Although slightly hazy for the style, Brugse Zot -- a name derived from Maximilian of Austria’s observation that the city of Bruges was filled with fools -- pours bright gold with very small bubbles rising up to form a beautiful white head. Sweet, bready malts pull deep into the nose, while subtle pepper spice and leathery hops ornament the aroma. On the tongue, this brew is pure, bubbly fun: Like the aroma, bready malts hit first and careen toward the back, then spicy yeast accents poke out as the beer rolls over the tongue. Although there’s not enough hop bitterness to balance the malts, the brew’s high carbonation stands in its place, paving the way for a sweet yet dry finish.
