Abbaye des Rocs Brune

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

750ml bottle. Pours a dark brown with a thin, off-white head which dissipated quickly. The nose was of vinous fruit and some alcohol. Taste was of vinous fruit and sugar. mouthfeel was medium with carbonation and sweetness. Very nice.

Very nice! Got this one recommended by an American friend who said this was one of his favorites. Tried a bottle and I really liked it. Nice aroma and taste. Nothing to complain about. Maybe the fact that it becomes a bit tough to finish the last part of the glass.

bottle, dark brown color, cherry and fruit nose, flaovr is fruity with fermented cherries and caramel sugars, nice finish

750 ml bottle. Somebody or some entity did not want me to rate this beer. It has eluded me for years. Twice I have bought the Abbaye des Rocs Grand Cru, mistaking it for the top rated Abbaye des Rocs brew. The last time was last weekend at Bottleworks in Seattle. Luckily, I had a notion I bought the wrong one again and called tennisjoel from the parking lot who set me straight. Luckily the store clerk allowed me to swap it out despite the Grand Cru bottle having spent several minutes in the bright sun, which is sacrilege in the dark store that is Bottleworks. When I finally sat down just now to open the bottle, I had the hardest time opening through the black foil and ended up cutting my finger on the cap. Like I said, somebody or something didn’t want me to get this brew. Of course, there wasn’t much of a carbonation sound when opening the bottle and the head is flat, so I hope I didn’t get an old or flat bottle!!!!! Smells rich, sweet, Belgian and somewhat sour. Lots of complexity in the aroma. Beautiful cloudy darker brownish red. Whispy head gives way to no head. Yup, this is flat. I’m telling you, I’ve had the worst luck with this beer. The label says best before 2010. So, two years before it’s best before date, it’s flat. I’m thinking the cap had somehow been compromised, which may be somewhat tougher to do with the foil "seal". Regardless, very disappointing to have lugged this bottle home from Seattle to Minneapolis only to have it be flat. I can tell that with carbonation this would be a pretty darn good brew. Plenty of flavor and good balance. A pitty to drain pour Abbaye des Rocs Brune.

Appearance: Dark brown, cloudy. Good head, foamed over when opened... Aroma: Very fruity. Vinous. Taste: Very fruity and sweet. Vinous, fresh. Smooth. Info: 330ml bottle, 10/2-2006, 70/300

22oz from Knightly Spirits. Pours Mahogany color with a beige head. Light sourness on the nose with some pear, cherry, caramel, yeast and a touch of alcohol. Chocolate and caramel flavors open up with a big yeasty flavor. A little booze and a long caramel finish. Incredible flavor with a rich full palate. Definitely their best. Alcohol for the ABV is well hidden and the beer is perfectly carbonated.

Well, it poured .8 oz short, because of the rest of the world’s back-assward use of the crappy metric system. (10 instead of 8, what the hell are they thinking?) 3 inch empty, dense head. Clody, darker brown liquied. Perfect appearance. Smells like Belgian yeast, caramel, barley malt, and alcohol. Tastes like graham wheat grain, barley malt, unfermented barley sugars and a fewother things. Appeal is smooth, full flavor, medium light body. Finish resembles Belgian yeast strains that we are all too familiar with. You know, raised in the New World, it just doesn’t taste like the beer that jives with our lifestyle. Good luck to you distinct Belgian strain yeast lovers.

If not for the aroma, this one would have rated considerably higher. Pepper, belgian yeast, and earth...pungent but not enjoyable. Everything else about this brew is top notch; from the 14 karat body and skyscraper head, to the bready, malty, spicy flavor. Moderately coating, this one isn’t cloying. Enjoyable, without doubt.