Fitgers Blue Label Grande Reserve

Brewed by Fitgers Brewhouse
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Duluth, Minnesota USA

Growler acquired in trade with tytoanderso (thanks!). Poured a medium and cloudy brownish color wtih a smaller sized off white head. Aromas of dark fruits, chocolate, yeast, some roastiness, and some spices. Tastes of dark fruitiness, caramel, and some brown sugary sweetness. Light alcohol in the finish but overall well hidden.

On tap at the 2005 Great Taste of the Midwest: Pours a deep amber brown with a thin, wispy light tan head. Very nice, complex, and authentic Belgian malty and yeasty aroma. Body starts sweet, caramely and dark sugary with good yeasty balance. A very authentic and complex Chimay clone beer.

This poured a murky brown body with a thin ring around the glass in place of a head. It has an aroma of dark stone fruit, dried fruit, orchard fruit, burnt brown sugar, caramel, and lively spices. It seemed a bit thin yet managed to deliver flavors of caramel, the whole batch of aforementioned fruit, a touch of oak, spices, and a developing lactic sourness that detracted from the enjoyment of the drink. More interesting than likeable.

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On draught at the brewpub in Duluth, Minnesota at 9.9% ABV. Pours a clear dark copper colored brew with a fast dissolving off-white head that dissipates nearly clean but leaves behind some nice spotty lacing. Aroma of mostly raisin, a touch of brown sugar, caramel and a touch of vanilla. Taste is medium bodied, very little carbonation with flavors of raisin, brown sugar, some caramel malt and a touch of apple. Finish has a mild yeast and some alcohol warmth that slowly disappears. Definitely a nice sipper.

Dark brown color with a small head. Aroma of strong malt sweetness and prunes. After warming up past freezing temp... tastes of strong, sweet, nearly syrupy malt. Prune, raisins, dates and toffee all there. Some graininess on the end. Not too bad at all.

Fitger’s came through with this beer. Rotting fruit aromas and flavors. Very dark brown, with a thick and heavy body. Not as malty as the real thing. I had no idea the abv was so high when I was drinking it.

Dark Brown Coloring with White Ring. Barley, Caramel, Prunes - Sweet Aroma. Initially Sweet, Raisin, Bread Dough Notes...Heavy Dry Hop Cascade. Almost a Dark Coffee Roast Lingering on the Tongue at the End. Alcohol is There but Only Promises to Hit You Hard When you’re Not Looking.

Rich ruby raisin pour, murky, with a thin line of light tan head. Light rum raisin aroma. Flavor is fairly one-dimenionsal, with strong bouts of firey alcohol, rum, raisins and a touch of mellow wheat. Sugars on the back end, with a hint of caramel. Palate is oily and coating. Average for the style.