Westmalle Dubbel

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

03.18.05 330ml bottle dated 25.11.05 Woody brown pour with unflappable khaki head. Fun Belgian aromas, Fleer gum, plum, berries, rum-soaked raisins. Body is lighter than I expected, full but airy and plenty effervescent. Sour in a beautifully earthy way, much like a white Burgundy, also a bit mineral, reminiscent of pretzel salt on my lips. Finishes thoughtfully, bright, but maybe thinner than I’d hoped. Refreshing where I anticipated coating, crisp where I expected sweet, pleasantly dry to close. It’s about time I had this.

Ruby-brown body with moderate carbonation and very fine particulates. Thick, rippled and very persistent frothy beige head. Aroma is malty with elements of dark fruits such as plums and poached cherries, plus dark rum, mild esters, dark candy sugar and cloves. Nice leathery flavor with a warm cherry character and elements of toffee, maple syrup and cognac. Medium organic sweetness and some stealthy bitterness. Mouthfeel screams "sugar", but is not so thin as to detract from the flavor, and creates some silky smoothness. This one grew on me with repeated samples, especially from fresh bottles. At the right moment, this beer can be downright sublime.

Nez:De caramel gout:Elle goute epice.Je trouve des petites touche de lime ou de citron comme une triple.Sensation d’alcool en bouche.Resemble beaucoup a une triple je trouve.

Brown with a little clinging head. Malty nose on a fizzy high carbonated body. Same malt flavor but a rough finish. I think this bottle had spent too much time on a shelf.

Brown with a big head on pouring that soon dissapears.Very full flavour that explodes in your mouth Not as complex as I had anticipated but still a very good example of this style.

Bottle. Sweet nutty and malty aroma, light lemongrass and fruity candy notes, really diverse and attractive. Several different kinds of candy, indeed. Deep ruby-mahogany pour with a soapy light brown head. Crisp taste, bone dry and yeasty with soft maltiness and increasingly hoppy hoppiness. Very dry end is nutty, [regular-] grassy, and complex. Balanced and smooth. Darkly, portentiously fruity with a medium-full body. Superb dubbel - its hop profile is to be envied by just about everyone, everywhere. [May be the best dubbel I’ve had, I need to get my hands on some more Binchoise]

Pours deep, ruddy red-brown with a large tan head (including some dark brown sediment). Cherries, raisin, toast, spice, and a touch of banana in the aroma. Flavor is fairly dry with vinous character, caramel, and touches of cherry around the edges. High level of carbonation gives this beer a zesty mouthfeel. Finishes with alcohol and bitterness. A good beer but not distinctive.

Classic belgian dubble. Dark brown - malty and caramel but also a little fruity and sweet. All in all very good.