De Dolle Speciaal Brouwsel 20

Formerly brewed at De Dolle Brouwers
Style: Sour Ale
Diksmuide, Belgium

Wow. Light hazy brown-red. Nose yeasty and funky, good sourness. Flavor very sour but not overpowering, interesting woodiness as well. Fruit is there, some orange and cherry, loads of yeastiness. Pretty damn good stuff.

2000 bottle @ the DC/VA/MD gathering compliments of Herftydrf (thanks Andre, this was quite a treat!). Even though I took the bottle in my car, on the airplane, then back in the car, then proceeded to drop it on the concrete the day of the gathering (still can’t believe it didnt break), and finally walked 13 blocks carrying it to the gathering, it still did not explode or gush or anything like that when I opened it. Just a bit of foam and then that was it. A real testament to the quality of De Dolle’s brewing. A lovely ruddy amber, with some dark browns, rusty oranges, plenty of sediment, great amount of foamy white head with little yellow flecks in it. Aroma of strong belgian yeast, just what you’d expect from De Dolle, though it seems like more of a trappist strain. Lightly sour raspberries, oranges, creme brulee and light wood notes, intertwined with soft caramel and cherry malt notes. Very pleasant, well-integrated and restrained nose. Flavor is nothing like I was expecting. Soft and malty up front, with a good candi sugar, honey sweetness followed by the fruit esters. The sourness comes towards the end, mixing with a delightfully warming alchol sensation, some dry old wood, lightly oily and a moderate dose of vinegar. But all in all, it’s nowhere near as acidic as I was expecting. The yeast is very dominant, but the yeast and sweet malt, with the dark candi sugar give it more of a Belgian Dark Strong feel at the start. Regardless, it dries out, has some good wood and vinegar notes and ends pleasingly tart. Fine stuff, and well balanced if perhaps a bit too sweet up front. This thing’s got plenty more years of aging in it (not surprisingly).

Havent updated my notes, but my score is where I feel it should. Will add my notes soon.

Orange Leather. Aroma of butter toffee, red licorice, vinegar, caramel, candy sugars, wet oak, apples and wine stained wood. Funky, complex flavor. Strong De Dolle character (I can say that now since I’ve had all but one.) Juicy fruitiness (pear, plum, green apples), wood and a touch of sourness. A very good beer but it wasn’t everyhing I was hoping it would be. Thanks Ernest.

Poured a hazy, reddish, copper color with a small off white head with large bubbles, but it did leave nice lacing on the glass. Sweet cherry, apple and a light brett aroma. More tart cherry and apple skins in the taste, lightly spiced notes with a soft mouthfeel, and moderate carbonation. A very nice Flemish Sour.

Outstanding beer with a light hazy orange-amber color and with a very lively creamy head. Great fresh nose with hints of sour fruits, crumblecake, greek yoghurt, top quality aceto balsamico some malty aroma’s and hints of fresh milkbread. The taste is medium round with a good balance between sweet and sour. It has a refreshing mouthfeel and a very exotic taste. In the mouth you have touches of dried apricots, (kwarktaart)=cheesecake some Gueuze like accents, orange marmalade that give some bitterness and a touch of wet blank wood. It has a fine refreshing afthertaste with a little greeny bitterness in the end.

75cl bottle at Hopleaf, Chicago($20), opened without incident this time! Rocky white head, color is that of oxidized copper. Sour, acid, musty nose. Nice funky sour beer, but not overwhelmingly so...classic suggestion of sweet & sour in the finish that goes on...lace coated glass. This is an awesome Flemish sour, wish it wasn’t so rare! Even Laura loves it!

Holy smokes am I loving these sour beers. This one was an emergency pour that I lost the notes for. Glad I found them now though, and so since it is being entered out of order I am fallling in to the trap of choosing something special to enter for a ’landmark’ rating #300. My good friend radiomgb called me with mild panic in his voice: The cork is lifting on this beer I traded for - you gotta get over here soon. Turns out when we opened it it could have lasted for a few months without a problem, but you can’t take that chance. And boy was it worth the drive.

Gorgeous honey amber brown with subtley sweet woody vinegar and tart cherry aromas being released by the significant carbonation. Big creamy smooth mouthfeel with powerful vinegar and sour cherries flavours. Lingers forever leaving a what-the-hell-just-happened-and-why-is-it-gone-so- sour taste in your mouth.

Bottle pours a dull amber, large foamy off-white head, agressive carbonation, with very sticky lacing.   Aroma is to die for, woody, tart cherries, and vinegar.   Flavor is wonderful, forwardly sour, with robust notes of oak, sour cherries, and vinegar.   Exceptional body, wonderful mouthfeel.   Carbonation is a bit much, *BURP*, but hopefully that means this beer is built to last.   Finish goes on for quite a while, rather dry too.   Lingering oak and vinegar with that ever present cherry tartness make this beer fantastic!   Thanks to Matt Bonney of Bottleworks for this fine Birthday gift.