Val-Dieu Grand Cru

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

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.

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

Bottle: Nice pop of the cork with a little gushing of oaky brown head. Pours a nice dark brown mahogany color with a nice ruby hue. The nose is bright with raisin and wood, some nutty dark cocoa and dusty almond note. The flavor is meaty with some chewy malts and a slap of alcohol and maple in the tail. A little sweeter than I like in these, but it’s still very nice; quaffable, strong, malty, yeasty. Yum.

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: Poured a clear deep brown color ale with a full foamy head with good retention and great lacing. Aroma consists of sweet malt with some candi sugar and some dry fruit characteristics. Taste is also a well balance mix between rich Belgian malt with notes of candi sugar and some dry fruits such as raisins and plums. Full body with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Very well done and some thing that I would have on a regular basis.

Dark brown pour with a minimal beige head. Big Belgian nose with yeasty, bready notes ... very malty. Flavor is rich and malty with an interesting nearly sour tang ... almost a touch of Flanders Red. Nice body and mouthfeel. Great.

2008-03-01. Dark brown body with a medium tan head. (3+). Sweet, alcoholic aroma with sweet sugary notes, dry alcohol. Similar flavours with dark fruity accents, sugary sweet malt notes. (7+) Smooth average to medium palate. Nice.
Bottle at Zythos Festival, St. Niklaas

Toffee and caramel join the plums and cherries in the nose. Dark mahogany brown body with ruby highlights topped by a generous and lasting creamy tan head that coats the sides of the glass with lacing. Very sweet and fruity flavour features raisins, plums, cherries and brown sugar. Light bitterness keeps it from becoming cloying. Medium body with strong but very soft bubbled carbonation. Snifter. Cellar temperature. Bottle (BB 02/2010) purchased at Bottleworks in Aug-08.