In the 17th and 18th century, strong ale like the Piraat was highly prized by the seafaring captains for its keeping qualities and its high and healthy food value. The daily distribution of a pint of this ale kept the pirates in good health and gave them the spirit to survive the hard life on the sea. One had no water on a ship, but wine or strong beer that could be kept for months on the sea. Piraat is a wickedly rich and rounded brew that packs a mighty punch. The powerful glow builds up from inside. Deep golden with a subtle haze. Lots of hops and malt. Mild sweetness. Reminiscent of bread dough, spices and tropical fruits.
A triple by strength, an IPA (Indian Pale Ale) by history. Triple means that the brewer used three times the normal amount of barley malt, thus starting with more starches, getting more sugars after cooking, and more alcohol after a long fermentation. The Piraat is re-fermented in the bottle, and in the keg! The original style of the Piraat is similar to the IPA style. It is a beer that was created many centuries ago to go on ships. Indeed, sailors drank beer on board. Nobody drank water on land, why would anybody then take water on a boat? Even the Pilgrim fathers landed in Plymouth Rock because they were out of beer, and had to land to find fresh water to brew more beer. So says their logbook.
When people started to sail out for longer voyages, the captains needed a beer with high alcohol value that could be kept fresh for a long time. The Flemish sailors, called merchants by their friends and pirates by their enemies, had a very strong and potent beer like the Piraat on board.
Piraat is a wickedly rich and rounded brew that packs a mighty punch. Taste it, and understand why captains like this beer so much. Nothing holds sailors (or Pirates) back after a pint of this brew.
