De Dolle Arabier

Brewed by De Dolle Brouwers
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Diksmuide, Belgium

[Enjoyed 3.18.08] Be careful when opening...(even when chilled): Cloudy golden/straw with a lively huge frothy head that sticks around. Very fruity fragrant aroma with notes of citrus, fresh cut pineapple, lots of mango and some yeast. Little too lively in the mouthful. Excellent flavor, perfectly accentuated malt and yeast. Like a meatier/nuttier version of Orval. Slightly cheesy finish. Very delicate, like many Trappist brews. Very very long bitter, yeasty funky aftertaste. Reminds me of Westvleteren Blonde but drier. This stuff is fantastic. 8.5.9.4.17 [Rerate - 4.17.09 ] Pours a murky orange with a huge billowing white sudsy head 4.5. Sweet fruity aroma, citrus, oranges and cream, yeasty. Sweet yeasty first taste, decent amount of citrus, candi sugar, some pineapple, decently bitter, lots of hops, slightly cheesy. Long yeasty bitter and candi sugar sweet aftertaste. Some noticeable alcohol. Really a great beer. Medium bodied, great fluffy carbonation 4.5. 8.4.8.4.17

Dark gold with small yeasties, monster rocky white head (great lacing). Nose held complex notes of funked lemon meringue and musty peppered bread crumbs. Fruity peppery yeast-like flavors round to a soft hoppy finish. Medium bodied, lively carbonation, bittersweet finish. Underrated in my opinion. Great stuff…

33 cl bottle from Monument in Concord, CA. Orange golden color with champagne bubbles and a frothy white head. Aromas of spice and light stone fruit. Flavor of yeast and floral hop. Amazingly bitter. Alternates with lightly sweet breadiness. Finishes neither dry nor bitter. It’s like every sip is up with bitter and then down with a light spicy sweetness. Very light background of earthy funk. After most flavor drains away, there is something like noble hop. Maybe each sip starts with a hint of cola. I don’t know that it’s complex, but it seems quite variable. The mouthfeel is quite lightly bubbly with near medium body. What a drink. Puts the ale into ale.

Cloudy yellow-orange color with huge head that rises over the glass without spilling. Huge yeast aroma with spice. Huge yeast taste. Bitter, tongue curling, eye squinting, acidic, dry finish. Obscured by Yeast.

Gusher but pours cloudy tan with a giant ice cream float head. Nose is kind of messy - yeast, fruit, caramel, lemon, sweet malt. Flavor is buttery malt, yeast, some spice, honey, apples. Warming alcohol in the finish.

Clear and golden with an out-of-control head and tons of heady lacing. Gorgeous aromas are unbelievably yeasty and champagne-like. Wow. Bright acidity and phenomenal hops. Some grass, hay, and woodsy flavors. Really delicate. Chalky, dry malts on the finish. I totally enjoyed this.

Pours hazy gold with thick white head. Aroma of light spice, yeast and grass. Flavor is smooth, earthy with spice.

Bottle from my lady friend. Pours hazy gold with voluminous white head. So voluminous that it took almost 10 minutes for it to fade enough to the point where I could start drinking it. Plenty of lacing from this one too, certainly deserving of a 5. Aroma is decidedly Belgian, with coriander, yeast, and hay jumping out first. Also got a whiff of those earthy hops that people keep alluding too. Taste features the hops more prominently methinks, very earthy. Also get the hay again along with some spices. Sticky mouthfeel with a slightly bitter and yeasty finish.