New Belgium Abbey

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

I’m sorry, I’m not sure why, but I just really don’t enjoy this ale as much as I think I would. There’s just something about it that I don’t like.

Poured amber brown, caramel, dark fruit, spice little yeast, malty, brown sugar, little bready.

Lots of bubblegum and a bit of clove in the aroma and flavor. Bit of dark fruit as well. Complex. Whole lot going on in this one.

Very impressive DARK amber color. I thought it was brown, until ’lighting’ it. Nice. Minimal head. Minimal lacing. Great dark fruit scents. Dark cherries, dates, figs. Big sweet malts. Banana notes. Caramelish brown sugar notes. Sweet maltiness. Spiciness like cloves. Fresh bread covered in brown sugar run under the broiler so that it carmalizes. Nice dark fruits again. Good body on this one. Nice and creamy. Definite medium level of thickness, here. Very good, very drinkable bottle. This isn’t Chimay, by any means, but it would be an acceptable substitute, at a cheaper price, when finances dictate.

12 oz. bottle from Paul U. Reddish brown pour. Nice foamy head. Aroma is that of dark fruit and yeast. Sweet fruity flavor with a clean, smooth finish.

Poured from bottle into Snifter. Rich dark brownish-red with little head but some lacing. Aroma of dark fruit, bananas, Belgian yeast, spiciness, some metallic (hops?). Very nice smell overall. Dark fruit, raisins, slightly sour malt. Not much spiciness, and not as complex as hoped for. Why didn’t that great smell come across on my taste buds better? Low carbonation, chewy but seems watery and thin. Every single New Belgium beer I have had seems thin, but I had hoped a Dubbel would be the exception - apparently not. More of an easy drinking Dubbel than others I have had, which are more sippers. On the other hand, the lack of complexity and the thin body are an impediment, and prevent me from wanting more. Other than the 1554 (which is also somewhat thin) and maybe the Mothership Wit, I may be done with New Belgium. They are not bad beers by any means; I can just get much better in the same styles.

Amber color and pours with a medium to thin sized head but pretty good retention and lacing throughout. Aroma consists of candy apples, cherry, plums, raisins, sugar. Drinks lighter and thinner than it smells but still quite good. Moderately sweet and sugary flavors showing raisins, plums, maple, yeast, vanilla and light spice. I like this one. Very drinkable and tasty.

Pretty flat as far as a Belgian...a bit watery and little of the sweetness and none of the crisp associated with a good Abbey Dubbel. No head, that should have tipped me off. Malty predominantly. Would not recommend except for beginners.