<b>Objectively speaking:</b> An interesting take on a dubbel with solid malt extraction, controlled spiciness, but not quite the authentic texture and a rather timid yeast character. <br /> <b>I like:</b> Fair malt complexity &#40;milk chocolate, grapes, prunes, toffee, caramel&#41;. Concealed alcohol. Restrained use of spices. I would have it again. <br /> <b>I dislike:</b> Vague bready yeastiness does not go very far. Caramelly sweetness rapidly takes the flavour lead and does not meet a match &#40;acidity, decadence or bitterness&#41; to balance it out. Completely clear appearance, but the generous head compensates. Not too aromatic.

<i>Side by side comparison between the 15-month old Double and its newest incarnation, 1er Anniversaire:</i><br /> -Both are decorated by a thin ring of foam atop the misty orangey cardinal.<br /> -The Double’s nose is much more expressive and alluring, proffering loads of candied fruit &#40;apricot jelly?&#41;, whereas the younger version is discreet in its fruity sweetness.<br /> -The mouthfeel in both versions is lusciously oily, massaging the tastebuds, one of the beer’s most pleasant characteristics, imho.<br /> -Caramel envelops the rich esters in both glasses, and perhaps the 1er Anniversaire leans towards raisins a tiny bit more.<br /> -The end result is that the Double wins by a nose for me &#40;3.6 vs 3.4&#41;, although the 1er Anniversaire might develop similar characteristics a year from now.<br /> <br /> <b>Both on tap at the brewery.</b>

500 ml bottle from Métro Joannette, Verdun QC &#40;May 2007&#41; served at cellar temperature from a Corsendonk Christmas Ale glass. A huge, smooth puffy light tan head decays slowly, leaving fine spidery lacing atop the burnished brass liquid.....lots of spicing in the nose: coriander, orange zest, ginger and a bit of vanilla coexisting nicely with thick caramel and dry, lightly funky Belgian yeast....the body, likewise, is a delicate balance between strong spicing and drying, slightly bitter yeast character and a thick sweetness that is kept in check throughout but remains slightly dominant....the mouthfeel, soft but strong; never feeling delicate, but not overbearing in its thick glossiness either...peppery finish, moderate to strong carbonation....can’t say this is exactly exciting, but it does everything basically right and makes for a solid mainstream example of the style I’d say.

Tulip at La Dame-Jeanne with Olivier, on 9/28/07<br />Is this an abbey dubbel? I guess they had me fooled. I thought a few things over the course of the beer. A brown ale? A scotch ale? I don’t know. It didn’t taste very Belgian, most likely due to a fair amount of DMS in both aroma &#40;baked beans, light veggies&#41; and flavor &#40;sweet veggies&#41;. I just haven’t had any luck with this brewery, which I hear is actually quite good. Medium amount of beige head tops the dark ruby-mahogany brown body. Medium clarity, little/no lacing, average retention. I will say that the malts are well extracted and supple, if somewhat underattenuated. Mostly caramel sweetness up front ending on a breadiness that builds up on the palate. Fruitiness is ripe and promising, but in the end, I think it just The mouthfeel is definitely the best part of the beer, but if this is supposed to Belgian, than that’s kind of scary. Alcohol is well-concealed, medium carbonation.

A deep reddish brown ale with a thick light moka head. A very fruity punch aroma with notes of maple, apples, and alcohol. In mouth, a very sweet sugar candy, with cinnamon notes, nutmeg, and light almonds. Rich bodied. Boght at Marche des saveurs, 5.25$ for 500 mL.<br />Earlier Rating: 1/23/2008 Total Score: 2.9<br />A beautiful chestnut amber ale with a thick off white head. Aroma of musty yeast, dark fruits, like prunes, caramel and fusel alcohol. In mouth, an overly sweet beer, with loads of residual sugars which remain long in mouth, some yeasty notes, coriander, and pepper and warming alcohol. Medium bodied. The sweetness is really a put off for me. Way too expansive at 5.99$.