Val-Dieu Grand Cru

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

Bottle 75cl. Pours a dark coppor colour with a normal size head and little carbonation. Smell is very much that of dried fruits, such as plums and raisins. Taste is about the same with also some good spices there in the mix. Good beer.

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

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.

Head is initially small, frothy, light brown, mostly diminishing. Body is hazy medium hazy orange-brown, bottle conditioned. Aroma is moderately malty (cookie), lightly hoppy (flowers), lightly yeasty (cobwebs), with light notes of brown sugar, clove, tangerine, banana. Flavor is heavily sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter. Medium to full body, watery/velvety texture, lively carbonation, lightly alcoholic. Like most Val-Dieu products, this is a mid-to-high 3’s level brew, nicely made and very pleasant, but not quite stellar. Sweet, but not cloying. VERY well-hidden alcohol for being around 10%.

Cork escapes quickly as the cage was tossed. Dark brown liquid with a moderate light tan head that settles to a thin dense lid. Aromas of dark bread dough, with currants, light grapes, mild orange and a hint of spice. Smooth palate that seems to get somewhat sticky at times. Sweet fruity flavors abound. Stewed prunes, dates, figs, bananas, pears, apples, raisins and light citrus and spice. This really does have a wassail quality. Should have cracked this one on Christmas. Nice brew, perhaps not a grand cru, but enjoyable. Does not stay sweet in the mouth and actually dries out a bit in the finish and linger is rather "skinny" with a touch of vanilla left swirling about. This is way to drinkable for 10.5%.

A bitter woody nose, ripe red plums and chocolate, deep garnet, pours a tiny firm toffee head. Faint pit fruit flavour, almonds also, quite nutty too, bitter and dry. Very good.

750ml Bottle (Rating #1900): Aroma of yeast, light dark ripe fruits, slight caramel, slight fruit, light prune, and cola. Poured brow with a hint of amber in color and large, dense, creamy, tan/light brown head that lasted throughout. Cloudy. Sparkling. Full of medium, large, and huge particles throughout. Good to very good lacing. Flavor is light to medium sweet. Tastes of malts, raisin, light yeast, light caramel, slight wood, slight cocoa, light dried ripe fruit, light raisin, slight fig, and a hint of tobacco. Medium body. Coating, slightly chalky texture. Average carbonation. Sweet, yeasty, dark ripe fruit and caramel finish is lightly dry.

My Bottom Line:
Doughy yeast, toasted malts and berry-infused caramel coalesce in this pillowy Belgian Strong Ale, leading to a leafy, wet earth-like hop bitterness.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A sheet of white foam laces atop the burgundy-laced dark brown.
-Alcohol is amazingly well hidden.
-Bubbles are plentiful yet soft on the palate.
-The mouthfeel is not too heavy for a beer this size; dextrins are levelled and dried out just enough in the finish.

Bottle.