Bornem Dubbel

Brewed by Brouwerij Van Steenberge
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Ertvelde, Belgium

Pours a dark, murky red into my snifter, with a huge beige head, typical of the style. The aromas are pretty typical too, yeast, dark fruits (figs, prunes, maybe some dried apricot), not much alcohol. The taste is quite malty, very estery, again, the fruits, but in the finish and aftertaste I’m actually getting some molasses, this one is big on the candi sugars. 8% abv is pretty undetectable. There’s maybe a tiny, ever so small hop presence, but as with most Belgians, I don’t really taste much of them, not do they play a major role. Not a bad little beer, I was expecting it to be more stronger tasting, but the mildness is alright. Tasty and enjoyable, but a tad on the light side for the style, and a little overly-carbonated, good stuff though.

Pours deep walnut and clove colour with a giant, dense head which sits almost like a scoop of ice cream even after 5 minutes. Awesome lacing. Fruity, overripe banana sour malt scent. Some alcohol and clove in the nose as well. Lovely sour fruit and yeast taste. Nutmeg and allspice. Though its flavour is stellar, I tend to agree with other reviewers in that it could be stronger. Medium body. Lasting sour malt finish. I definitely seem to ’get’ this one. Overall... I’m pretty sad that this only comes in a sampler around here, meaning I’ll never taste this brew again.

Huge foamy head. Yummy!! a really good dark beer. Earthy sophisticated malt flavor. Not too sweet not bitter. Good stuff.

11.2oz bottle. Served around 57°. Huge rocky head, three fingers worth in my Chimay chalice and I have only poured half the beer out. The aroma I get through the head is cinnamon, clove, black pepper and allspice along with some dark fruits. Taste is malty up front with a pronounced spiciness followed by a nearly overpowering spiciness (xmas spices), some alcohol, and herbal, earthy, moderately bitter finish. Nice body, at first, no doubt helped by the ample carbonation. The finish is balanced, but a little hot. I did not enjoy the extreme spiciness of the beer.
Additional notes As the beer warms, it hints at a Flemish Red with notes of red wine, wood, and tartness. The second half was better than the first. Upping the overall score a point.

[Kurts 46 years day.] 75 cl bottle, blue label. Sweetness, abbey-true style, dark brown look with a good head and nice wellsweet aroma. Notes of burnt sugar, honey, raisins and other dried fruits. OK, but ordinary.

11.2 oz bottle. Part of a Steenberge variety six-pack. I think this is the same, as it has a differnt label, but is the Dornem Double Abbey Ale. Pours dark brown but not completely opaque with a very light high head (served a bit warm though which could account for the extreme head). 8% APV gives a nice heady buzz, smooth taste. I don’t find the coffee in this one, but maybe I need to taste it more.

Pours a dark brown with a quickly disappearing white head. Fruity, yeasty aroma. Silky mouthfeel reveals a malty body, highlighted by fruity undertones. Almost tangy finish. I’ve had many variations of this beer, sometimes it follows this rating, sometimes it’s like a rich chocolate chake. Odd, but an old favorite.

0.33 l bottle. OK, not served in a trappist but in the tulip anyway poured enormous creamy ocher head going down so slowly it took me maybe half an hour to pour the whole glass. 5 times more than to drink it. It had dark red/brown body. Not strong chocolate malt aroma, with some metallicity. Taste somehow empty, just a hint of bitterness and sweetness in the form of chocolate. Very rich carbonation. Fine long finish but still a bit empty. While drinking leaves neatly laced glass. Not bad beer but it misses the character.