De Dolle Oerbier Special Reserva

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

Rated 11/17/2008 (labeled 2007, bottle marked 2008-13%): Pours a very cloudy, very dark reddish brown body. Big pillowy creamy light tan head. Good lacing, and lasting, leaving a nice lacing. Very floral aroma, perfumy, dark fruit, plum, dark grape. Spices too, not a very heavy aroma. Sour, apples and pears. Watery palate. Sweet, light fruit, slightly acidic. Carbonated and drying in the mouth.Fruity and hides the alcohol well. Tart.

’08 Bottling. Been wanting to try this for a while now. Pours a dark reddish brown in color. There’s a nice frothy half inch of head sitting atop and sticking around for some time. Smell is caramel, toffee and some tart/sourness. Taste is much more sour than I was expecting and I love it. What a pleasant surprise. Very nice light fruit flavor with a huge amount of tartness. Mouthfeel is full and creamy with the perfect amount of carbonation to match the tartness. There is absolutely, positively no sign of the alcohol which makes this beer even better. Amazing. I want to pick up some more, but for $9 a 11oz bottle, I’m going to have to think about it.

2007. The aroma is sour and sweet. There is brown sugar, grain, sour fruit, and yeast. The appearance is orange brown with a nice head. The flavor is like the aroma but I am not a fan. The palate is smooth but thin. Overall not one I want again.

tart with some major malts and some wood, look full of flavor, it works if you like sourness. Alcohol is strong but it is hidden.

330ml Bottle (2007 Vintage, Bottled 2008): Very tart aroma of wood, tart fruit, tart cherries, light sour grapes, caramel, and oak. Poured brown with a hint of amber in color and a medium-sized, tan head that lasted throughout. Cloudy. Opaque. Some small particles. Flavor is very tart and sour. Tastes of tart fruits, oak, wood, sour grapes, tart cherries, caramel, light chocolate, and yeast. Medium body. Tingly, then chalky texture. Lively carbonation. Super tart, woody, finish sucks all the moisture out of your mouth (really damn dry) and leaves it chalky. Absolutely no hint of the 13%ABV. This beer is dangerously drinkable.

2007. Pours a beautiful deep ruby copper with a rich, long lasting, elegantly lacing beige head. The aroma is potently acidic and acetic with strong vinegar and oak notes. Lots of berries and cherries with other dark fruits, some chocolate, and some funk. The flavor is astounding. Potent fresh, tart cherries meld with decadent bittersweet chocolate. Acidic lemon and cranberry lend a helping hand to the strong, acidic, but not overbearing vinegar. The finish is long, bright, dry, and clean. I tried this without knowing the ABV, and there is no way this is 13%. I would’ve presumed 7 max. This is really an unbelievable treat. This should not be passed up. Mad props to new school European brewers taking a fresh approach to old school styles and techniques. Love it love it love it.

2006: Gusher! Pours deep garnet with a huge bubbly head that settles to a thin pillow, light lacing. Aroma is awesome, lots of bret with a solid molasses/woody backdrop. Flavor begins with lots of bret funkiness, moving slowly to bread dough, dark fruit, cherry stems, and a barely detectable alcohol note. Fantastic stuff. Now I just need to find some more!

Woah. This is extreme. The aroma is very oaky with hints of sour cherry. Flavor is extremely oaky. Like chewing on a freaking piece of wood. There’s some tart cherry and some brown sugar trying to fight its way to the front but it’s not really winning the battle. This is an example of wood overpowering a beer. This is still plenty enjoyable and rather unique though.