Grimbergen Optimo Bruno

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

Bottled 33cl (BB 06/2005)
Nice red-amber color with small foamy white head. Fresh hoppy aroma with some anise and herbs. Medium to full bodied, oily palate with warming alcohol. Sweetish with fruity hops. Light bitter hoppy aftertaste. Very nice balanced brew, almost more like English than Belgium Ale.

Bottle brought back from Belgium. In a Duvel glass. Deep chesnut colour, fluffy white head. Aroma is full of caramel, malt, fruit and some smokiness with only a hint of alcohol in the background. The flavour is big, sweet and malty with a load of caramel and fruit, alcohol is evident as well as a bit of spiciness. Suprisingly found here is a touch of acidity. Quite highly carbonated. I guess it’s lacking in the true complexity of some other strong Belgians - but it sure has a lot of big, bold flavours and fairly well masked alcohol character. A beer you couldn’t hate.

(Bottled) Slightly hazy, dark amber color with a small, lacy head. Very sweet, malty and fruity boysenberry aroma. Very malty, wineous, sweet, but also quite hoppy and fruity flavor with mostly, but not quite hidden alcohol. Quite full-bodied, syrupy-sticky and low-carbonated palate. Be sure to try this, should you like sweet, slightly alcoholic and full-enough-bodied brews!

Rated in Amsterdam. Tan small head, sparse lacing, no visible carbonation, mostly transparent, and a reddish brown hue. Aroma was malty, alcohol and fruity. Sweet, malty, vinuous and fruity flavor. Very appealing. Mouthfeel was vinous considering the abv of this beer which is one of my favorite beer styles. Medium bodied. Definitely worth trying if you like this beer style.

The DM & Hotstuff’s European Honeymoon trip beer number 109. This bottled brew marked best before 3/05 poured an small head size of fine to medium sized mostly lasting light brown colored bubbles that left behind a good lacing. The body contained no carbonation, was semi-transparent and dark brown in color. Its aroma contained notes of dark malts and raisins. Its mouth feel is vinous with a vinous palate that fades in the finish. Its flavor was unnoted but was tasty. All-in-all very nice brew.

Purpleish hue with a thin off white head and good lace work. Vinegar and carament aroma. Sweet and warming like barley wine. Toffee and fruity flavour again very like barley wine. A decent beer with a evidently high alcohol.

Dark red/brown colour with nice off-white head. Full fruity cherry aroma and sweet fruity taste.

Fruity aroma. Sour cherry, apple cider, grape juice - reminiscent of a Flemish sour ale. Brownish-cranberry clear with off-white lacing head. Medium body with soft carbonation. Starts rather sweet, considering the tang of the aroma. Light malts, Belgian profile, warming. Some raisin, plum, and cider. Little musk. Finish and after are sweet, almost cloying. Not much bitter to counteract.