Grimbergen Optimo Bruno

Brewed by Brasserie Union (Alken-Maes / Heineken)
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Jumet, Belgium

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.

Had on of these on tap at the De Wildeman. It was late and my notes are a little hard to read, but one thing is for sure, I did not need a 10% beer at that time. It was full of flavor...and booze. This stong beer was and tasted a little too boozy.

Bottle @ La Mort Subite. Large beige fizzy head that mostly lasted. Good lacing. Mahogany colour. Aroma was yeast, caramel, dry fruit, liquorish, vinous, caramel, hint of sweet chocolate and lots of brown sugar. Full bodied with a light alcoholic and light syrupy like texture. Moderated to heavy sweet malty and brown sugar flavour with a hint of acidic. Sweet and lingering brown sugar finish. I know it was sweet, but I thought it was great anyways.

(33cl bottle, best by 31-08-07) Creamy tan head atop clear mahogany body. Aroma is medium sweet, balsamic vinagrette, some sour cherry, wood -- I sense trouble ahead. Taste is sweet and boozy, caramel, raisin, wood, some cherry. Medium-full body, some stickiness.

Clear mahogany body topped by a small off-white head leaving good lacing. Candy aroma. Overall the beer is rather crisp with a taste that is mainly that of hard-candies, the sweet ones and the spicy ones. Light fruity notes of dried candied fruits (orange and others). Well malted (bready malts) and well hopped (generic Belgian hops). Really feels like drinking a spicy dessert. Well put together beer but a bit too sweet/sugary for my taste. Some similarities with my beloved but far superior Maudite. I’m both stunned and happy to learn that this is a 10% beer. Stunned because the alcohol is exceptionally well hidden and happy cause that gives me a good excuse for my behaviour.

Amber beer with a virtually no head. Alcohol and liquorish aroma. Sweet, fruity and surprisingly complex. The alcohol is obvious but doesn’t seem to punch at a 10% level.

Bright brown sugary colour. Aroma of peach, dates and brown sugar. The body is thin and simple for a beer this size. Only a slght hint of alcohol. Soft dark fruit notes. Too sweet and one-dimensional. Less than the sum of its parts, and that’s due to lack of bottleconditioning.