Grimbergen Optimo Bruno

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

I drunk one new bottle, and one which expired two years ago and was conserved in bad conditions. The rating is for the new bottle. Dark semi-transparent brown. Small fully lasting brownish head. The old beer has a fuzzy colour and the head has initially quite big bubbles. Uncommon aroma for a Strong Ale, with alcohol, dark fruits, apples, malt, caramel, citrus. Over the years, the aroma becomes much more alcoholic and becomes a strong (but not good) smell somewhere between cognac, alcohol and solvent. Any hints that this beer has ever been fruity are gone a long time ago. Initially sweetness, but still malty and alcoholic. Finish of malts and alcohol. The old beer has still some sweetness, but is unbalanced.

Dark amber colour. Nice head. Somewhat sourish malt aroma. Mouth-filling sweet, malty flavour. The alcohol gives it warmth and bitterness.

This beer is a real gem and a classic--belying its commercial parentage. Even more than Bush, this is truly a cognac beer with a strong brandy undertone present throughout. A fruity sweetness pervades, along with a persistent winey strength (this pup weighs in at a firm 10%)

Very nice clear amber with a large off-white head. Nice aroma of malt, orange peel, caramel and brown sugar. Complex taste, sweet to begin with, caramel, malts, orange peel, turning nicely bitter. Full bodied with pretty well hidden alcohol for 10%. Excellent.

Bottle. Brown colour with a baige head. Sweet malty fruity aroma and a sweet fruity taste. Medium body and a sweet finish.

(Bottle 33 cl) Dark golden beer, extremely full-bodied. Sweet, very sweet - no sickeningly sweet with some late hoppiness to prevent me from spewing. If you consider this as a dessert-beer it might have some raison d’etre. 300695

Bottled at DBF 2005. Cloudy red brown coloured with an off white head. Sweet spicy aroma with notes of dried fruits especially dried figs. Sweet flavour with lots of spices and acidic notes.

Adherent and compact foam, optimal persistence. Amber brown color, lightly dark and much bubbly; optimal aspect. Decided scent, much persistent and fort. Extremely complex with forts notes of cognac, caramel and alcohol. Powerful and full bodied taste, much strong and of good duration. Much bitter finish.