Westmalle Dubbel

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

Bottle says best before 10/07/06. Poured into a trappist glass. Nice solid head quickly disspates with no lacing. Thick toasty caramel. Shows a beautiful red when held to the light. Lightly sweet with a slight sour taste. Quite fizzy with an abrupt finish.

Bottle. Good sweet brown sugar nose. Good flavor up front-raisin, brown sugar, dried fruits. Finish is dirty and bitter. Reminds me of home brew brewed with liquid malt extract. The finish is just a bit too odd for me.

Again, a possibly good beer wasted on someone who just isn't fond of the style. It looked good pouring, deep chestnut brown with an ample tan head. The aroma was raisins, currents, malt. The flavor disappointed. Slightly medicinal.

Dark brown with two fingers of light tan head. Prune aroma, light but bready sweet malts. Tastes are sweet with a tingly carbonation, caramel, prunes, and a yeasty spiciness.

My goodness this is one bad-ass dubbel. Deep amber with a moderate head, it’s got a big bready aroma. But what really kills is the combo of the lively mouthfeel - vibrant like a nice blond or tripel - with a deep, complex aroma that combines perky fruits like plums with a nice bite from coriander or cloves. Some might dock this beer because it’s just a shade thin for a dubbel, but I actually think that works in its favor.

Full-bodied. Fruity, warming with an almost salty bitterness.

Bottled Rating 14, rerated now from tap in Brussel: :
Fruity aroma, spicy, notes of plums. Fruity taste, very malty, notes of burnt chocolate and notes of cacao. Very pleasant and tasty.

Pours brown with a tanned head. Sweet with some bitterness. Aromas of fruits (prunes and pears) with some hints of yeast. Quite fizzy Co2 level. Long dry finish with some alcohol. Slightly overrated i reckon.