New Belgium Abbey Grand Cru

Brewed by New Belgium Brewing Company
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Fort Collins, Colorado USA

My last claim that it was overrated was absurd. Rerated with golubj at The Bistro in Hayward. Upped to a 4.0. (On tap; poured a reddish brown color with a smallish off white head. Aroma of brown/candi sugar, caramel, yeast/banana and fruit. Slightly hot, but that is just a mild criticism. Dark fruit and brown sugar predominantly. Pretty solid for the style, maybe in the upper echelon. Good flavors with solid complexity. After taste is quality as well. Maybe a tad overrate in my book, but not by much.)

On tap. Wow, this a super Dubbel. Pours with a clearish, reddish brown body with a small off-white head with some very good lacing. Aroma of candi, dark fruits, berries, banana, clove, leather, tobacco, and honey. Taste is berries, dark fruits, alcohol, and light caramelized banana. Medium to full bodied, slightly warming and a cream mouthfeel with light carbonation. A very enjoyable beer, that I would love to have easily available.

Draft. Map Room. Poured a clear amber/dark orange color. The head was off white and left some tattered lace behind on the glass. The aroma was of soft banana and a hint of brown sugar. Medium bodied and sweet with low-ish carbonation and a creamy mouth feel. Clove and toffee dominated the flavor, but were supported by ample brown sugar, alcohol, plum, and candy sugar notes.

On tap at Papago. Clear reddish-brown pour with a creamy off-white head that stuck around. Aroma fresh dark fruit, sugar, roasty malt, yeast and alcohol. Flavor is big and fruity, and just slightly sweet. Medium bodied, with a fairly dry, sweet finish. Highly drinkable and delicious!

tap at Maproom. walked in, ordered it up, and they told me it was tapped-out. started to walk out and the bartender told me that they were about to put another one on. sweet..... dark amber and raisin brown pour with a moderate but quickly dissipating soapy white head.... aroma full of sweet ripened and dry fruits and fairly sugary overall.... flavors lends itself to plums, raisins, and other dark fruit. really clean tasting without any bite. a semi-dry finish concluded things well with some alcohol in the aftermath. very solid, clean, and drinkable.

Draft @ Choice City. Pours a clear, orange-cola color; light tan head with fine-bubbled lacing. Lots of chewy dried fruits, Belgian sugars, and maple syrup in the aroma; not overly sweet, but generous and complex nose. Medium-to-full mouthfeel: chewy brown sugar, dried dark fruits (dates, esp.), and Belgian sugars; average carbonation; generous, chewy, complex Belgian strong without erring on the side of stickiness; well-made and tasty. Lengthy finish: sweet Belgian sugars, dried fruits, and touches of caramel; balanced end.

Tasted 9/29/08. 22oz bomber. Thanks to Beach for the hook up! First pour is relatively clear with a ruby brown hue. Finger width of off-white head. Candy sugar aromas with cinnamon and other spicey undertones. Slight berries and a banana yeast character. Medium to full bodied with the yeast taking a front seat in the palate. Lingering banana bready yeast note. Sweet malt flavors. Caramel and toffee. Sweet breads and candy circus peanuts. Big sticky malts, great yeast character and a cloying lingering finish. The alcohol note is rather well hidden, at least at the cold, "right outta da fridge" state. This is a quality dubbel! Total sipper. Tight yet tingling effervescence. Fleeting dark fruit notes, but they are quickly overshadowed by the thicker, bready malts. Malt dominant with a lotta yeast accompaniment. Tingling as it warms and the second pour invades. Bigger cocoa and toffee malts. Effervescence is still apparent, but less tangy. Still the lingering sticky sweet sugary alcohol note. Great sipper. This will keep you wandering back all night, or as long as it lasts! Great meld and palate. Fresher than the competition, but it’ll get better. Really, try it!

bomber thanks to Mentor. Pours a ruby-reddish brown with a thin tan head. Nose is of bubblegum and candied fruit. Taste is sweet fruit and bubblegum. Mouthfeel is syrupy sweet with carbonation. Bit too much sweetness for my liking.