Steenbrugge Dubbel Bruin

Brewed by Brouwerij Palm
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Steenhuffel, Belgium

The bottle noted best by 10/2001 and we drank it 2/2004. 11.2 oz brown bottle. Pours a very dark brown color with a small light brown head. Slightly tangy aroma. Strong cherry flavor, although slightly medicinal. The cherry lingers on the aftertaste. Overall impression was a middle of the pack dubbel - although it may be better when fresh.

rich,m frothy tan head. Brick reddish brown body. Well carbonated. Alcohol and leather jump out among some tart fruits; green apples and yeastiness. Slick and smooth, then thin, biting and citrucy. warm and potent, tart, hinting attoasty grain character and more green apples.

Dark ruby color with a thick fruity aroma. Lots of roasted malt flavor, although it doesn't last long enough. Some chocolate and fruit notes as well. Lingering sweet aftertaste, but not anything above average for this style.

Bottle pours a deep amber red with a very large head and very nice lace. The aroma is vanilla (cool) and rising bread. The flavor is vanilla, roasted malt, a touch yeasty, and very smooth. The palate is medium rich for the style. Overall, this is nice because of how smooth it is and the vanilla characteristics.

An earthy aroma, reddish brown pour. Not much head in the bottles I had, good fizz and heavy sediment in the bottle bottom. Like the color. No aftertaste. Once it has cleared the mouth it is gone.

Pours a dark brown with reddish hues. The head is creamy light tannish color. Aroma is mainly of dried fruits; raisins can be detected. Flavor isn't lasting. As soon as you get a taste it's gone and then it becomes bland. The finish is almost watery. The bottle I sampled is before "best by" date. It's not a bad beer, but it's missing something crucial. I was really hoping from a lot more from this beer.

Quite dark brown, with reddish shine; huge fluffy head, irregular, going in patches. Bit burnt nose, ironlike smell, as in blood. Revolting extra aroma, like something rotting. Bitterish start, then some sweet and yet an unnatural sourish finish, lactic. Thin and watery mouthfeel. This is infected, no doubt. Sad. Question is, who brews it these days?

Although this was a newly stocked bottle, the "best enjoyed by" date was 12/03/01, hmmmm... I also sampled it warmer than the recommended temperature of 40-44 degrees F. Gorgeous "old-world" label amusingly declares both "dubbel bruin" and "double brune." Opens with a healthy phhht, pours a nondememo opaque brown with a nice creamy tannish head. Promising aromas of rum-raisin, currant, fig, prune, chewy toffee candies. A flash of flavor, then it's gone- chocolate covered raisins, roasted grains, a suggestion of weak vending machine coffee. Not overcarbonated, but once it hits the tongue, the flavor just foams away. Clipped, tinny finish gives way to a long, chalky, cocoa powder aftertaste. Probably just past its prime, but some residual sweetness would have helped immensely.