Bottleworks Van den Vern Grand Cru

Brewed by De Proefbrouwerij
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Lochristi, Belgium

Pours burnt orange. Nose is tart fruit, cherries, plum, grapes, some burnt caramel. Flavor is yeast, tat fruits, some funk, sweet fruity esters, toffee.

330 mL bottle picked up at Bottleworks. Bottled 2004. Pours a murky brown with bit of a red hue mixed in. Lots a small bubbles form close together along the sides and bottom of the cup. Also has some bottle conditioning sediment. Nose is heavy with candy apple suckers and dark fruits. Also has a slight yeastyness to it. Entry is very sweet with candy, light cinnamon, a bit of french oak, caramel, dry chardonnay. Mouth is light with a slight syrupiness to it. Alcohol comes through a little stronger towards the end. Pretty flat in carbonation.

Courtesy fogdog. 2004 vintage. Pours a hazy, brownish-red color with a foamy tan head. Minimal, spotty lacing marks the glass. The aroma shows figs, fermented dark fruit, caramelized tart apples, mild chocolate malt, and hints of molasses. Some bready yeast comes through as well. Flavors follow along the same lines, caramel and dark fruits being accompanied by a mild roastiness. Raisin and fig play big roles. Mostly sweet, with hints of balancing earth. Medium-plus on the palate, smooth, finishing with lingering fruity notes. Solid brew.

C&PLYFOTD: Bottle, courtesy fogdog. Dark brass pour, some frothy head and lacing. Some tart elements in the nose, cherries, chocolate, and some licorice. Flavor is full of caramel, chocolate, and delicious sweet fruits. Full-bodied, extremely good, balanced and quite drinkable.

Bottle 2004 vintage Pours out a nice copper/red untill I dumped all the yeast in and then the glass got pretty cloudy. Aroma of sweet pit fruit and belg yeast. Tast was still sweet along with some fruit. No way you could pick out the 9.8% ABV.

Didn’t realize when I bought this that it was a 2004 vintage! Ruby bronze color, with a thick pillowy head, and great lacing. Sweet-tart aroma, with notes of caramel, balsamic vinegar, plums, dates and green grapes. Some brown sugar, as well. Tons of sweet malts in the flavor cover up the nearly 10% extremely well. Just a touch of tartness, countered by some molasses and the dark fruits from the aroma. The grapes really come through toward the end. Almost drinks like a red wine with a light carbonation. Interesting brew at a bargain price!

Beautiful dark copper color with great lacing. Caramel aroma with just the tiniest hint of funk. Sweet entry, preserved fruits, with a finish that dries out. No real funk in the flavor. Still, nice.