Abbaye des Rocs Brune

Brewed by Brasserie de l’Abbaye des Rocs
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Montignies-sur-Roc, Belgium

Date: 27/2/09 Beer info: Bottled in green 750ml bottle 9.0% abv BB 2011? Sampling notes: Served lightly chilled in chalice. Plenty of yeasty chunks floating in a deep bronze body, capped with an offwhite foam that is thick and likes to hang around. Vinous aromatics, dark fruits and berries, earthy spice, hint of raisin and liquorice, maybe even a touch of bitter orange. Some malt in background, fortifying the nose, dark brown sugar, light roastiness, possibly a touch of grainy wheat. Lucious malt body, smooth, chewy syrup consistancy, huge length, low carbonation, somewhat balanced by a drying alcohol/wheat-like sensation. Big malt body gets the ball rolling, milk chocolate, brown sugar, nuts, then hit with raisins and blackberry fruits...would make a tasty chocolate bar. Palate continues with spice, tobacco leafiness, more dried fruit (date?), which linger on a moderately bitter, slightly drying without being boozy, finish. Funnily enough I had memories of two other beers whilst drinking this...the original Belgian chocolate ale we brewed, and a Chimay Bleu of a few years cellaring...the latter seems a good way of putting it. Really well rounded, and lengthy palate, but after trying three of this style in a reasonably short space of time it’s easy to be choosy, and this fantastic ale is the lesser of the Rochefort 8 and St Bernardus 12...by only the slightest of margins!

Brown pour with tan head and lace. Hard brown sugar and roasted malt on the nose. Same hard brown sugar, a hint of dried fruit with no bitter. Medium full bodied beer with very good carbonation. Very nice offering.

Pours a murky brown with orange hues. White head. Fruit and alcohol in the aroma dominated by yeast. Strong vinous flavors and some alcohol, sweet malts with some dark fruits.

Bottle @ Delirium. Clear amber to brown beer with a medium sized, creamy and blond beige head. The aroma is very malty. Like Finnish traditional easter food "mämmi" or syrupy sweet bread, and it has prunes, dates and raisins. Some brown sugar and light spiciness too. The finish is lightly hopped and herbal, a hint of alcohol is present. The flavor is complex and malty, dark fruity and overall sweetish. Slightly bitter in the finish and the alcohol is well hidden. The palate is full bodied, very smooth and syrupy. Lovely.

Niiice. Caramel brown body with many particles, tan head fades to lacing. Sweet candied sugar nose, caramel toffe, and a touch of dark fruits. Taste was full of raisin and fig, caramel, some apple - the hop and malt balanced very well. Medium, almost syrupy, palate soft and fizzy. Delicious brew!

Crushed with Jakebra. Not much nose, but what is there is nice. Flavor is subtle but awesome. Sour, musty, smooth, dark fruits and plenty of awesomeness. Dug it.

Dark reddish colour with small off-beige head.Aroma is strong fruity with full strong body,warming sweet mouth feels and well balanced smooth finish.

750 ml bottle. Pours a hazy amber color with a medium sized off white head and quite a lot of sediment throughout. The aroma is sweet, fruity (I get darker fruits), and caramel malt. The flavor blends the fruit and malt together nicely. Moderately sweet caramel malt with dark fruits and spices. Very little bitterness or alcohol here. Medium-full bodied; I was content to sip this slowly from my tulip glass and enjoy.