De Dolle Oerbier Special Reserva

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

2006 version. Cloudy amber, brown, rust colored, thin wispy head. Aroma of malts, cask, pear with hints of cherry, vanilla, and others. Luscious malt complexities throughout, big acetic, sourish, vinous blast but that malt sweetness keeps it under control. Alcohol nowhere in the picture, not sure how that works at 13%. Could have a bit more body but screw it.l If you consider yourself a conisseuer of fine beer, especially belgiums, you are missing out if you havent had this.

11.2 oz. 2006 bottle poured into a Trappist glass has a dark muddy brown color with a thick layer of tan head leaving a pillow on the surface. aroma of malt, grape skins, champagne, oak, some sour fruit, and cherry. taste is mid range in body but just fills the mouth from the frothing carbonation. sour twang with some grape skin acid drying out to finish sour with malted body and wood. quite full in flavor and the wood really gives it a nice core without being smoky at all. there is something to be said for the balance of wood, sweetness, and sour here as it was done perfectly and the alcohol is hardly noticeable until you go looking for it. a very good beer that without rate beer top lists i would have never found.

(3/4/08) Bottle at Kulminator in Antwerp. 2004 bottle. Dark reddish amber with a medium stable beige head and beautiful carbonation. Wonderful aroma of wood, malt, some caramel, some pleasant soft fruitiness and light spicy hints. Sweetish flavor with malt, some fruits (cherries, berries) and very nice oak sourness. Medium to full body. Really balanced with almost no alcohol presence. Very complex and quite amazing.

2005 vintage. Pours a deep brown rusty orange with a medium beige head. Aroma of sourness, oak, cherries, yeast and tangy citrus. Taste of sour oak, cherries, tangy citrus with a warming alcohol presence. Alcohol very well hidden.

Metalic notes on the nose, but after that, pure bliss. Great sourness counter balanced by a great sweet flavor. Just enought alcohol to do it justice. Dont know why I waited so long to try it.

2004 bottle from dmac. Pours deep red with some tan colored head. Complex nose of oak, brett, tannins, cooked sugar, and a little bit of a citrus mix. Decidedly sour and oaky, with a grapefruit finish. Medium body. High carbonation. Dry, tart, tannic, finish. Worth the wait for sure.

2006 bottle from Wine Warehouse in Charlottesville. Pours a cranberry color with an off-white small and persistent head with a little bit of lacing. Nice aroma of yeast, a citrus tang and butterscotch. Sour but smooth taste. Citrus, cherries, buttery finish. You definitely can’t tell this is 13%. Damn, 13%? Good night!

Pours a dark reddish brown with very light head (note - I didn’t pour it very well). Can’t smell much, still getting over sickness, but really wanted to drink this, so I am. Taste is sour cherries, oak/wood, berries, hint of citrus. This was waaaaaaaaaaaay different than I was expecting. I don’t know why, but I expected something more like Brasserie des Rocs Grand Cru. I thought this tasted more like a beefed up, 13% version of Supplication.....and I love me some Supplication. Would never have guessed that this beer was 10+% ABV, hides the alcohol incredibly well. If I was rich, I’d drink this on the regular. Paid $7/bottle. This is my first De Dolle beer and I am highly impressed.