De Dolle Oerbier Special Reserva

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

2006 Bottle. Very nice wine aroma with a touch of caramel and green apple. The flavor is a superb combination of caramel malt, red wine, and sourness. It is extremely effervescent with little trace of the 13% alcohol (perhaps the smoothest I have tried at this ABV). A terrific beer!

Vintage 2006, from the bottle @ Kerstbier Fest - Essen. Nose of oak, caramel and fruit. Tart, oaky caramel flavors. Barleywine like, but with a dry, sour finish. At 13%, alcohol was well hidden.

I’ve never tasted a better marriage of spices, sweetness, complexity and maltyness in a beer. Many vinous notes throughout the entire beer, from nose to swallow. The alcohol presents itself as a beautiful flavour enhancer instead of a burning or warming character; it draws on the sourness. The beer drinks like a sour. Super crisp and super tart with the alcohol hidden underneath, pressing the flavours onto your tongue. Apples, sour cherries, corriander, nutmeg and more apples. Pours a wonderful ruby-gold that is muddy like thick apple cider, and it has tiny starlets of sediment floating throughout. I can’t think of anything I’ve had that came close to this flavour monster, and all the flavours are done to perfection. My new favorite (of course, since it costs $6 a bottle).

Rating #200 - ’02 bottle shared with TChrome, thanks TAD. Slightly cloudy deep brown with a large bubbly head that quickly fades to a scant covering. Sweet, fruity nose with hints a caramel. Light mouthfeel, tingly carbonation. Flavor is very different than the nose. Not sweet at all. Very tart and astringent, but in a good way – almost lemonade-like. Somewhat hot, alcohol finish.

Vintage 2005, 330mL bottle. Poured in a Chimay Glass. Pours deep dark brown. Big creamy foam of the color of toasted oat cereal. Lovely sweet aroma of deep rich molasses. Large notes of rich barrel aged vinous Port Wine. Date, cherry, and port. Flavor has an immediate tartness to it. Not a very strong acidity, but a medium tartness. Heavy bodied malt character. Very well balanced. Clean, smooth, tiny carbonation. Great beer to just sit in a soft chair and sip, sip, sip away. Finishes a bit woody. Modest alcohol presence although the ABV is higher than average. A+ (Rating #999)

Extremamente complexa! 13º de álcool, mas parece que tem, no máximo, uns 9º. Aroma e sabor de uvas tintas, madeira bem evidente e floral. Senti cortiça. Seca. Radical. Única. Ótima.

2006 bottle; poure a ruby-brown with an off white head. Aroma was sour, oaky, dark fruit and cherry. Initially the flavor was quite sour. However, that dissipated throughout. Very soft on the palate, almost watery. Blend of dark fruit, cherry, oak, chocolate, and vanilla in the flavor. Alcohol was noticable, but not overly strong, given that it is 13%. I thought this was very good, but can see how others woul find it exceptional.

A very special beer. My first time drinking it and I’m blown away. So many flavours in the nose but not as complicated to drink. Strong, a real night finisher. A sipping beer, and so it should be. When I learn how to waffle bollocks so you know this is a special beer I’ll be back to spread the word. I really need to drink this and rate it again. I had to register my thoughts so I can hunt this down. Very very good. Strong. Sips take their toll at this late hour. Everyone should like this. Should get young children off to sleep. Do not give it to teenagers. It’ll be downed in one every time and before you know it, BAM new carpet. Watch your fucking kids Neal-o