De Dolle Arabier

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

Poured a slightly hazy pale straw color with a huge rocky head that lasted the length of the beer. Has many of the same aromas and tastes of a saison but with hops being the lead role. Very herbal and woodsy, the hop character stands out both in the beginning and in the finish. A light to medium bodied malty palate could be a little heavier to balance to hop bitterness. I like hoppy beers, though this one just seemed rough.

Pours deep-golden with a light haze (foggy late), steady carbonation and a large, white head that settles rocky. Yeasty aroma with banana, tart cherry, sweaty old gym shoes and a touch of candi. Fluffy mouthfeel, dry and slightly metallic with some syrupy sweetness to finish after dominant fruity, yeasty flavors throughout. Flavors greatly improve as it rises above cellar temp.

<font size=-4>Single bottle purchase from <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/illinois/chicag Wine & Spirits, Chicago, IL 60614<font size=-1>

This is what a Belgian strong should look like ... a rocky head like a well baked meringue, over a cloudy orange body, vanishes, leaving lace up the glass and down the sides of the bottle. Mouth is astringent, dry, cedary. Taste is sour, hoppy, citric, funky, spicey, wood, and hoppy, like a funky hoppy version of a Belgian Saison. I loved the spicey bite and the astringent finish.

33 cL bottle. Pours straw, hay yellow with a creamy white head and sticky lacing. Aroma is floral and fruity yeast (grassy), malt (cereal) and citrus notes, banana. Medium bitterness and acidity, yeast and malt earthy flavor, straw and hay, woodsy, cellar notes. Medium bodied and creamy-fizzy palate.

Slightly hazy yellow and a HUUUGE white head. As the head falls slowly and beautifully, it leaves the most perfect lace. 10 out of 5 for appearance here. Aroma is sweeter and more bubblegum like than other De Dolle beers, not unlike a triple from sane brewers. Flavour is sweet, full, spicy - pepper and some grapefruit. Lasting bitter finish.

Bad sample. Cap had mold, never seen anything like this before. Aroma of mandarins, pepper, tomato and vodka. Reminds me of bloody ceasar. Still, I decided to give it a try. Decent head, big bubbles, low retention. Flavor is strong alcohol (vodka), very bitter shows age, very bad. Average body... Finished in the sink. Nevertheless, I will give it another try.

Bottle. Opened with a big pfffttt and a bit of a gush. Poured A nice amber color with a reddish hue and a big rocky off-white head. Nice complex aroma of sweet caramel maltiness, some funky sourness and ripe fruit. Incredibly complex flavor. Some earthy sweetness that fades into a well spiced sour hop bitterness. Lots of tingly carbonation on the tounge, somewhat thin body and a dry finish not unlike Orval with a small alcohol burn.

11.6 oz bottle. Hazy yellow pour, lots of particles. Huge foamy white head, decreases rapidly into a rocky coat that never really leaves. Very pungent aroma, somewhat cider or gueuze like. Yeasty and fruity notes, too. Thick lace. Flavor is unexpected - a bit bready and grainy. Spices really make a showing, creating a somewhat woody flavor, somewhat tart. The finish is spicy and dry, a bit peppery. Very nice beer, another wonderfully odd beer from De Dolle!