De Dolle Oerbier Special Reserva

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

Bottle. Ruby-reddish borwn in color. Cherry, cork, barleywine like ripe cheese scent. Very dry and quick evaporation off the tongue. Tangy residual lingers on the tongue 10-15 seconds after. High alcohol content noticeable on the roof of my mouth. Excellent cigar beer.

2002 bottle courtesy of Kujo9. Nose is oaky and vinous, wood is more powerful than i smell in most wood aged beers. Bordeaux immediately evident. Also noted bits of candied sugar and figs. A little funky which I like. Flavor is fruity (red grapes, mainly) with alcohol, oak, and a sweet vinegar finish. Carbonation and mouthfeel is lively throughout, almost a little too lively at times. While the heavy does of alcohol is well noted, this is a very drinkable 13% beer and no doubt 5 years of aging in bordeaux casks and in the bottle have done it well. Thrilled to enjoy this rare treat. Big props to Mike for sending this my way!! 2005 bottle from cquiroga. Thanks Chris. This is just as yummy as before. Appearence is dead on perfect this time with a beautiful, cream colored lace atop a dark crimson body. Very oaky, tart, and tannic. I love this beer.

2005 Bottle courtesy of Sprinle: Pours a beautiful brown color with nice beige head. Smell of dried fruit and sugar. Tatse is very simular to a red wine even with the dry aftertase. There is a taste of malt dried fruit. I too tast the reseamble of a flemish sour. Kinda the same vinager aftertaste. I thought the alcohol was well hidden. La toda madre cerveza..... This beer is the Sh%t

2005 bottle. Oh6gdx kindly shared this delight with me on the day before my wedding. Thanks -- I needed that! Very dark syrup-brown colour, with a small but dense, beige head. Almost gueuze-like fermented aroma resembling red wine, with some alcohol and a hint of skunkiness and chocolate. Wow. Sour, yeasty flavor with milk chocolate and grapes. Lovely cocoa aftertaste lingers after sourish bitter finish. Quite complex altogether. Dry, sticky mouthfeel, very full bodied, moderate carbonation. Niiice.

A Mes rate: 33cl 2005 bottle from the Kulminator.
Alcohol, brown sugar and sweet caramel nose with some apple, liquorice and honey and all rounded off with some incredible De Dolle Reserva sourness. Typically superb De Dolle looks. Sweet malts and obvious alcohol in the mouth. Finish has and almost Flemish sour character. Almost balsamic, wonderfully dry and a delicate sourness. Notes of bubblegum too. Superb mouthfeel, almost chewy. Perfectly balanced. Utterly fantastic.

It says 2004 on the label but the cap says bottl 2005 via trade with JCapriotti, thanks Jason. I’m going to be doing a rerate with the regular Oerbier after this one. Pours a cloudy orange brown with a 1 1/2 finger light beige head. Aroma of sour oak, sour cherries, sour grapes--this smells a lot like a lambic up front, something stale and vinous. Flavor is again quite tart with a bit of raisins poking up with a pleasant alcohol warmth--not 13%, mind you. I was afraid the sourness would attack me and be way too strong, and while it was full of flavor, I didn’t feel assaulted. There was also a bit of brown sugar that never had the chance to show any sweetness. Bone dry finish with little bitterness. Low to moderate carbonation with a medium body. I don’t rightfully remember how the regular Oerbier was (I do know I liked it), but I don’t recall it being anything like this. Good stuff.

12 oz bottle via captaincougar (thanks!). She pours a dark brown with a massive chunky beige head. Nose is sour. Taste is sour too. Is this a brett yeast? Tastes like a cross between brett yeast and a Flemish sour Ale. Mostly taste sour cherries and a slight bit of woodiness. It has a tart finish but it is a smooth tart..or is that an oxymoron? Whatever..but it is smooth and tart at the same time. 13.5% abv? Seriously? It is very well-hidden as i detect no heat at all. High carbonation. Medium Body.

2005 bottle. Poured a very dark red body with a generous, lopsided head. Aroma is of funk - sour, horseblanket, yeast. Flavor is slightly sweet, cherry, oak and a touch of sourness to it. Left the mouth craving more (oh what is it about sour beers that make me sad when they are finished?). This was one great beer, glad I found it.