Westmalle Dubbel

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

33cl, from De Hopduvel Gent, easy to drink Trappist, yet complex, cloudy, nearly no head, good brew

Big beige foamy head, not lasting. Dark brown. Aroma: malty, fruity, nutmeg? Taste: fruity, caramel, hiding alcohol. Minor bitterness. Nice dubbel.

On tap at Carlsens. Really nice beer. Beautiful brown look and malty aroma. Flavor is some sour and sweet with a wonderful finish. An always true beer!

33 cL bottle, before 27/03/03, sampled early July 2005: murky, orange brown – light brown, tight bubbled foam diminishes into a thin wispy mosaic…Plumy, cherry skin aroma with full yeasty notes, raisins, brown sugar, honey, and toffee. Well carbonated palate is initially fizzy, but as it warms subdues a little bit to become the perfect delivery system. Soft, luscious apple flesh, sweet plum juice, figs, lightly bitter honey and an elegant warm doughiness blend in beautiful combination, a close rival to its cousins Westy 12 and Rochefort 10. 9/4/9/5/18 4.5

11.2 fl oz bottle. Best before 27/03/03, sampled 28 November 2005: modest, light brown, small bubble Styrofoam…diminishing into a thin, patchy film. Thin, watery edges surround a cloudy, deep brown-cedar body with violet highlights. Sweet prunes, chestnuts, toasted toffee, alcohol laced caramel, and dark cherry and grape skins make up a superb aroma. Complex flavour profile with dusty milk chocolate, smooth toffee, yellow cake, tobacco, bitter-sweet honey, and bitter tangerine zest. The finish is light, sweet and fruity with a lingering bitterness. Still a great treat, but already declining since the sample 6 months ago or so... 9/4/8/4/17 4.2

Bottle from BevMo. One of the best dubbels out there. Dark reddish-brown color with a huge off-white head. Aroma is fruit, yeast, and sweet malts. Flavor is malty with dark fruits (raisins, plums, etc). Nice smooth medium-full palate.

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.

Malt and spice aroma, a softer malted but yet full taste with the freshen your breath spice aftertaste. doesnt have your usual Trappist overbearing alcohol presence. I like it better than the tripel. More of what I look for in beer, as opposed to most other Belgian ales, which seem more like thick meads.

Thick, cloudy mahogany shaded body with staying beige head. Aromas of fig, toffee and woods with a slight alcoholic undercurrent. Some brighter pineapple and orange shades shine through at times. A peppery sensation leads a palate wrought with chocolate and fruit flavors. Cocoa powder, plum and some brandy. The body is quite overcarbonated and it costs a bit too much but it is a fine beverage.