Abbaye des Rocs Grand Cru

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

Pours a hazy, dark, amber-copper color with a huge, rocky, creamy, off-white head which is fully lasting and leaves some Belgian lacing. Nose is pungent and fruity; raisins, caramelized cherries, sweet honey, plums, and apricots. Flavor matches nicely; plums, apricots, caramelized cherries, raisin, faint Belgian chocolate, molasses, maybe some ginger in there too. Bitterness is minimal but keeps from being cloyingly sweet. Palate is nearly full, creamy and almost chewy, and more than soft; alcohol is very well hidden, maybe too hidden for a Belgian strong. Finshes long and sweet with mild bitterness and a nutty character. What a treat from des Rocs; it has all the complexity of a Belgain Abt but with a lighter character and more approachable qualities. Well done and wonderfully scary with such a high ABV and so much drinkability.

After exploding foam, pours a murky copper brown color. Hops come through in the aroma, lots of spice, fruits, vanilla. The balance in this beer is almost unmatched, with a great mix of sweetness, bitterness, spice and malt depth. Finish has lots of apricot, some cinnamon, honey as well. A gorgeous beer.

Bottle. Dark amber pour with decent head, little lacing. Very fruity/berry aromoa. Flavor starts fruity and berrylike, ends more hoppy. Very smooth. Excelent brew.

Bottle conditioned. Full hazy amber coloured beer with a big white head. In the nose, I scent aromas of malts and fruits, berries and hops. The taste is slightly malty, fruity with hints of caramel. Medium bodied and softly carbonated. Aftertast is malty again with light hoppy finish. Great beer from abbaye des rocs.

Bottle. Pours a nice dark amber color with a decent off white head. Aroma of yeast, ripe fruit and malt. Taste of brown sugar, fruit and caramel. Starts out slightly sweet but quickly turns to a slight hoppyness. Finishes very smooth. This so far is my favorite Belgian Strong Ale. Excellent brew!

Bottle thanks to a trade with tjthresh. This was awesome, I’m pissed b/c it was a gusher and I probably lost and ounce or so. Pours a deep drown color with a nice white head. Aromas of fruits and spices, a little brown sugar, very yeasty. Aromas carry into the flavor, very balanced, little hop presence. Great mouthfeel and a smooth finish. Got to get me more of this.

Bottle says best before 2007, I have no idea how old that is. The bottle exploded everywhere. Pour is a hazy brown with offwhite head. Complex fruit, spice, and malt aroma. Flavors of fruit, caramel, sweet malt, spice, some chocolate and nutty flavors, and honey. I little bit to carbonated, but still very good.

I think at the GBBF? Anyhow, light spritzy, easy fruit. not too acidic. perhaps from the CO2? Healthfood fruit bar aromas.