De Arend Patrasche Bruin

33cl bottle at home: pretty clear deep cherry wood color brew with fading creamy tan head. Aromas of dried cherries, raisins, and some cocoa. Pretty sweet. Some earthyness, perhaps in the cocoa. Slight green bark in the background. CO2 sting as the beer passes over the tongue. Deep rooted herbal bite rides on the CO2 before malt and mixed fruit come in. Toffee notes in the middle. Some burnt caramel intermingles with dates, figs and prunes. Finishes with cocoa powder, herbs and again a green herbal bitterness. Hot alcohol flares up on the end.

Bottled. Aroma is fruity, caramel malty, some bouillon. Hazy, brown coloured with a lastingmshort, off-white head. Taste is sweet, bit hoppy, but mostly caramel malty with some raisin. Nice brew.

Bottled. Hazy brownish color, short head. Aroma of some fruit, cherry, caramel malt, hint of hop. Slight bitter taste, but most of all malty, slight fruity, hint of raisin. Ok stuff.

Milk chocolate, ice cream, malted milk, and a bit of raisins in the nose. earthy bitterness throughout the duration with semi sweet chocolate, more malted milk, toffee, dates and cream. Soft creamy coco finish with some mild bitterness at the edge of the tongue.

This was described to me as how Westmalle Dubble used to taste by the owner of the Belgian Beer pub I sometimes go to. I am a big fan of Westmalled Dubble, especially compared to the tripel. This was spot on. Excellent nose that reminded me of walking into Dairy Queen and ordering a Banana Sundae, complete with milk chocolate, cherries, caramel and of course bananas. The mouth didn’t fail to deliver what the nosed promised. Smooth milk chocolate finish.