t Smisje Dubbel

Brewed by Brouwerij De Regenboog
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Assebroek-Brugge, Belgium

Bottled: Reddish copper, hazy , off white head, malt, raisins, cough syrup aroma, flavor is sweet , sugary, slightly medicinal, with a tingly drying bitter finish.

Slightly hazy copper and brown body with a thin, off-white, mostly diminishing head. Sweet, fruity aroma that is mostly dominated by the dates. There are other fruity esters at the forefront as well. Perhaps a bit of iron and breadiness as well. The caramel, toffee, cocoa or nuts you see so often are conspicuously absent here. The body is moderately full in the mouth with soft, light carbonation. The flavor shows all of the sweetness of the malt, fruit and honey. I’m surprised the see the label shows 9% abv--it’s well hidden. The honey doesn’t offer too much in the way of flavor, but must have contributed to the abv. A fairly surprising bitterness at the end is a little different as well. All told, this isn’t bad. It’s a little different and not something I’d drink regularly. However, it’s a tasty treat from time to time.

Murky ruby body lies beneath a wisp of a beige head. The aroma reminds me of cinnamon raisin toast. Brown sugar, plums, alcohol present. Some champagne fizz in the mouth and medium bodied. Malty flavor with hints of brown sugar and molasses.

(Bottle) Pours a murky brown body with a medium-sized beige head. Aroma of toasted malt and raisins. Flavor of malt and dark fruits.

Head is initially average sized, frothy, off-white, mostly lasting. Body is hazy light to medium orange-brown, bottle conditioned. Aroma is moderately malty (caramel, cookie), lightly yeasty (mold, cobwebs), with light notes of honey, orange peel. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, moderately acidic, moderately bitter. Medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation, lightly alcoholic. Bit too tart for my tastes for a brown ale, and not a very interesting or alluring aroma. Not a fan.

Thin, velvety head atop a tan, hazy body. Sour, malty aroma, vinous hints. Light, creamy texture. Taste is bready, slightly sour, with a noticable fruitness. Slight hop bitterness in the finish. Fairly balanced and easy drinking, hides 9% well.

Deep ruby amber with a fading, patchy head; decent lace, though. Fluffy texture with a chewy base. Toasty, with strong notes of sweetened bread dough and chocolate covered toffee (Skor bar?). Fruity notes as well, of course (raisin, dates, plums). Pinch of sourness and a little bitterness finish things off. Grassy bitterness lingers in the roof of the mouth in the aftertaste. Slightly odd combo of flavors and aromas (more than just what I’m putting into words), but not bad.

Bottle: Dirty caramel, very cloudy with lots of sediment floating about, large dirty white sudsy head, settles quickly, spotty lacing.   Candyish chocolate malt aroma, sweet yet somewhat tart sugary flavor.   Very slight dark pitted fruit.   This one is mainly chocolate malts, semi-sweet, finishing somewhat tart.   Not bad, just not that interesting.   Body and mouthfeel arent thin, but nowhere near what I expected for an Abbey Dubbel.   Meh...