Val-Dieu Grand Cru

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

Name: Winter
Date: 01/15/2006
Mode: Draft
Source: Brick Store Pub

dark red, frothy tan head, lightly spiced sweet fruity aroma, nice rich ripe fruit flavor, lots of plum and dates,
-------- /> Name: Winter
Date: 01/20/2006
Mode: bottle

just as rich as the draft version, still lacking the depth that would make it truly excellent

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.3/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4
-------- /> Date: 07/09/2008
Mode: Draft
Source: Brick Store Pub

Appearance: hazy dark red, thick creamy beige head, lots of drippy lace,
Aroma: sweet fruity aroma, light earthyness,
Body: creamy body,
Flavor: rich malt flavor, lots of fruity sweetness, touch of malt candy, essence of dark fruits including plum and fig, nice peppery spicyness, light bitterness adds balance without detracting from the ripe fruits,

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 17/20
Rating: 4.1/5.0
Drinkability: 9/10
Score: ***+/4

Dark brown beer with lots of sediments. Head is almost abscent and aroma has spices, overriped fruits and toffee. Sweet flavor with plums, raisins and roasted malt. Finishes of with a nice touch of warming alcohol.

(750ml bottle) Small, creamy tan head atop dark brown body with red highlights. Aroma is moderately sweet, prune/raisin, caramel, candi sugar, some orange, fig. Taste is sweet, raisin, caramel, prune, some candi sugar, orange, alcohol. Finishes light metallic. Creamy full body that holds the alcohol well.

Bottled 0,75 ltr (BB 06/2006)
Dark red-brown, firm small tanned head. Nose has fruity malts (plums), paper, hints of alcohol, not very strong nose. Medium-boded. Liqeurish palate. Sugary with dark malts, licorice, cardboard and fruityness (plums, raisins). In the finish alcohol is evident. Warming simple strong abbey ale and it is +27c outside in July when drinking this one!

Courtesy of Yespr. Comes as Winter. It’s dark brown with a red hue and a dense, creamy head. The aroma is sourish with notes of malt, fruit, lilacs, light raisin and the flavour has quite some sweetness, notes of malt, candy sugar, raisin, caramel and light alcohol. The body is nice and full, but a bit too sweet and the sourness is disturbing me a little bit too.

Zythos Beer Festival, Sint-Niklaas, Belgium 2005. Brown colour with a baige head. Spicy malty alcoholic aroma and a sweet malty light alcoholic taste. Medium body and a sweet warming alcoholic finish.

Tap, Café Morshuis Albergen. Diacetyl and a slight infection (this beer was beer of the month december 2005 and has been on tap since) but otherwise quite OK. Malty. Thick mouthfeel. Cherry sweets. The alcohol is totally hidden. Sweet and sugary. Touch of roast. Large glass for only € 2,-.

A Mes rate: 75cl bottle shared at home with our Weasel on my birthday.
Amazing candy floss and creamy alcohol aroma with the usually dull Belgian yeast doing a fine job. The cork came off with a really satisfying pop and the pour was excellent. Comes out a deep dark, almost opaque red brown with a head that makes it such fun to pour. A little too much yeast in the flavour. Slightly spoils the fruit, heavy caramel and glorious alcohol in the background. Chunky alcoholic, spice and yeast finish. Really good stuff.