De Dolle Oerbier Special Reserva

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

2005 bottle. Brownish color with a medium off-white head. Aroma has some light sugar and vinous notes with lots of woody/barrel/tartness that is very inviting. Flavor has some nice vinous/wine barrel/oak flavoring with some brown sugar, raisins, and tartness. Smooth, tart, rich feel. Really nice - a quality sourish Belgian strong that is nothing but delicious.

Bottle. Brewed 2006, bottled June, 2007. Fizzy off-white lasting head atop a hazy brown body. Complex set of aromas and flavors. Atop notes of cherry, raisin, plum, grape juice, alcohol and toffee is oak wood. The flavor is moderately acidic and moderately sweet. The finish is moderately sweet and lightly bitter. Flavors of vinegar and wood. Very tart/sour at the end along with alcohol warming. Medium body with a watery, fizzy texture. Lively carbonation. Reminds me of a sour abbey quad because underneath the sour finish are all the flavors of the quad — the overripe fruits, especially.

Ruby-brown with a standard de dolle sized head--large and creamy-- yellow-white, short lived. Tart, sour nose echoes the regular Oerbier, also shows a lot of sweet malt and hints of milk chocolate: odd yet delicious combination, especially with warmth. Flavor continues this combo and is creamy with chocolate while simultaneously spicy and resinous, almost pine-like, rainy. Body is large yet spritzy, quite carbonated in fact. This is an odd beer, even more odd than the original Oerbier, and while I enjoy the uniqueness and complexity, the beer seems a sum of parts, especially the slightly contradictory flavor.

2006 <b>33 cl bottle</b> via trade with <i>laroja</i> - Pours a brown color with a couple small floaties and a good size one finger thick light tan head. Very light lacing. Aroma is lightly tart esters. Flavor is tart esters. Ah crap, another Sour ale. Medium body. I wasn’t expecting the tartness. Oh well, glad I had the chance to try it. Thanks Morgan.

2006 bottle. Thanks Santa. Very murky brown, fluffy light tan head. Nose is tart, slightly acidic yeast, a little bretty lemon (lemonheads), some raisin/grapey malt. Flavor is yeast, sour winey (soapy?) acids, more of that lemonhead brett & raisin. Slightly flemish red-esque malt. A bit oxidized but nice overall.

Brown/red pour with huge white fizzy head. Aroma is of raisins, apples, yeast. Flavor is sweet (raisins, other dark fruits), sour/tart (similar to a sour ale maybe?), and the finish is sour. Very rich and full bodied, very carbonated.

rating #300. Bottle thanks to DrHomolka. Pours dark brown with a dark reddish tint and a tan head. Nose is of cherries. Taste is of tart cherries with a slight hint of oak. Mouthfeel is medium and carbonated with some sourness. Have to say this was pretty good for a sour beer as I am not particularly fond of sour-style beers, but definitely enjoyed this.

06 Bottle thanks to SoLan, you are the man Alan. Poured a deep cola-brown color with a thick, dense off-white head that slowly faded to a layer and left some spotty lacing. Aroma of tart cherry, some light sweet caramel, some vinuous fruit, mostly red grape, and some light oak. Lightly tart, smooth entry with some deep vinuous fruit flavors, again red grape, mingling with some tart citrus flavors and dark cherry. Transitions into a lightly dry fruity finish with some hints of oak and a nice wine character. Low carbonation, smooth on the palate. No sign of 13% alcohol. Very smooth and complex beer. Thanks you Alan, I am sure I owe you some beer.