Bornem Dubbel

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

330ml bottle - Pours dark brown with ruby highlights and a huge tan head. Aromas of raisins, caramel malts, a touch of chocolate, and pears. Flavor is quite vinuous,. yeast, raisins, caramel, roasted malts, and dark chocolate. Very sweet and rich. On the palate this is quite carbonated and feels pretty good in the mouth. It is medium bodied and the alcohol is covered very well. This wasn’t bad at all.

Bottled (BB 10/2006)
Dark ruby-brown color, firm cloudy tanned head. Fruity nose: apricot, pear and red currant. Carbonated, medium-bodied mouthfeel. All the right elements are there: plums, raisins, yeast, but this is very much watered down.

Tasted from the rustic and battered looking bottle (my only sample), it erupted and spurted suds over the rim once the top was popped. Poured into a chalice glass, the lively beer delivered a 50/50 mix of foamy off-white head and opaque, murky brown body. The head didn’t budge for the length and left rings down the glass. Strong and musty, dark chocolate and dried fruit aroma, hints reminiscent of turkish delight mingled with a strong and warming yeast and alcohol spice. The aroma became mulled and earthy halfway through. Thinner than expected body with a light oxidised edge I found similar to both the Dubbel and Tripel. Dried figs and plums, grated chocolate and powdered cocoa, none of the flavours were strong, just subdued in a lot of alcohol, that became vinous in the back. Alcohol is present in the swallow and in the mouth, but it was well masked. A little watery even at room temperature, and a little dull in the warming swallow. Overall, though, this wasn’t too bad a drop. (33cL bottle, 11% ABV, age unknown [14JB])

Out of a 12oz. bottle thanks degarth for the summer clean-out. Aroma raisin and bananabread. A dark brown almost cherry color, and holy foam head batman. Seems like it took forever to settle. Taste was about average for a belgian. Full thick palate and nice dry finish. Overall not too shabby.

750 ml. Cork shot up and off the ceiling, I had to move, didn’t want it to hit me in the eye. Lots of head. Deep orange, clear in color with a huge head. Nice and fluffy head. Very big fruity aroma, cherries. Tart. Malty and fruity flavor. Kriek like cherry flavor. Well balanced beer. Sweet tasting. Drinkable. Enjoyable.

750ml. Upon realease of cage, cork shot up off the ceiling like a cannon shot, and the foam began to gush. Orange, clear, huge tan head. Very fruity aroma, musty, with a slight kriek-like touch of sour cherry. Very fruity and malty, with a slight cherry tartness. A little sticky, but balanced by slight tartness. Not sure how old this was, but it was rather interesting even though it may not have been intended this way.

Dark copper color, subtle and smooth flavor, with emphais on that classic Belgian profile of banana and cloves, maybe some plum and chocolate. Sweet. A thing of beauty.

Wonderful, luscious nose, with artichoke, lemon, chives. Pours a very thick, foamy head, very creamy in the mouth. Flavor is subtle and smooth; bit of banana, cloves, some wheat perhaps. Very refreshing when cold but not overwhelming warm like many belguims.