beer_name: Verboten
text: Polished pumpkin with a lustrous luminescence when backlit with radiant morning sunshine. The incredibly creamy crown is more ecru than alabaster. It almost looks good enough to be called Belgianesque, something that rarely occurs with Belgian-style beer brewed in America. An attractive array of tattered lace graces the glass. The aroma is pretty close to classic for the style. I used those words because this Belgian pale ale uses American hops (Centennial and Cascade). Their citrusiness takes a backseat to what smells like an incredibly estery yeast strain, though that's fine with me. Warming brings out even more boldness. This is fantastic beer that reminds me of one of the all-time great ales in this corner of the country (or anywhere else for that matter). New Glarus Dancing Man Wheat is a kick-ass hefeweizen that uses American hops and does so in gobsmacking fashion. Zotten isn't quite that special, but it is a marvelous marriage of the Old World and the New World. The mouthfeel is more than fine and has picture perfect carbonation that adds sparkliness to a flavor profile that is already as zippy and zesty as all get out. That said, no one who knows better would mistake it for having been brewed in Belgium. Zotten is Belgian/Flemish for 'fools'. Anyone who loves Belgian-style beer that is insanely drinkable would be foolish not to seek this one out. I'm amazed at how many styles (from a multitude of countries) that Weyerbacher does well. Slam Dunkel and this beer are perfect examples. *reviewed on 10-25-2009