Val-Dieu Grand Cru

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

Sampled from a 750 ml brown bottle this beer poured a very dark brown color with a large creamy brown head. The aroma was malty with undertone of sweettart candies snf root beer. The flavor was tart and malty with notes of ripe fruits and brown sugar. The finish was long , malty, fruity and again had a touch of rootbeer. Odd but good.

750ml bottle, cork is dated 03/09 (fairly sure this is a best by date). So it goes. Richly sweet, indulgent aroma, with suggestions of plum, cherry, red grape, dark chocolate and molasses, along with lighter notes of dried flowers, bubblegum esters and roasty malt. Deep red-brown color, clear, with a lasting, fine, light tan head. Flavor follows the aroma very closely, with darkly sweet, sugary malts dominating fairly easily, blended with dried fruit, candyish tones, faint spice, earth and peppery alcohol along with a very slight degree of tangy bitterness late. Lingering raisin and carob. Palate is a bit syrupy and thick with creamy effervescence and a truly full body. A little one-sided to be included with the best of the style, but a worth a try to be certain.

On tap at Belmont Station (Thanks Ezra)--Poured a hefty yet silky brown body with some hints of amber. Next to no head evident. Nose of sweet bready, biscuity brown sugars. Smooth mouth feel with a finish of caramel, nouget, toffee, and brown sugar. Strong with the booze, but wel masked in complexities. Great beer!

Deep copper pour with off white head and lace. Light brown sugar and yeasty aroma. Brown sugar and bread on the taste. Medium bodied with good carbonation. A very nice beer.

09/2008 drink by date on cork. Mahogany color with a thin head. Regal smell of alcohol, plums, green apples. Medium/full bodied. Good taste of brown malts pit fruits with a spicy earthy yeastiness. A great fire side sipper. 937

Bottled. Pours a very dark brownish color. Sweet fruity aroma. A hint of alcohol is present. Very rich tasting. Slightly sweet dark fruit predominate this ale up front. Somewhat roasty. A hint of a grape-like flavor. Figs and maybe a hint of tobacco. Quite spicy. Alcohol is not really noticable, other that it’s warming effect. A good dark BSA. Quite enjoyable.

10/2007 cork as Val Dieu Winter. Pours dark brown, off white head. Aroma of dark fruits, candi sugar, malty. Flavor, malty and dark fruits; currants/prune , pronounced sweetness/sugar, yeasty, med-high carbonation. Flavorful, dark fruits really come forward and the finish remains sweet with warming abv.

Bottle from Delhaize. Nice dark colour. Sweet, fruity nose. Caramel and sugary taste. Very nice and apropos for the holidays.