 muzzlehatch (4425), Burlington, Vermont, USA
May 1, 2003 Updated: Jan 2, 2004
May 03: 22oz bottle, first day (I think) of general availability. You have to understand, I live in a beer-starved state. No, not as beer-starved as Iowa (6.25%) or Utah (3.2) or parts of the South, but beer-starved nonetheless. 8% maximum alcohol, small thinly populated state which most breweries simply choose to ignore because they can't make enough $$. We're on the E. coast, but no Victory, no Southampton, no Cisco, no Berkshire (until last month), no DFH (exceptin a few of their lower-grav options, only in the last month). Etc, etc.
Forgive the rant. So when Vermont's best brewer comes out with something NEW after a long year-or-more's wait, and when that something new is a BELGIAN-style from this great English-style brewer, well I stand up and take notice. The pour: faint pop when the cap came off, very little carbonation--not a good sign; ruddy-muddy red-brown body. Nose of cherries, faint yeast, pleasant but unimpressive. Flavor: port-wine feel to it at first, cherries again, chocolate-caramel, more carbonation in the mouth than was evident to the eye but still "flat" for the style, hints of alcohol and yeast but overall not that far off from their Old Ringworm if you ask me. I'm not all that impressed on a first sample, though it is certainly drinkable and not utterly boring. I'm waiting for the doppelbock in bottles, Ray, not your rendition of a Tripel at this point...
Later on... I'm being too kind to this beer, probably out of love for the brewery; it's not horrible, but it just isn't a good Dubbel. This is one of those cases where I would probably never retry it if not for the quality of the brewery overall.
Oct 03: much better sample this time; between this, Slopbucket and the Imperial I've learned what McNeills problem is: poor control over the bottling. Better (though still not ideal) carbonation this time, stronger nose, fresher overall. Not great, but acceptable for sure.
dirtymike (2019), Manchester, New Hampshire, USA
Jun 10, 2005 Amber/ruby in color with a small light tan head. Aroma is sweet,malty, bready with mild fruit. Flavor is of caramel malt,nutty,chocolate and some alcohol.
Volgon (2458), Manchester, New Hampshire, USA
Jun 14, 2004 Updated: May 31, 2005Clear ruby with a thin off-white small-bubbled head. Sweet aroma with dark fruits (plums), medium bodied, sugary sweet tastes. Ends a bit watery.
ChazyRPh (571), Chazy, New York, USA
May 13, 2004 Hazy mahogany with an of white head. I smell corn silage from my Grandparents farm. I guess I know why the cows dig this shit so much. Quite sweet with some raisin conotations in the middle. Not the best dubbel I have had...kinda reminds me of the Lake Placid Dubbel Bogey.
DYCSoccer17 (2013), Davis, California, USA
May 13, 2004 Aroma is sweet and sugary. Kind of strong. Pours a hazy mahogany with an off-white head. Start is VERY sweet and VERY MALTY. I mena it’s decent, but nothing extraordinary. I reckon im going to give it a -1 point for appearance due to the trailer park label.
Duke (117), New York, USA
Mar 11, 2004 Updated: Jul 7, 2004Not impressed. Pours dirty iced tea. NO head. Some pleasant aromas fruity/malt maybe some chocolate coffee. Finish is sticky and flat.
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