Grimbergen Optimo Bruno

Dark, redish brown with a small off-white head. Malty and sour tones. Hoppy and malty taste. Full body with a sweet & sour finish.

Ruby-red colour, white head. Aroma: a complexity of red fruits. Flavours of red wine, red fruits. A bit sour, but also a typical grimbergen sweetness. Alcohol well hidden. Nice beer.

Bottle: pours amber with a tiny beige head. Weak nose of malt and raisins. Very sweet flavour with malt and caramel. Sweet and slightly bitter finish. Full bodied. Some dessert beer, or what?

Amber/brown colored brew. Sweet cherry, wine like aroma. Acidic, wine-like flavor. Sweet and fruity. Brown sugar. Could use some more thick body. Overall interesting.

(33cl bottle, via DerDoppelbock) Slightly hazy, mahogany colour with a creamy, slightly tanned layer. Sweet fruit-accented (plums, dried berries) aroma with light toasty and slightly acidic vinous notes, accompanied with a touch of alcohol. Sweet, sugary flavour, full bodied with medium to lively carbonation. Malty and fruity taste with a vinous and a light spicy note; sweet malty and balanced fruity finish with a quite well-integrated alcohol according to the high abv. Not very complex but pleasant to drink.

Bottled at Belgobaren, STockholm. Clear nut brown, brief head. Raisiny malty nose with some peppery alcohol. Sweet and vinous, with slimmer body than expected for a 10% beer. Somewhat fruity with light almondy notes. Salty finish with a touch of spicy bitterness. Interesting nose, but I’d like more character in a beer of this size.

Sweet juicy grapes and cherries with lots of brown sugar in the nose. Brilliantly clear brown body is topped by a low but long lasting off white head. Some minor lace as it recedes. Marzipan nuttiness and tired fruity esters in the flavour. Low bitterness but some strong jolts of alcohol. Light body that does little to support all that sweetness. Strong warming. Carbonation somewhat short-lived. Bottle sampled in Spring 2007 with Oakes.

Bottle at Beiaard, Amsterdam. Deep ruby colour, generous head. Cherry aroma. Fruity and bitter. Strong taste of cherry, framboise and other fruits. Syrupy, also taste of grapes. Warm, alcy finish. Too much alcohol but nice ale nonetheless.