Malheur 12

Brewed by De Landtsheer
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Buggenhout, Belgium

Bottle, shared w. Tim & Jacob. Thanks Tim! Cloudy brown, tan head. Nose is candied sugars, dark fruits, spices (cinnamon, clove), strawberry fruit roll-ups. Flavor is rich fruits, alcohol, a nice hop profile. Strongly bitter w. honey & alcohol in the finish.

330ml Bottle: Aroma of malts, dark ripe fruits, burnt caramel, plums, slight coffee, molasses, brandy, prune juice, light caramel, and light candi sugar. Poured mahogany/ruby in color with a large, oatmeal-looking, tan head that lasted throughout. Clear. Sparkling. Full of large particles throughout. Flavor is very sweet. Tastes of malts, dark ripe fruits, resin, light hops, plums, light molasses, slight brandy, caramel, toffee, slight alcohol, raisins, and slight tar. Medium to full body. Thick, coating, syrupy, sticky texture. Average carbonation. Sweet, malty, dark ripe fruit finish lingers a long time. Pretty much no hint of 12%ABV.

The nose is a nice blend of dried dark fruits, smoke, sugars and a slight alcohol bite. The pour is dark brown with a one finger tan head. The taste is vinous and the alcohol takes over much of the scents from this ales aroma. I would like to age this and try again, as it seems to not quite live upto the complexities of the nose.

Bottled, a present from my brother, BB 27-03-2005, sampled 12-01-2009 (about 7 years old). Very dark brown coloured, small brown head, fair lacing. Very complex nose, malts, raisins, liquorice, vinous notes, nice. Very harsh flavour, the alcohol really kicks in, lots of sweetness. Tastes like it could use some more aging, but it’s already 7 years old! Great nose, but way too harsh.

750 mL bottle purchased at Pole Line Nugget in Davis, CA. Best by 4/15/11. Aroma has some solvent-like cleanser properties. A bit minty with some raisins, too. Kind of sweet with some cidery acetaldehyde as well. Not so good. Moderately hazy amber body with a smallish off-white head. Starts sweet with some brown sugary notes. Becomes a little vinous with some roastiness in the middle. Finishes with some raisin notes. A little molasses is in there, too. If this is actually 12% ABV, then it is hidden well. Not bad, but the aroma is a bit off-putting.

0.75l - Random buy. Licorice and smoke followed by spice. For some reason didn’t expect it to be quadrupel dark. Good times.

Pours dark brown with a mostly reeding wispy tan head. Tastes of brown sugar, rum, banana, and bubble gum. Mouthfeel is full bodied and lightly alcoholic with lush carbonation.

Reviewed 12/15/2008 (bottle dated 25.10.10): Pours a very dark reddish brown color body. Small off-white head head, quickly diminishing. Funky smell, sour. Dark fruits.. Creamy mouthfeel, some fizziness. Dark fruit taste Some dark chocolate/coffee taste. Some alcohol warmness.