Westmalle Dubbel

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

33 cl bottle from LCBO...properly labeled with all the neccessary warnings. Pours a dark clouded red-brown ale into my Westmalle chalace with a proper 2 finger off-white cap..cap reduces to a proper mat and laces well. Aroma is intoxicating...chocolate, figs, smokey-vanilla bean sweetness and a musty under tone. Silken mouthfeel, creamy-cocoa character...best mouth feel and palate of any beer I’ve tasted! Starts with a warm shower of deeply toasted malts and coffee-cocoa tones which become balanced with some tame but assertive hop bearing...mid palate the mix gets more complex, there are a number of flavor decernments but the one that stands out is that of a chocolate covered smoked apple...finishes wet with more flavors arriving late;earthy dates, toffee-earthiness and smokey fruits...add to this a dangerous drinkability and inherent smoothness and we have one of the world’s best beers. There is little I can say compared to the accolades this beer has had from proper critics....all I know is that I wish I had a consatant access to it...if I did I may lose my love of German dunkler bocks.

Can’t believe I’ve not rated this. An old favourite. Almost opaque dark brown with persistent rocky head. Great aroma of malt, sultanas, yeast, caramel. Very smooth drinking. Love it.

Pale brown hear, large and thick. The aroma is fruity, making it very promising. The taste is very complew, with a fruity dominant. Slight alcoholic impression, but not overwhelming. Some bitterness but very well-balanced. I’d have this beer any time again !

Pours dark brown with a medium head. Aroma is a mouthwatering blend of bruit (berry) with a slight hint of spice. Flavor is delicious. Prune/raisin flavors mix perfectly with nuts and a slight bitterness.

330ml Bottle: Pours crimson-brown with a thick foamy head; incredible foam stability throughout here. Aroma is a beautiful blend of alcohol-soaked cherries, burnt caramel, and brown sugar. The flavour when cold is a muted combination of roasted malts, bitter apples, spices, and gentle hops. As it warms this turns from something great to something exceptional, an intricately crafted and balanced brandy-style beer with perfect creamy mouthfeel. Can’t wait to do it all over again.

Luxurious deep brown body capped with a creamy, marbled tan head. Grainy white sediment. Caramel and a surprising waft of Burton sulphur in the nose make me want to plunge right in. Sweet toffeeish maltiness balanced with some sourish, chocolate yoghurt notes. A distinctly hoppy, Orval-like dryness also. Yes, that’s right, sweet, sour AND bitter. And wickedly drinkable. Was saving a Rochefort 10 to initiate me into the 100 club, but this is more than worthy of the honour. A very sexy Dubbel. (Re-rate, 22/01/08) Was expecting to have to down-rate this slightly, but not a bit of it. Aroma and general yeastiness sourish, darkly fruity and slightly biting. A ringer for Westies 8 and 12. Sourish chocolate-smooth nuttiness, wholemeal, robust hop bitterness... and a lingering waft of freshbread in the aftertaste. Still top 10 material. (Another re-rate) Cannot be contained by karmeliet chalice. Blossoming irregular yellowy beige on mahogany. Nose noble, blood,choc yoghurt, hazelnut, biting yeasty freshness of Westy or English (Wadworth?), poetically noseworthy complexity of berry fruit bubblegum ,cherry,alcohol, banana.Wincing, almost menthol hops and CO2 if you over-inhale. And you must. Mmm. 9. Flavour opens with blood, nuts, choc,wholesome freshly risen bread,lingering sweet hop cheesecake biscuit, nuts again, marzipan but so well integrated,very shrubby Germanic hop. There’s a hairs breadth between this and Westy 8, and either could edge it on its day. Top 10 every time.

300ml bottle. pours w/a white head (slightly tan tinted) and a pearl brown hue. the head is quite spongy and slowly residual. aromas of cloudy hops, bread-like fruit, and fresh malts. taste is all over the map; dry hops, wet hops, toasted, but not burnt malts, lemon-citrus blend fruits, and an overall smooth yet carbonated mouthfeel with a pleasant, well-balanced finish. also - notes of oak and slight, non-offensive bitterness. A beer to enjoy...the dubbels are a new love of mine.

330ml bottle. NIce thick tan head when poured into the glass. Color is a deep reddish brown Malty aromas, medium mouthfeel, and nice carbonation. Good flavors, Very good beer.