De Dolle Speciaal Brouwsel 20

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

Thanks to Mes for sharing his sample of this gem. Poured a reddish copper colour. Nose of malt and spice with cherry and wood notes. Vinous yeast and malt flavour, some candy sugar and rasin in there too. Nicely balanced between sweet and sour, lovely.

A Mes rate. Bottle at the Kulminator.
According to Dirk, I managed to prize the last 1981 swing top bottle from his Aladdin’s Cave of a cellar. At some point during drinking this, I realised it was perfect. I spent the rest of the glass savouring it as if it was going to be the last beer I ever had. Each sip left me speechless and staring into space in some sort of zen state. I’ve had this four times. The lowest was was a 4, the previous highest a 4.4 This one however was just perfect. There’s unashamed gushing on the way folks...

The bubbly head died quickly but it’s such an incredible mahogany amber colour it’s a five. The aroma is the most amazing burnt caramel I could ever experience. Vintage port, cognac, fine wine, it’s all there. Amazing cheesy funk to it too. There is a bit of aged alcohol but not a hint of cardboard or anything else that would point to this being twenty eight years old. Flavour... it’s a twelve let alone a ten. Burnt sugar, crème brûlée ice cream, vintage port and surely the most unreal blend of sweet and sour my taste buds will ever experience. It is without doubt the best Flemish Sour I have tasted. There is something odd that I can’t put my finger on. J has offered "minted cassis" and somehow it seems to fit. It sounds wrong but my god, it just tastes so good. Dry yet unbelievably juicy in the finish. It dances round the edge of the palate with effortless abandon. Every sip leaves me struggling to speak. I’m litterally without speech. The blend of sugar and sour is just pant wettingly good. I’ve had most of the bottle and it’s just not enough. The drinkability is completely through the roof. Mouthfeel is even better. I keep having to hold my head in my hands. There is no beating around the bush here. I’m certain that this is the best beer I’ve ever had. The length of sourness is just outlandish. I comes in waves. Just when I think it’s over, there’s another kick that thrills me to the core. Each sip gives a bit more.I can’t believe it. It’s getting better. I have to shut my eyes and think for a few minutes. Everyone at the table went quiet. Even the vibe in the Kulminator was more chilled than usual and fitting for such a moment. The world stopped, it really did. It’s a five. If ever a beer has deserved it, it’s this. I’m not falling onto a hype train here, I’ve had it before, those bottles were utterly superb. This... this is the one. I’ve spent thirty minutes with this divine beauty. I’d happily swap any ten beers from my collection to be able to spend another ten minutes. This is why I rate beer. I have one huge indulgent gulp left...

Only thing better is the original brew from ’81, I think. Smuggle a couple of those home from Kulminator a few years back. I think those could age forever. This anniversary ale was so great to enjoy a few tmes -- I have not seen it in a while.

Crimson beams roll through a deep sunburst orange body. The head looks like cream colored mashed potatoes, reluctant to recede, eventually leaving lacing behind that looks alive and mobile. Simply gorgeous. The aroma signifies elements of gueuze, flemish sour, red wine, sauternes, Belgian countryside, so aromatic and so exhilarating. Sour notes escape the glass first, horseblanket, brettanomyces, wheat, vine fruits and wood following. Light nuances of orange blossoms and leather drizzle outward. A dreamy nose, completed by hearty grain and succulent cherry scents. Alcohol is evident but never the slightest hinderance. The flavor is remarkable as well, sweet and sour and ridiculous in its complexities. Dark fruits roar to a head, sourness is quenching from the fruit and yeast. Earthy yet refined, this is a tribute to old world brewing and modern innovation all at the same time. Light hoppiness is still present, ample bitterness derived from these grapefruit and flowerbed notes. Moderate acidity cuts through bold sweetness and balances the flavor to perfection. Oak is dry and tannic, coercing the cherry notes into submission near the end. Finishes dry and one of the most ultimately complex examples of fermentation I’ve encountered. The palate is perfectly carbonated, crisp and thick, though it feels only medium bodied, an awkward but engrossing combination of effervesence and totality. De Dolle is one amazing brewery. Sweet. Sour. Decadent.

Brickskeller, Wash DC 3/14/05. 750 ml. $23.95. Copper/amber color with large white head. Very pleasant sour aroma. Very good tart/sour / somewhat musty taste. Sharp tang. easily drinkable. Wish I would have gotten a Rodenbach Grand Cru at the same time to compare. Excellent but at the price I probably would say that no matter.

From a 750mL Bottle. Pours the color of honeyed apricots with a full layer of foamy off-white head. Slightly funky aroma of white grape skins and musky cherry tannins. A touch of spicy white pepper and dusty old leather mingle as well. The bouquet is definitely more funky than tart or sour, giving it an interesting musky waxy quality. Light to medim bodied mouthfeel with a big tickling carbonation. Some nice caramel apple cider flavors start off the palate with a smidgen of cinnimon spice. A little bit of vanilla oak supplements the soft apple cider character. Very interesting wild character that has some nice leathery brett characters and green pepper spice going on, but I expected and hoped for quite a bit more sourness. The flavor profile is quite good, but sadly I think this one has aged past its prime. Its easy to see the potential that must have once been there, but no longer. Thanks for the great experience, Dr. Bill!

Thanks to EDA for pouring this at the Captain Lawrence gathering - light strawberry blonde pour, with a huge, foamy head - yeasty, semi-tart aroma of (very) overripe apples and pears - this beer isn’t as much tart as it is acidic, much like the fruits present in the aroma - the sourness is quite mild, especially for a flemish sour with so much age on it - a slight citrus quality couples with the rather mild tart/sour character pretty well - a hint of white wine, tannic flavors near the end, that wash out a very faint apple sweetness - good, but I was expecting amazing.

Thanks to eyedrinkale for this beer at the captain lawrence RB gathering! A lush head with a dark, coppery=hued body. The aroma is highly cellared and musty. For a Flemish Sour, this beer is very mild on the tartness/sourness factor. Pretty good overall, and pairs perfectly with cheese. Somewhat fruity (pears and apples) aroma, with a strong malt presence. Interesting and good.