Val-Dieu Grand Cru

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

Feb. 2007 - Beer poured dark brown, nice head and outstanding lacing. Rich strong aroma of dark fruits and spices. Flavor was predominantly dark fruits...prunes and figs noticeable. Some spiciness and lots of alcohol sweetness. Bordering on too sweet. Nice creamy mouthfeel. Nice beer.

Bottled, 75cl. Almost brown with an off-white head. Sweet aroma with dried fruits and some alcohol-notes. Malt, caramel, licorice, dried fruits, spices and hops in the flavor. Full, sweet body. Would like to try this one with a Christmas dinner. (060328)

750. 06/09?. Pours dark w/ minimal head. Alcohol fumes mix w/ raw sugar. Complex yet muddled palate, still very interesting. The spices are there in the beginning but it ends w/ the yeasty sweet alcoholic Belgian vibe. It’s nice.

75 cL bottle. Pours deep reddish/brown with a dense light brown head. Caramel malty and light fruity nose. Smooth and rather uncarbonated mouthfeel (compared to other Belgian beers). Mild caramel, subdued wineous notes, mellow yeasty flavour and a very controlled brettanomyces citric/acidity in the flavour. Finish holds a soft lingering fruity, caramel and light acidic note. Extremely wellbalance and delicious.

750 ml bottle from Bieropholie, shared with Phil, served at cellar temperature in a tulip glass. OC 10/09.

App.: Very deep ruby/brown, clear, greyish, off-white head. Aroma: Yeasty, deep, rich, slightly spicy malts, lots of dried fruits, strong citrus, a bit of alcohol. Palate: Medium body, soft effervescence. Flav.: Lots of rich chocolate, fruits, malts, nice citrus, thick and rich; quite sweet with a touch of bitterness, nice fruity malt finish, a little alcohol.

Really nice stuff!

[1161-20080301] Tap. Stuffy wooden box aroma with a slight evergreen tinge. Dark brown body with a long-lasting foamy light tan head. Dark toasted malt flavour has sweet but subtle meat notes. Medium-full body is smooth. Very nice, lovely blend.
(ZBF 2008; Sint Niklaas, BE)

Bottle 75 cl. Wow this was a bit surprise, and reminded me more of a Trappist Quardruppel then anything else. Large almost creamy like beige head that mostly lasted. Very thick as you pure it in the glass. Good display of lacework. Muddy like body with a very dark mahogany like color. Aroma was explosive with notes of overripe fruit (prune, date, fig, and raisin), caramel and grain, light roasted malty notes, almost vinous over the palate. Full bodied with an average carbonation and light sticky and alcoholic texture. Moderated sweet flavor with light notes of bitterness. Extremely nice and lingering finish. Reminds me of the Kasteel Donkel without the heavy underlying alcohol. Very nice beer!

Bottle @ Delices de Caprices. Pours dark brown with a nice lacing off white head. Sweet aroma of raisins, dark rum, caramel, bananas and toffee. Flavour of molasses, dried fruit, warming alcohol, caramel and yeast.