Val-Dieu Grand Cru

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

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.

Draught. At Cole’s, Buffalo, NY. What a surprise - this was pretty awesome stuff! Dark ruby-black, with a solid creamy mottled beige/light brown head. The aroma was all about the sweet caramel/candy malt and heavy sweet spice, light floral hops - it hid the booze really, really well - made me think of Christmas. The taste .... right on the money - the aroma seemed more complex, this was just sweet caramel, hints of candied fruit, alcohol and yeast. Average body, light carbonation, a little drying alcohol in the linger .... Very, very good, I’d have it again.

Bottle--Dark, dark brown color with a small head and medium lasting head. Aroma was slight, but was mostly raisins. The taste was full of malts with some caramel taste and slight carbonation. Produce place.

Brown Sugar, molasses and hints of anise on the nose. Pours dark brown. Raisons, brown sugar, spices, yeast and bread. Great Beer.

Bottled. Beer is clear, very dark brown, nearly opaque with a small, frothy, white, mostly and quickly diminishing head.<P> The aroma is malty with moderate notes of toasted grain, toasted nuts, light notes of chocolate; Hoppy with moderate notes of resin/pine; Yeasty with moderate notes of buttery pastery dough, basement; Moderate miscellaneous note of spicy alcohol. <P> The flavor is moderately-to-heavily sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter with a long, warm, trace bitter, lightly acidic, moderately sweet finish.<P> The body is full, the texture is velvety and the carbonation is lively.<P>Very rich and desserty.

Brown bottle, 75 cl, best before 03/10, via Importations Privées Bièropholie, savoured on October 18 2008; eye: ruby, clear, voluminous tan head that turns into a nice sheet, lots of lacing; nose: yeast, spices, caramel, fruity, alcohol; mouth: foamy, caramelized malt, alcohol, candied fruits, maple water, yeast, light ash, finale in caramelized malt with a light presence of spices, rich, rather sweet, slightly bitter, medium body, sticky texture, not much carbonation; overall: quite likalbe FRANÇAIS Bouteille brune, 75 cl, meilleure avant 03/10, via Importations Privées Bièropholie, savourée le 18 octobre 2008; œil : rubis, claire, mousse fauve abondante qui se transforme en une petite couverture, pas mal de dentelle; nez : levure, épices, caramel, fruité, alcool; bouche : mousseuse, malt caramélisé, alcool, fruits confits, eau d’érable, léger cendré, levure, finale en malt caramélisé avec une légère présence d’épices, riche, plutôt sucrée, à peine amère, corps moyen, texture collante, peu carbonatée; en résumé : bien aimé

BB 09-08. Dark brown pour with mahogany highlights and a brilliant head, full, creamy, almost rootbeer float-like, and beige; fully lasting head and plenty of great, tight lacing. Nose is decent with raisin, prune, lightly nutty toffee, brown sugar, yeast, and an earthy nutmeg spice to round it out with only hints of alcohol. Flavor is similar and rich in malts; notes of prunes, figs, raisin bread, toffee, and candi sugar. Taste is sweet but does carry a subtle earthy allspice note with minimal bitterness. Palate is nice, nearly full, silky, somewhat chewy, and soft to moderate carbonation. Finishes still mostly sweet, with a little dryness and notes of prune, the allspice, mild warmth, and a toffee aftertaste. Nice Grand Cru with very little to say bad about, but overall, a bit too sweet with no real memorable qualities. Good, not great.

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.