Maredsous 8

Brewed by Brouwerij Moortgat
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Breendonk-Puurs, Belgium

11.2 ounce bottle purchased at Total Wine Pembroke Pines, FL for $3.19 Very good!

Bottle from Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton. Labeled Maredsous Abbey Dubbel, and I didn’t notice an 8 on the bottle, but this is the same one. Pours slightly cloudy brown with an average tan head. Aroma of caramel, roasted malts, chocolate, floral notes, and raisins. Flavor is very similar to the nose, with hops and malts early and the sweeter caramel and chocolate notes late, and a little noticeable alcohol. Medium bodied, sweet, and smooth, without much carbonation. Nice beer.

Has sort of a chestnut brown color, but leans more orange than red. Really nice frothy head with good lacing. Yeasty notes in the nose, some sweet molasses comes through, too. Quite sweet - some caramel, some molasses, a slight hint of sweet apples and some yeastiness. The alcohol is detectable, which gives it a tiny, nuanced sting in the palate. Carbonation, though, is the bulk of the tingle. Delightful, and drinkable, though not exquisite.

Pours a dark brown in the brewery selected goblet. Off white head continues in small areas after 10 minutes. coffee and caramel aroma with a roasted malt taste that is slightly dry. the alcohol level is somewhat noticeable towards the end after warming a bit. Not bad, love the bottle design.

Tap, at a very cool bar in Dallas (BlackFriars pub). Dark brown color, not black, more like rich walnut. Great aromas of malts, both sweet and roasted. Palate was pretty thin, but there were a lot of great flavors, it was sweet with a hint of bitterness which balanced it really well. The ABV is well hidden, it’s a great brew.

11.2 ounce bottle from Total Wine in Tustin ($3.79). Pours a deep dark ruby brown color. Big thick foamy tan head slowly dissipates leaving nice pillowy formations. Aroma of yeast, dark fruits, and caramel. Flavor of more dark fruits, caramel, a light taste of dark chocolate, and hints of spice. There is a subtle but definite burnt taste as well -- I was not expecting this bit of roastiness, but it’s all good and gives this Belgian strong ale a rather different profile. Rather light body; good carbonation; well-concealed alcohol.

Had this in a 750mL bottle and on tap from Tylers in Carrboro. Pours dark brown/ruby with a solid head that leaves good lacing. Formidable aroma of caramel, malt, alcohol. Taste was nice. Went down smooth with a nice aftertaste. Flavors of caramel, alcohol, raisin, and other dark fruit that gave it some sweetness. Enjoyed.

bottle @ home. Pours a dark, brown beer. Long time ago I had a Dubbel. This one was great. Super I could taste a delicious dubbel again. Aroma contains hints of dark fruits. Taste is strong with hints of liquorice. Like to try it again.