De Dolle Oerbier

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

Wonderful earthy aroma with hints of plum, tart cherries, candy and brown sugars and chocolate. Pour is decidedly big-headed... massive frothy tan head covers a deep brown body. Flavor is wonderful. Almost like a chocolate-covered cherry in its mixture of heavy sweet malt tones and the tart fruitiness that lies underneath, blended to perfection. There is no deception here and what you smell is very similar to what you get.

Not that De Dolle’s Oerbier doesn’t deserve a praiseful preamble, but being a rather complicated beer in itself, a conversely simple review reflects the simple nature of its excellence. That said, Oerbier begins with an exciting and dynamic pour, the rich brown liquid flickers of chestnut red highlights and its massive bisque-colored head puffs up such that the assemblage resembles a billowing marshmallow over the fire. The aroma is a magical blend of sweet fruits, spices, flowery and malty tones tickling the nose down to the tastebuds. Cherries, prunes, apple, hazelnut and banana flow into scents of vanilla, cinnamon and cardamom laced with a soapy lavender and rose mixture which itself brings forth the deep coffee, brown sugar, Burgundy and chocolate background. The complexity is astounding. Coffee and dark chocolate are at first apparent on the tongue, but estery bubble gum follows and liberates a flood of flavors ranging across the bitter, sour and sweet, all at once. Explosive. Brown sugar reverberates the buttery malts while ginger, clove and coriander entertain the almond and alcohol notes themselves ambuscaded by orange syrup. My tongue performs contortionistic tricks and my brain no less, trying to process the onslaught; but as the long dry finish unfolds sequential flavors of coffee beans softening to cherries and finally coconut, all I can think is "Wow". This brew is full of surprises, especially in its distinct sourness that seems so suddenly appropriate. As it warms the particularly present spices attenuate to form a progressively smoother palate. As I said, beyond complicated, this is a very simply excellent beer.

It is impossible, I feel, to judge a good quality beer adequately if one has only tried it once. And absurd to even attempt to do it. But when will I be able to taste this again?

Apperance: opaque, dark brown, beige head.
Aroma: malt, apple, wort, banana, vinegar esters.
Flavor: bitter, burnt, rich, fantastic, some sweetness, sourish.
Palate: fizzy, thick.

Pours dark muddy brown w/ a full spritzy froth that reduces quickly to a ring. Aroma is sharp malted fruit basket. Medium nectar w/ ample residual effers. Flavors are strong and tangy w/ fruit, slight coffee, and earth. Dried weather beaten apricot, peach, plums, cherries, chewing tobacco, raisons. The finish is long and very fruity. A very complex brew with a slight tartness. Not a trace of alcohol. As it warms the flavors really start to show. Try port wine, Recioto delle Valpolicello, casis, cherry, dark chcolate. Amazing! The connoisseur would love this one. Put it on your list.

33 cl. bottle from Total Beverage. Drank on 7/11/06. Bottle conditioned. Nice and clear. Deep amber, almost red, a little brown. HUGE chunky, rocky tan head. 3-4" - I had to pour like 4 times. Drops relatively slowly to a big, thick layer of foam. Decent lacing. Aroma - Big hit of orangy citrus. Alcohol. Almost a red wine like aroma. Also a little sourness. Almost berries, cherries, and plums. Flavor - Sharp carbonation up front. A little sour and kind of watery on the tongue. After the swallow is very complex - some sour, citrus (orange), alcohol warmth and flavor, some wine-like tartness, and a really dry finish. Palate - high level of carb. Light, almost watery body, carb. is sparkly and dances on the tongue. Overall - A very interesting beer. It’s not great like a Rochefort 10, but it is really good and very different. Light in body for how complex and high in alcohol it is. Would definitely try this one again. The sourness is really interesting - lightly sour.

8/1/06: Bottle.
Rich ruby brown body . Head is a toasted almond color and is creamy. Nose is packed with malt and fruit (plum). Flavor is malty with caramel and fruit (plum, dates). Finish is creamy.

bottle from 5 points in athens, ga. poured an opaue mahogany brown with a creamy beige head that didnt stick around too long. aroma of malts, plums, raisins. taste is of plums, nuts, and is quite mild with an excellent chocolate finish. a very good beer.