Westmalle Dubbel

Brewed by Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Malle, Belgium

After dumping this into a trappist glass it foamed right up then faded out just as quick leaveing a thin golden and tan head with a redish brown color. This beer is full of suspended yeast particles that move as bubbles rise to the surface. The aroma is very floral and hoppy with some hints of pitted fruits. When i took my first sip my mouth was overwelmed with bitter hops and some hints of fruit and all of that dried right up. There is a nice cherry bitterness mixed in with the carbonation, also the yeast particles seem to pop on your lips as you sip on the beer. This beer does have the drying effect since after it is no longer in your mouth your palate becomes completly dry.

Bottle. Dark brown body with a thick pale brown lasting head. Heavy malty aroma, medium sweet, ok. Quite heavy flavour. Pleasant maltiness. Tiny hints of banana. Also some freshness. Very well composed and balanced. Heavy carbonation, but it is well hidden. (Brüssel (hotel room), 14.12.07)

pours a clear dark brown. plum raisin aroma. sweet smooth consistency with dry finish. spritzy front with mild complexity thruought. good.

330ml bottle from BevMo Carmel Mountain. This Trappist brew poured a very hazy coffee brown with a slight reddish tint. Head was light tan, thin, and creamy.....some lacing. Aroma was of toffee, raisins, and other dark fruits. As the beer sat, cherry aroma’s became more predominant. Medium in body and some what sweet. Another great brew from the Monks!

33cl bottle. Pours reddish brown with a thick and creamy brown/white head. Aroma of brown sugar, slightly sour and tart, a good amount of dark fruity malt. Flavor has lots of yeasty dryness backed by a requisite amount of fruitiness. High yeast presence. Grassy and earthy hops. Creamy with lively carbonation leading to a long, dry finish. Man... I try really hard, but Dubbels just aren’t my cup of tea.

Served in a chalice. Beer poured a dark brown with a nice creamy head. Plenty of carbonation, but not over carbonated. Malty taste with very little hop bitterness, little bit of an alcohol kick at the end. I would love to drink more than one, but with the price and alcohol content this may not be one of my better ideas. Good beer to drink, especially if you find a decent price on it.

330 ml. bottle. Clear brown with a nice tan head, good lace. Dark fruity esters, brown sugar, and some spiciness in the aroma. Smooth, medium body, lightly effervescent, dry, clean palate. Malty sweetness up front, quickly followed by a tangy bitterness which really balnces this nicely. Not at all sweet in the finish.

This trappist poured with frothy head and approached qualities of the better trappist dubbels I’ve had. The only difference was the Westmalle had a distinct bitter taste and aftertaste that the others don’t. I assumed this was inadvertant, so it knocked the score down. Still, this brew is excellent in flavor and richness for the genre. Unfortunately, it’s the same price as it’s best competitors @ $5.49 a bottle.