McKenzie Abbey 8

Brewed by McKenzie Brew House
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Glen Mills, Pennsylvania USA

From draught at McKenzie Brew House II. The predominant smell on this one is soy sauce with a bit of brown sugar and some light hops; maybe molasses, but really just soy sauce. Light alcohol notes. Dark, dark brown. Can’t tell if it’s clear or not but doesn’t look murky. Has a thin off-white lacing head. Heavy watery body on this one with medium carbonation. Not quite oily but getting close. Starts with raisins or golden raisins, molasses and sugar. Bit of alcohol coming through, too. Not too bad for the style, though there is a bit of oxidation. Not quite buttery, but something’s a bit off.

Bottle courtesy of DocLock.

I suppose I’m a bit against the grain here but this was a kick-@ abbey dubbel. Usually not my favorite style, but this one rocked. Nice cola-colored pour with a good head, apples and bit of cinnamon, baking bread and maybe a bit of brown sugar on the nose. Very satisfying, well-integrated flavors, just the right sweetness, brown-bread yeast, bits of chocolate, slightly spicy, all around extremely enjoyable. Sorry I only got about half of the 750 of this one!

KSBF 08- Poured a copper brown with tan decent head. Got a light bread malt nose. Malty with some caramel, dark sugars. Smooth malt palate with a touch of sweetness and a buttery spicy texture. Good beer and a nice brewery.

KSBF 08. Caramel brown pour with good looking head. Loads of brown sugar in this one with sweet wine-like grape notes. Overpowering, but in a pleasant way. There was really a lot of brown sugar flavor in this one.

Bottle: Poured an amber color with a medium sized head. The aroma was yeasty with banana and sugar malts. The flavor was very good, with hints of fruit, chocolate, toffee, sugar, and some spiciness. Overall, a favorite from McKenzie.

Date: 05/04/2005
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting

slightly hazy amber, sweet buttery aroma, rich malt flavor, not very complex

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.6/5.0
Score: *4
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Draught at Kennett Square Fest, October 2006
Dark, milk-chocolate brown colored body is quite hazy, only showinga medium-low clarity. Deep beige/butter colored head is medium-sized and is retained at cover, leaving light lacing.
Very well-executed nose is reserved in fruitiness and ester/phenols, but still manages to integrate them in to the ample chocolate-caramel maltiness. Dry brown bread and light biscuits are contrasted with sweet chocolate-caramel notes, with a bit of honey-vanilla cream (pale/aromatic malts) behind it. Banana esters are soft and sweet, while more vanilla notes, light prunes and raisins all help to minimize the phenolic side. It turns out only a bit of clove, which comes off more allspice-like, sweeter and less intrusive in to the aroma. Little/no pepperiness. The malts really shine the most, though. Being very fresh and crisp, despite the choco-caramel sweetness, you can smell the barley-grain, almost, beneath the sugars. Just a nice wholesome edge to the aroma. Moderate esters and more raisin-prune notes trail off, with a pleasant, fresh yeastiness and a dollop of toffee. Elegant stuff, no alcohol noted, medium-high strength of aroma.
With all of the malt apparency in the nose, it’s no surprise when, in the flavor, the malt makes a big splash. Caramel/chocolate covered raisins, with very light plumskin dryness immediately create a balanced flavor. Buttertoffee and vanilla creep in on the edges, mixing with light banana and other fruit esters (cherries, strawberries, etc.) to add complexity and Belgian distinction. Light roasted notes and minor phenolics keep the balance on the finish. On the sweet side (though I never once thought too sweet), but the extra maltiness creates a tremendously soft, supple mouthfeel. Add to this a lightly brisk carbonation and fresh yeast. Vinousness increases as it warms. No alcohol noted. Lovely.

Bottle courtesy of hopdog and one of the dude’s final batches at McKenzies. Pours pinkish brown with a thin tan head. Smells perfumy with lots of dark fruit, spices and dough. Taste is of tarte cherries, lots of fruit, nutty malt and pepper. An excellent beer. I hope to see this brewer land firmly on his feet.