Pizza Port Dubbel Date

Brewed by Pizza Port (Carlsbad)
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Carlsbad, California USA

Date: 12/03/2005
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub, Carlsbad, CA

clear dark red, thin beige head, a touch of lace, slightly sweet rich malt aroma and flavor, nice suggary fruity essence without being too sweet, some nice light spices show up once it warms, a bit of age would really help the fruit to ripen, brewed with Belgian date sugar

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.7/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4

Pour is nice golden amber with a nice thin tan dense head...smell is very biscuity malty...all malts...lots of malt flavors in the mouth too...earth fruits, cocoa...nice crisp finish...

Frothy, large beige head tops a dark amber hue. The nose is potent, complex chocolate underlying a solid earthiness, mostly from the hops. Yeast work sure is efficient, as fully phenolic, almost cobwebby doughy and juicy banana and melon undertones bring an unmistakably Belgian influence. Vanilla and coriander serve as the main spice hints and blend into the wheat reminiscent maltiness naturally. Maybe the yeast plays too much a role in this one, but it was a great surprise to find a mostly authentic Belgian of this caliber from a California brewer. Certainly a good friend of t smisje dubbel, though less potent. Medium creamy bodied, slightly mineral, sweet, efficient big bubbled carbonation.

Draft, Dec ’05. Dark brown pour. Sweet fruity aroma - smelled like dates by George. Medium bodied, and full of fruity and spiced flavors. Very nice - I thought the date touches worked very well with the dubbel style.

Clear reddish brown appearance, moderate head formation. Rich sweet fruity malty aroma, sugarry, earthy. Lighter than expected on the palate, pretty easy drinking, chocolaty, sugarry, berry fruitiness, banana, mild clove, mild alcohol warmth in the finish.

Pours an amber hue with a light tanish, yellow head. Aroams of yeast, spice and some spice. Flavors of the same with an initial sweetness on the palate that mellows as you swallow. The date flavor adds a nice touch, but not overbearing. Nice change in style.

Tap at Carlsbad and San Clemente: Clear dark amber color. Sweet fruity ester aroma. Dark fruits, dates and plums. Dark fruity flavor. Estery. Silky light to medium body.

Caramel color. Lightish, creamy body. Rich malts, with notes of brown sugar, sweet raisins and toasty caramel. Some light background spices rounded things off nicely. Very mild bitterness.