Grimbergen Optimo Bruno

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

Red brown colour, with a good head that doesn’t hold too long. Aroma is sweet, alcoholic, toffee, cherries, dates. Sweet flavor with a bit of sourness. Mouth of cherries, dates, sherry wine, with some hints of chocolate.Medium to light body. I’m not exactly a fan of Grimbergen but this is one is good enough.

Slightly hazy dark brown hue, with a beige head, but falls quickly, nice malty, yeasty nose, with some toasted, caramelized malts, hint of nutmeg and cinnamon spiciness, brown sugar, dark dried fruits in the aroma follows through on medium-bodied palate with a malty, grainy, fruity alcoholic warm character,with a raisiny, plumy accents, toasted malt, hint of toffeeish, leading towards a sweet malty warm finish.

Robe auburn très claire surmontée d’une mousse beige en dentelle qui s’estompe. Arômes de caramel et d’alcool. Saveurs de caramel, de miel, d’alcool et de torréfié.

I have to say i was expecting something of a quad here. Sweet malt aroma. A different to usual taste, cant quite figure out what though, a bit syrupy.

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.

Bottle from 2004. Brown hazy body. Huge lasting light brown head with good lacing. Fruity aroma, nuts, caramel and basement. Thick, creamy texture. The flavor is sweet, none bitterness but some sour finish.

Pale brown colour with thin lacy head. Oaky, vinous aroma. Flavour is very rich and has similarities to red wine in it’s ripe fruitiness and alcoholic strength.

0.33 L bottle@Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. A thin, fine-laced beige head upon a clear, dark reddish-amber body. Sweetish, nutty malt aroma with notes of dried dark fruits, bread-crust and alcohol. Taste is very sweet, caramellish malts, brown sugar and dried dark fruits. Notes of mild spices, pepper and alcohol warmth. Despite the massive sweetness, mouthfeel is not sticky at all, quite slick actually. Medium to full body. A bit one-dimensional maybe, but still a tasty and well-made Belgian.