Abbaye des Rocs Grand Cru

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

(bottle) pours a fine ruby colour with lots of floaties and a fluffy light brown head. fruity aroma of pears, figs and dates, with lots of yeast and caramel, some chocolate, bread and a touch of alcohol. flavour is more muted, mostly subtle notes of caramelized malts and yeast coming through, with a hint of cinnamon and fruit in the finish. medium body with smooth carbonation, alcohol is expertly hidden.

[750 ml bottle ("best before end 13/03/2011") from 1828 Vintage House, cellared for 1 yr. after purchase] Pours cloudy dark brown with one finger of level biege head that recedes to a thin, lasting layer. Aroma initially of some Band Aid - as that dissipates there is some dark stewed fruit and brown sugar, Mouthfeel is butttery soft and smooth with a fine bubble carbonation. Flavor of light brown sugar and dark stewed fruit with a nice chocolate note towards the finish. A bit smokey with some caramel as well. Lightly hot. A bit of a bitter pinch in the finish that leads to a light bitter brown sugar and chocolate aftertaste. Quite good but struck me as a notch below the Triple.

750mL courtesy of Cavie into an abbey glass. Pours brown red with lots of floaties. The aroma is big fruity esters and a hint of sour spiciness like brett beers. The flavor is fruity sweet mixed with chocolate, nuts, and roast. High but smooth bottle carbonation and medium high body

Brown bottle, 1,5 l, best before 10/2010, via Importations Privées Bièropholie (merci Hughes!), savoured on August 21 2009; eye: copper, clear, good effervescence, thick sheet of creamy beige head, no lacing; nose: malt, alcohol, candied fruits, light hops, light Madeira; mouth: malt, alcohol, candied fruits, light Madeira, molasses, finale in alcohol with presence of malt, below-average carbonation, medium-full body, mildly sweet, lightly bitter, slight astringency, rich; overall: disappointing FRANÇAIS Bouteille brune, 1,5 l, meilleure avant 10/2010, via Importations Privées Bièropholie (merci Hughes!), savourée le 21 août 2009; œil : cuivrée, claire, bonne effervescence, épaisse couverture de mousse beige, pas de dentelle; nez : malt, alcool, fruits confits, léger houblon, léger madère; bouche : malt, alcool, fruits confits, léger madère, mélasse, finale en alcool avec présence de malt, carbonatation sous la moyenne, corps moyen-corsé, moyennement sucrée, légèrement amère, très légère astringence, riche; en résumé : déçu

750ml bottle. Tanx Pete!!! Ofcours sweet. It´s quite complex in the caracter. Aroma has dark fruits and burnt sugar. Also some chocolat. Flavor is spicy and malty. Sweet. Dark fruits. Rocs keeps up the good work!

Bottle. Brown pour with light head. Aroma is complex: sweet esters, fruit, malt and light alcohol. Flavor is light which isn’t obvious because of the robust aroma. Alcohol doesn’t come through on the flavor. Nice Beer.

A brown beer with a nice head. Aroma was wonderful, with a lot of fruit like pears & other dried fruit. Taste was fruity, & leather with the mouthfeel being leather which was nice. The alcohol is very well hidden & I had a hard time figuring out if this or the Brune by des Rocs is better. Another outstanding Belgian by des Rocs which makes me think this rocks.

Brown colored brew. Dried fruit and sweetness in the aroma. Flavor is sweet, some dried fruits, sugar, caramel. Strong flavor, well balanced.