Val-Dieu Grand Cru

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

Called "Grand Cru" at ZBF. Thanks to madsberg for finding this out. Draft. Murky nearly opaque brown bosy. Small tan head. Nose is cocoa, sweet malts, dark fruit but seems a bit too weak for what I was expecting. Taste is much better! Sweet, creamy malts, caramel, alcohol-soaked ripe fruits, light roasty notes, and a decent spice profile. Body is medium with light alcoholic warmth. Finishes the same but is seemingly much sweeter. Light spice, caramel, dark fruits, and a noticeable alcohol flavor.

Pleasant dark copper pour with lovely bubble action and a frothy, light mocha colored head. Aroma has whisps of alcohol, raisins, candied sugar and dates. Very malty flavor, with some toffee notes, a faint mention of chocolate and some trailing notes of alcohol. Mouthfeel is luxuriusly thick and creamy, and the alcohol, while evident, is not overblown. A most delightful Belgian - much better than their Tripel.

On tap at the Pianeta Birra, Rimini, Italy.
Dark brown/ruby coloured, small creamy head, sourish nose. Sweet malty and spicy aroma with notes of fruit, yeast and milk chocolate. Light fruity and sweet alcoholic finish.

2005 vintage Val-Dieu Winter from a 750ml bottle @ Hamiltons UCSD Beer Club Belgian Tasting. The beer lpours dark amber with a small thin head. The aroma is is sweet with notes of candied sugar. The taste is sweet with a bit of light carbonation. Amazingly drinkable, the alcohol is completly undetectable, I could drink a bottle and only realize when I stood up.

Bottled. Dark brown color, medium head. Aroma is malty and fruity, some chocolat, hint of raisin. Malty taste, again some chocolat, yeast. Quite typical belgian strong ale, but with a decent balance.

Sweet malt aroma that is good but lacks complexity. Flavor has some light charcoal and that lightly sweet Val Dieu house flavor. Dark brown appearance with lots of sediment. Like other Val Dieu beers, this one has a way of offering a heavy, powerful beer with refreshing qualities as well.

Bottle. Clear reddish brown, almost no foam. Sweet aroma of banana, black cherries, vanilla, toffee, dark bread and licorice. Full and sweet malty flavour of toffee, whipped cream, raisin, caramel candied oranges and licoroce. Full-bodied. Yeast, candied almonds and licorice in the finish. No traces of alcohol. Nice one!

Bottle. Rich dark mahogony with a big dark cream colored head. Malty,spicy, earthy, slight raisin aroma. Raisin, rich malt, caramel flavor with slight earthy/yeasty backing. Medium-full body. Slight alcohol warming, but in background. Lingering caramel, rasin/fig, and yeast.