De Dolle Speciaal Brouwsel 20

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

Bottle: Courtesy of the artist formerly known as wolhfs. Big yeasty aroma with some light tart cherry and a hint of chocolate. Pours a hazy amber with small white head. Light sour cherry with lots of yeastiness in teh middle. Finish is lighlty smokey and woody. Solid, but suprised but some of the high ratings as there are several Flemish Sours that I would prefer to drink over this one. Still very happy to try this rarity.

Shared with BeerandBlues2, Ernest and Mrs. BeerandBlues2 at Choice City in Fort Collins, CO. Poured for us by the sommelier who’s lovingly stored it in his cellar for the last six years. Bless him! Beer poured a hazy light caramel with lots of dark brown yeastie sea monkeys making laps in the bottom of the glass. Head was huge, creamy, mostly lasting and off-white. First impression on the nose was of sweet-sour, stone fruity perfection. (To risk repeating myself, if you didn’t read my Stille Nacht Reserva 2000 rating.) This was a transcendant experience of beauty. The kind where the sum of the parts combine to create a divine whole that overwhelms and makes the world fall away. Food goes unnoticed, conversation sounds like adults on a Charlie Brown cartoon, the room dims and somewhere a violin plays. Ahem... I digress. The aroma was malty with moderate-to-heavy toasted grain, coookie and caramel; Hoppy with a trace of green grass, moderate herb and lemon zest; Yesty with moderate-to-heavy notes of basement, horseblanket; Moderate-to-heavy miscellaneous notes of balsamic reduction, sweet, ripe stonefruit, candy sugar, light oak and light apple peel. The flavor was moderately-to-heavily sweet, moderately acidic and lightly bitter with a slightly grippy, long, moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter finish. The body was medium, the texture was velvety and the carbonation was average. Amen to this, my 500th rating.

750 mL bottle shared with Ernest, luckygirl and my wife at Choice City Butcher and Deli in Ft. Collins, Colorado. Pours a bubbly and fizzy amber with a huge rocky-foamy off-white head that lasts forever. Aroma is sweet and sour fragile fruit, but not too much of either, malt and yeast (earth, cellar) and woodsy oak notes. Now, that does not fairly or fully describe the aroma or experience of gently placing your nose into a deep Chimay glass and sniffing indefinitely on this brew. Slightly sour yet unoffensive initial flavor, some sweetness then ensues, malt and yeast enter in, some fruit (apple, pear) notes appear, slight dry finish. Medium bodied, creamy and fizzy-burpy palate.

I was so damn excited to get to try this at the Heavyweight open house. Hazy, dark amber color with a good sized off white head. Incredible sweet/tart aroma! Caramel covered apples, tart cherries and yeast. Flavor was more on the tart side. The caramel was still there, but it took a back seat to the tart cherries and granny smith apples. Nice dry finish.

75cL bottle. Thanks Randy for the beer! Awesome head with nice lacing. Golden red color. The aroma has a bit of an acetic thing going on, pretty funky with a sweet/sour combo coming off of it. The flavor is smoother than I remember it being when I tasted it before...pretty nutty, not too sour, a funky sweetness. What a great beer, one of my favorites of all time.

Bottle (2000 Vintage, Bier Circus, Brussels): Hazy light brown with amber highlights. Small but lasting tan head. Port wine, berries, sugar and dark fruits in the nose. Sweet berries, sugar and grapes in the flavour. Balanced, with a dry finish. Slightly tart, but only enough to refresh. Very moreish, tasty stuff.

750 ml from Brickskellar, D.C.
Nice explosion upon opening. Intense foam and steam. Had this gone bad? Nope. Whew. Head stayed rocky and not dense. Muted cherry and cedar aroma. Cherry flavor (not sour or sweet, just very natural). Finish has strong alcohol that is only covered by a round, thick finish. Not overly complex, nor simple. Not tasting of sugar or vinegar, just smooth and delicious.

From a bottle shared by Matt. Hazy light brown color, thick tan head w/ lots of lacing. Acidic aroam with good reamy caramel balance. Pie cherry, grapefruit, milky pale malt in a supremely balanced flavor. The individual flavors blend to form a cohesive expereince but at the same time can be individually enjoyed. Smooth mouthfeel. Great stuff!