La Binchoise Brune Tradition / Cistercienne Bruna

Brewed by Brasserie La Binchoise
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Binche, Belgium

750 ml bottle. Fills the glass a dark, ruddy brown, impenetrable, capped with raucous creamy tan head. Wintry spices greet the nose first, cinnamon, anise, cardamom, more, meeting up with cocoa, molasses, maple. Very intriquing, the spice mix makes it unique. They continue to tickle when they make contact with the tongue, too. A slick, a tasty presence on the palate, very smooth, dark, delicious. Sweetness and spice looming large at the front of every sip, then fade back and mellow out. Crisp, brisk carbonation. Medium bodied, long lasting flavor, ultimately dry in the finish, rich with flavor. I like it. My kind of beer.

Dark brown with brown-white head. Somewhat sweet aroma; a whiff of carrot? Palate leads with sweetness and chocolate and evolves drier into some coffee notes with a slight vinous character throughout. There’s a great balance here, a pleasure to drink.

(on bottle-thx Jacob) Malty nose, beige head and amber of colour. Not a very complex beer in my book. High carbonation, witch makes it extremely drinkable, but the taste is still just of yeasts and brown sugar and not a whole lot. The finish i s the best part; become floral and sligthly dry; with an liqourice-edge.

Marcello’s Wine Market, Baton Rouge, La. - 1 pt 9.4 oz bottle. Pours a dark crimson to light brown with a frothy khaki colored head that leaves generous lacing. Molasses, raisins, baked brown bread in the aroma - sweet and clean. Flavor is somewhat mellow, some sweet malty notes with hints of chocolate, raisins, but nothing really jumps out and grabs you. Not bland, just not exciting. Smooth mouthfeel, not too fizzy. Goes down smooth.

Chestnut, lasting tan head, small bead.Light toffee nose.Great molasses malt flavor,earthy,softly carbonated. Wonderful stuff

Cola and malt aroma. Very unique and pleasant smell. Dark brown with a phat mocha head. Lot of gas being released. Soft flavor with mild spiciness. Some flat colo sweetness. Also some mild ash smokiness int he finish. Doesn’t pop out but is curiously drinkable.

Dark brown colour, off-white head. Fruity, malty and spicy nose and flavor with notes of herbs, caramel and maybe some pebber.

This is close to perfect! The cork pops with a bold ferocity and from there it’s only a positive experience. A very basic brown color is evident, with a tall, thick tan head that lasts to the end of the glass. The aroma from the bottle is highly farmhouse-musty, and from the glass it is extremely mellow, with a rich chocolate mocha malt at the base and a porter-like peatiness in the background. The sip begins with earthy straw tones that meld back into a licorice tinted old-fashioned dark malt extract with some mild citrus-lime notes. At the same time a strong, honest hop bitterness is felt -- not just an undertone on the maltiness but a solid presence in its own right. Alcohol is almost totally hidden but makes a mild, pleasant presence on the finish that is something like a spiked cherry cola. The body of this beer is luxurious and lively like a mint truffle, and the natural carbonation is superb. Take it from someone who’s drunk antique beer from the 1800’s -- this is a very historically accurate, raw brew.