry, persistentrefreshingly bitter
87
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
88
Appearance
88
Finish
86
Serve at 7–10°C

Serve at 7–10°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Goblet

The wide mouth and heavy base promote head formation and channel rich aromatics toward the nose. Traditional for Belgian strong ales.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Taras Boulba

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About Belgian Pale Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Belgian Pale Ale?

Pale Ales balance malt sweetness with moderate hop character at 4.5–6% ABV and IBU 20–40. Approachable with floral, citrus or earthy notes over a biscuit malt base.

Finding a similar Belgian Pale Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same citrusy, mineral, dry character as Taras Boulba will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Belgian Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse Belgium beers →