De Dolle Oerbier Special Reserva

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

A hazy dark amber beer with a fine head. The aroma is sweet malty with hints of sourness. The flavor is sweet and sour, malty and very complex - with the alcohol completely hidden. A truly amazing beer. Thanks a lot to Jeppe (BierKöning) for sharing this one with me.

(Bottle 33 cl) Pours a clear, amber golden with a yellowish/brownish, creamy head. Incredibly complex aroma of wood, overripe fruit and then tartnes - like what you find in a Flemish Sour. Surprisingly - considering the 13% alcohol - the body only comes out as medium, that alcohol is really well hidden. Distinct flavours of wod and overripe fruit - some sherry perhaps - but distinctly sourish. Incredibly delicate and refined. 191206

Bottled. Hazy nut brown, lively creamy head. Vinous, woody and tart. Medium bodied with lightly toffeeish malt. Cherryish finish. Has dry white wine qualities.

33 cL bottle. Pours dark brown with a crispy light brown and quickly disappearing head. Raisin sweet aroma, with a citric note and a mild malt presence. Sweet then dry and finally sour flavoured. Vague malt base beneath. Dry sour long into the finish. Very nice.

Bottle 2005 @ Kerstbierfestival 2006 in Essen, BE. Hazy dark amber color with off-white head. Aroma is alcohol, yeast, fruit (apple) wood and some sourness. Flavor is moderate sweet and bitter with a long duration. Very complex a nice ..

Bottle. Sherry/mead aroma. Dark brown colour, no head. Slighty sour, sherry-like flavour. Semi-sweet. Sour/acidic aftertaste. 9 3 7 3 15

Bottle at EsBF09. Good sour aroma, citric and slightly lactic. Cloudy red brown colour. Very small head. Good citric flavour, lactic but nicely sweet. Good barrel vanilla note, quite subtle. Sour raisin. 9 4 9 4 20

Bottled (13%, 2005 version). Thanks goes to GarethYoung for this bottle, which I decided to share with rsmeds on his marriageday. Dark cloudy syrupyish reddish/brown colour with huge beige creamy head. The aroma is grapes, alcohol and sour fruits. Flavour is quite the same, along with some grassy notes on the tip of the tongue. Also lots of cocoa to be found behind the sourness once it gets warmer. The burps you burp after this also taste like cocoa or milk chocolate. Overall an extremely complex beer, which probably ages well and might make it a bit smoother.

Bottled. Hazy orange coloured with a small beige head. Acidic aroma of spices, wood and dried fruits. Acidic and woody flavour with notes of dried fruits. Interesting.