 ClarkVV (3547), Allston, Massachusetts, USA
Feb 17, 2007
Draught at EBF on 2/9/07
Thick-looking, opaque brown colored body has deep tan and violet tints, while the beige head quickly disappears in to the liquid, leaving only a film on the sides.
Fruitiness in the nose is somewhat matched by a pervasive, and rather dull yeast. Dry chocolate nips at the nose, while only faint banana and clove gets through from the yeast. Really red, boisterous and fruity is the barrel character, but it’s cut with yeast dullness as just mentioned, and it seems to dominate the beer. Light roastiness seems wetted down and even the pale malt sweetness seems heavy. No alcohol in the nose. Medium strength of aroma.
Very wet, slippery texture is heavily unfiltered and unfined. It definitely bogs down the palate quickly and the red fruitiness, dry chocolate and other medium/dark malts are left to try to escape from the undercarbonated, yeasty texture. Some light ash and spicy phenolics on the end further seem paradoxically pitted against each other. Just no brightness or cleanness and it dosent have the presentation of esters and light clove that the non-barrel version has. Grapey at times. Dosent even seem very recognizable as a dubbel. Messy.
Odeed (1473), Bakersfield, California, USA
Jul 13, 2008 rusty colored body with a small off white head that leaves lacing.awesome aroma of vanilla,wood,oak,caramel malts,and red wine.flavor is much of the same with the red wine really standing out.nice stuff.
IrishBoy (2111), Bakersfield, California, USA
Jul 13, 2008 12 oz bottle shared by Odeed; Nose of chocolate, red wine, oak, pepperiness, and vanilla; Dark brown with a small beige head; flavor is oak, chocolate, dark fruitiness, all over a red wine background
tytoanderso (1177), St. Louis Park, Minnesota, USA
Jul 8, 2008
12oz bottle. Sweeter aroma without some of the more aggressive wine tannin that I was expecting. Fudge dipped banana. Mild barrel presence. A bit of black and white pepepr spice. Cinnamon. Wet leather. Candied ginger. Pours a very nice looking ruby/brown with a very thin white head. Much more wine presence on the tongue than on the nose. Structured and peppery tannin. Some fruity esters to remind me that this a Dubbel rather than a glass of wine. Tart and assertive. Peppery and fruity at the same time. Excellent use of the barrel for sure. 10.5%? Hardly! Tart grape and dark cherry skin. Firm on the tongue with with plenty of tannic elements to hold my interest. Finishes dry, acidic, peppery... very nice! The surprise gem of the evening! Thanks Eben!
hellomynameis (743), Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Jul 7, 2008 I immediately noticed the very interesting aroma on this. Has some barrel and sweetness with some roast. Wow, this is very nice! Very interesting, filled with some good flavours. Lightly fizzy and lively on the tongue. The wine barrel adds a very interesting dimension to this. Kind of organic and earthy, has some sharpness and a bit of an aftertaste of...not sour, but something like it. The barrel is apparent and subtle with a bit of a wine like finish that is dry and lingering.
Stine (1320), St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Jul 6, 2008 Vintage 2005. Chris! Another helpless thanks for this gorgeous rarity. Robust cherry wood pour appearing still. Bitter chocolate, sweet-spicy red bell pepper, some vinousness, and bittersweet caramel in an aroma framed in belgian candy sugars, banana and calm bitter nuttiness. The tannic presence is so firm and deep that the residing nuances seem to rest in wine rather than in beer, while the characters of the dubbel are amply present.
Wildflower honey and sweet red bell pepper in the flavor, with a heavy black cherry and chocolate-rubbed mango sweetness that’s as rich in sophistication as it is in decadence. Tannic oak barrel, meaty warmth, vanilla, and citrus juices; acidity is gorgeously polished and laid at ease, while the richness of the fruit qualities never seem too reticent. It’s amazing how the wine characteristics are so lush and frontal, full of smacking fruit and richness, while the doughy qualities of the belgian yeasts and deep malts lay firmly enough underneath to provide counterpoint to a conceptively dry tannic texture.
Full body is oily and mostly uncarbonated, which is suitable. Finishes warm on oak; alcohol astonishingly imperceivable. A wholly satisfying, contemplative campfire experience, in which better barrel aging could not be achieved. Beautiful.
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