Westmalle Dubbel

Champagne bottle from corner market here in beer heaven Seattle. One year in bottle. Pours clear ochre with foamy tan head. Aroma of apricots, sugar, figs, cloves. Flavor of burnt sugars, orange peel, ripe bananas, hints of caramel and toffee. Lingering finish of earthy ripe fruit skins. Slightly oxidized. Luxurious foam clings until the end. Mightily satisfying.

Bottle from monopoly outlet, CC Vest. Pours hazy brown, like coffee, with small offwhite head. Aromas of ripe red fruit and toffee. Same taste. Perfect carbonation. Semi dry finish that dries up. Great beer!

11.2 fl. oz. bottle. Pours a cloudy maple brown with a sizable cream head. Sits beautiful in glass. Aroma is of biscuit, malt, and some brown sugar. Flavor is subtly sweet, some butterscotch, malt, raisin, plum and dark cherry. Strangely, the flavor (dark fruit) and carbonation (pearly) remind me of champagne. Finishes slightly bitter, but mild. Overall, a well balanced ale that stays light on the palate. Not my favorite dubbel, but definitely quality.

like any good dubbel, this comes across with a multitude of dried and dark fruits, carmelized even. of course this should be served at the proper temperature, however when one finds that ideal level of warmth you will never again underestimate the importance of this serving technique. when warmed and sipped at the correct rate of speed, this comes across more complex then the wildest red wines of your dreams, and far more drinkable even. this is the best dubbel out there, and that may by my favorite style. in fact, this is probably the best beer ive ever had, this is my first 5 and maybe the only one ill ever have. at the same time, let it be known this is one of a very small handful of reviews i have written without drinking the beer at the same time, and i only do so with huge caution. each of the times ive had this, the words eluded me to best describe its wonderfulness, and it has taken a great time to contemplate it. as simple as it sounds, take a look at the label’s color and keep that in mind as you drink this no colder then 50 degrees. dont waste your time with the 330ml, the 750 is a must. this is the best of the trappists ive had, and so many of them were mindblowing, many of them i have still not reviewed because like this i cannot properly articulate my feelings for their complexities.

33cl bottle from Vinmonopolet. It poured a dark amber colour with a medium big beige head that settles down fast in the glass. The aroma smells of malts and raisins and alcohol. The flavour tastes of roasted malts, plum, dark caramel and a hint of alcohol. It has a medium long aftertaste.