Ambiorix Dubbel

Brewed by Brouwerij Slaghmuylder
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Ninove, Belgium

Sampled as ’Drongens Plezierke’, 33 cl bottle, 7.5 vol% alc, ’bbe’ June 08. Red brown with a fine beige froth. Dark malts dominate the aroma, emanating chocolate and plums. The taste, on the other hand, reveals an outspoken hop bitterness unusual for a dark beer, nicely balanced by the soft malts and juiciness in the background. LIvely palate. Good; could do with a bit more character...

Bottled (as Drongens Plezierke). Dark brown/rubyish colour with small beige head. Aroma is malts, hops and some acidic fruits. Flavour has some bubblegu, in it along with the fruits. Quite different brew, but the bubblegummyness takes the flavour down a bit.

Bottle. Never had a dubbel like this before! Very vinous, slightly oxidised sourness, but this made it very interesting. Light caramelised flavours, with some plummy fruit. Acidic edge. But yeah, really vinous, almost like drinking red wine.

Bottle. Nice fruity and malty aroma. The flavour is also nice and malty, but a bit thin. Dark brown colour, small stable light brown head. Has some rather big floaties. Nice, but too anonymous.

Deep and cloudy bronze-coloured beer under the off-white, medium-sized head. Intense, sweet caramel flavours with raisins and plums. Sweet fruity flavours, some caramel. Medium to light body, maybe a bit too light for the flavours. Too sweet to be balanced, but with great fruitiness (how do they achieve that?), almost like a port without its potency. Had it been higher strength and fuller body, it might well have hit a very top rate.

Bottle. Redish colour with a off-white head. Sweet dark fruits aroma and taste. Medium body with a light dry finish.

Orange reddish colour with a tan head. Malty aroma with a plum/ prune fruity sweetness. Malty, dark fruit sweet flavor and a light yeasty and dry finish.

Bottle. Light brown with an off white head. Soft and malty. Hiints of caramel, fruits and also some spicy notes. Very nice.