Val-Dieu Grand Cru

Brewed by Brasserie de l’Abbaye du Val-Dieu
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Aubel, Belgium

In short: A big belgian beer with a ton of dark fruits, toffee & such that surprisingly doesn’t feel too “heavy”. Good stuff.
How: Bottle 750ml. Consumed when about 1 year of age (recommended aging according to the brewmaster)
The look: Mahogany body topped by a long-lasting large beige head. A beautiful beer.
In long: A big round full body with plenty of toffee, tar and caramel. Unexpected fruity flavours of apples (?) make quite a contrast. A ton of dark fruits but this time no raisins. I got prunes, figs, and such but no raisins. The body is as full as it can get. The carbonation surprisingly doesn’t have that typical Belgium lively feeling. Just a medium carbonation like I expect from an American Strong Ale. The beer is obviously very hoppy because I had a nice sensation of a balanced beer. However the hops seem to just dry out the beer and do not contribute much to the flavour spectrum except for a timid mild bitterness. Alcohol is a bit apparent. Overall this was more easily drinkable than I would have expected. A good big Belgian beer with a body fuller than a tablespoon of skyscraper.

tap, goblet. Dark, thick, creamy head. Aroma is sweet and fruity, like prunes, no hop aroma. Taste is sweet, plum.prune, no hops. Medium-thick body, little dry finish, no hop bitterness. Great beer, I’ll try this again.

This beer is soft and long. There is no indication that it packs ten percent alcohol. Nice lacing, plenty of head, and a lovely caramel brown color. Aromas are mature: dark fruit, raisin, yeast. Flavors are bright and sharp on the hop and fruit side, doughy and slow on the candy finish. It does have a very long finish. Excellent example.

Noogfest High 5. Sample from a bottle thanks to BeerHawk. Clear red with a thin off white head. Watery aroma, fruit and caramel slip through. Taste is caramel, lightly smoky, fruit, caramel.

Bottle @ Delices de Caprices. Pours dark brown with a nice lacing off white head. Sweet aroma of raisins, dark rum, caramel, bananas and toffee. Flavour of molasses, dried fruit, warming alcohol, caramel and yeast.

Dark brown with a lasting off-white head. Aroma of caramel and dried fruit, almonds and spices. Full bodied caramel sweet flavour with spice, figs, dates and vineous warming alcohol.

Bottle at Kurt. Brown with a beige head, fine lacings. Aroma heavy malty (caramel, dark fruits), moderate hoppy. Flavor heavy sweet, moderate bitter, well balanced. Full body, lot’s of sediment.

75cl bottle @ Delices de caprices. Pours a dark brown with a reddish hew and a creamy head and lacings. Nose is yeast, bubblegum, port, dried fruits, and caramel. Full bodied. Smooth and sticky. Taste is liquorice, yeast, plum and citric notes. Warmth from alcohol. A true sipper. Nice.