Driftwood Brother Bart Belgian Brown Ale

Brewed by Driftwood Brewery (BC)
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Victoria, Canada

Craig’s bottle, shared at Bar Volo. A brown/dubbel. Very drinkable from the malt sweetness, yet not too sweet. Cloudy brown body with Caesar white head, reddish hues. Average mouthfeel. For a dubbel, a bit light mouthfeel however.

Tasty brew that veers off the beaten path a bit. Poured out a nice clear reddish brown brew with a large fluffy tan head that really sticks around and leaves impressive ropy lacing. Very malty aroma: toffee, medium roast, wet grains, raisin, prunes, sweet molasses, almond... Belgian style indeed. The taste is also pretty good but here is where it veers from the norm and I’m not convinced if it’s a good thing or not. Toffee, caramel, roasted malts (faint memories of a bock), light spice with very mild licorice, dulling bitterness fits nice, alcohol hitting home inside my brain bucket, raisin, dark fruits... I’ve forgotten what I thought was off about this beer mainly cause I haven’t eaten and I’m listening to Opie & Anthony and barely paying attention, maybe a hint of chocolate... maybe, mild hops, medium fruits with no citrus. There is no lack of flavour coming out of this bottle. Past medium bodied, nice soft carbonation, finishes... yea... it’s done. What’s with the finish? My third Driftwood brew and I gotta say that these guys are getting it done. Very drinkable. Happy birthday to me happy birthday...

22oz bomber. Real candied sugar aroma right out of the bottle. Certainly more of a sweet caramel hit in the nose. Pours a dark copper. Taste is sweet, cola like, less complex than expected but still very satisfying. Warm finish with caramel notes and some woodiness. Decent.

Bottle. Pale brown/red colour with a beige head. Aroma: sweet, fruity and sugary. Flavor: fruity, candi sugar, caramel, herbal, a bit woody, lightly sourish. A bit too thin.

Bottle. Thick head. Dark Belgian aroma. Thick body. Hint of chocolate in dark malt flavour. No finish.

Paying the insulting price of $6.49 for this did not set me off on the right foot. A one-finger rocky tan head above a clear body of dark copper hue was met with an unimpressive aroma of mostly malt. Taste and mouthfeel were mostly like a dubbel, with some kinda spices, maybe. Decent mouthfeel and a sweet finish. Could’ve been better.

Bottle. Dark brown beer with a thin tan head. Aroma is a bit toffeeish with a light licorice note as well. Soft sweet spiciness with a touch of sourness as well. Strange aroma of spoiled oranges and pears. There is a bit of a dry leathery component and a touch of non-descript fruitiness. It has a bit of toffee and caramel character. It’s Belgianesque, but it’s mostly a strange weird slightly plasticy malt flavour. Warming improves the balance a bit, but it still isn’t great.

Brown, small beige head. Sweet brown sugar nose.Starts sweet, quick flash of tartness. Light spicy yeast, slightly thin Not enough malt presence for the style