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Val-Dieu Grand Cru

Val-Dieu Grand Cru - Belgian Strong Ale

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 Percentile 
95
overall
A Belgian Strong Ale brewed by
Brasserie de l’Abbaye du Val-Dieu

Aubel, Belgium

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in  Advanced 
2193.73/5.03.7/5.010.5%87.7Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler P  Stats

Commercial Description:
The new masterpiece from the Val-Dieu brewery. A very complex and full-bodied beer with a long aftertaste. The brewmaster advices to cellar the beer for a year for it to unfold its full potential.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 Madsnp (290), Odense C, Denmark
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Jun 24, 2009  
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.


 ChristianScheffel (3013), Odense, Denmark
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/515/20
Jun 15, 2009  
Dark brown with a lasting off-white head. Aroma of caramel and dried fruit, almonds and spices. Full bodied caramel sweet flavour with spice, figs, dates and vineous warming alcohol.


 stouby (1785), Holbaek, Denmark
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/515/20
Jun 13, 2009  
Bottle at Kurt. Brown with a beige head, fine lacings. Aroma heavy malty (caramel, dark fruits), moderate hoppy. Flavor heavy sweet, moderate bitter, well balanced. Full body, lot’s of sediment.


 Dedollewaitor (2961), Odense, Denmark
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/515/20
Jun 5, 2009  
75cl bottle @ Delices de caprices. Pours a dark brown with a reddish hew and a creamy head and lacings. Nose is yeast, bubblegum, port, dried fruits, and caramel. Full bodied. Smooth and sticky. Taste is liquorice, yeast, plum and citric notes. Warmth from alcohol. A true sipper. Nice.


 alobar (857), Harleysville, Pennsylvania, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/57/104/515/20
May 22, 2009  
Dark brown color with creamy off-white head with aroma of dark fruit, brown sugar, some caramel, and alcohol, Complex flavor of dark fruit, spice, yeast and light alcohol. Excellent lacing. Nice beer.


 jcr (1027), Jasper, Indiana, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/515/20
May 18, 2009  
750 ml. Fizzy tan head that reduces to pools floating atop a hazy brown body with orange highlights. Sweet aroma of brown sugar, cookie, overripe dark fruit, week-old banana, slight band-aid and mustiness. Hint of flowers and clove. The flavor is heavily sweet and lightly bitter and finishes moderately sweet and moderately bitter — enough bitterness to take the edge off the sweetness and keep it from becoming cloying. Medium to full body with a texture that starts watery but turns smooth and somewhat sticky. Tasty and enjoyable.


 Damico (106), Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/105/518/20
May 15, 2009  
It’s so great unscrewing the cork top and opening up a Belgian like this that you never heard of to bring an unexpected aroma of sweet apple orchards. That flavor tames itself and the apple flavor comes in more subtle than the smell as it finishes on the palate. The flavor is a fresh strong ale just like you were in Belgium if you closed your eyes. Crisp and delicious!


 MartinT (4781), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/57/104/515/20
May 13, 2009  
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.



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