Victory Abbey 8

Tap at browerij lane. Poured a deep copper with a thin off white head. Light nose kind of missing the yeast and candied sugars. Came off more as a session beer than an American Belgian. Somewhat thin in mouthful and depth of flavor. Not quite there yet.

Tap at Studio Square’s Craft Beer Week Fest 2009: Deep bronze with some clarity and a tan film of head that retains well. Dry spicy dark Belgian malt aroma with dry phenols over a fruity presence of mild dates and cocoa. Some spicy noble hops are noted as well. Fluffy crisp body with a dry flavor. Dry Belgian dark malts give off a soft dark fruit presence followed by lots of spicy phenols and a solid noble hop bitterness. A nice interpretation of the style. Not overly sweet like many U.S. attempts.

Tap. This one missed the spot as far as I’m concerned. I love this brewery, one of my favorites. Not sure if it was a particularly bad barrell or what. Poured murky light brown, quick disappearing head. Flavor was watered down ale. I missed any type of character this may have had. Not a fan.

Tap at Blind Tiger. Deep amber/brown beer. The aroma is lightly spicy with a touch of sweetness. It’s really not all that yeasty or spicy, just a soft sweet brown malt character with a bit of orange and some odd herbal hops. Blind, I’d have guessed this as an Alt. Meh.

Tap at the Blind Tiger. Wet malt flavor, with an astringent, stone fruit and musk finish. Spicy German hops in the aroma, kind of off style. Notes of bread yeast and mushroom. This hardly tastes like a dubbel to me.

Tap at Ginger Man in NYC. Amber color with an off-white head and good lacing. Is this a dubbel or tripel? Seemed like some kind of hybrid between the two. Aroma of bready malt and fruit. Flavor more of the same with brown sugar and some hops, good but not a standout. Palate medium.

Draft at ginger man/hattan. Poured a reddish color w/medium head. Somewhat creamy hoppy taste with some mild fruits. Pretty decent.

A quasi "hoppy tripel" but weaker with nice lacing - well made and simple but individualistic. nothing like any beer the words "Abbey 8" would evoke. Tap at Ginger Man, boy Sammy we must have crossed paths here at some point this week!!