La Binchoise Brune Tradition / Cistercienne Bruna

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

Bottled 33cl. MY version was at 7.7 ABV. The nose is absolutely dominated by apple and pear. And so is the taste. Smooth and surprisingly good. Creamy palate. Plenty of character.

33cl dark brown bottle, label completely different from the one pictured. Still, it’s that same beer. Dark brown colour, with huge beige head that leaves generous lacing. Aroma of herbs and, indeed, bitter orange, with a healthy malty note and some alcohol, too. Medium carbonation and body. Agreeably upfront medium bitter taste of spicy herbs, roasted malt and dark cherries. Dry hoppy finish and lasting bitter after taste. Another not-too-sweet Belgian strong ale with a lot of character, a real beer! Drink irresponsibly.

From Beermania, Brussels, Belgium. Bottled, 200909. Brown with beige head. Aroma of spices, malt, dark fruit and roasted malt. Flavor is caramel, brown sugar, dried fruit and spices.

Pours a very dark chestnut brown color with a thick foamy tan head. Spicy peppermint aroma with chocolate malts, dark fruit and candi sugar. Very carbonated up front followed by a smooth, sweet maltiness and a spicy dry finish. Hints of pepper, chocolate, caramel, candi sugar, dark cherries, plum and raisin.

Big fluffy head over a dark reddish brown body. Lots of carbonation makes for a long lasting head. Fruity aroma with a hint of spice. Very nice flavor of dried fruit, cherries (?), with a little roasted malt. Very dry finish. Good stuff.

Bottle - 330ml. Pours a dark amber body with average carbonation and a thin white foamy/creamy head. Decent malty/hoppy aroma with some grainy and spicy hints. Alcohol is well hidden. Taste is well balanced but rather thin. It carries grainy and oaky notes. Ends with a fair bittersweet finish. Not bad, but I was expecting better.

Well-aged, 5-10 years?

I found a treasure in the back of the cellar tonight. This bottle was old when I found it crammed into a storage fridge at Big Star Liquors in 2006, and I’ve cellared it lovingly since. Cork reads "lot #021016". The age has done beautiful things to it. Drinking at cellar temperature, the bottle opens with a puff but no gush, and the beer pours beautifullly, lovely cola color with a nice sized head that recedes as I enjoy the first glass. I’ve rarely if ever smelled such a big beautiful sweet prune/plum aroma. Rich and darky and fruity, apricot nectar, just amazing. Flavor of raisins and plums, gently sweet, crisp finish. Caramel, a whisper of licorice, and hint of milk chocolate. Perfect mouthfeel, not overly carbonated as I find so many dubbels to be. Zero sign of the alcohol and if it weren’t for the super-rich flavors you’d never know it was above 6%.