Intended as the ’dubbel’ version in this barrel-aged Vleteren series, but perhaps 8% ABV is a bit much to still use the term ’dubbel’... Anyway, bottle of less than a year old. Tightly ’membranous’ lacing, off-white, thick, even somewhat frothy, dense and stable head over an initially clear, deep burgundy bronze coloured beer with red copper hue, fully translucent. Aroma of caramel, hazelnut paste, fig, dry earth, blackberry, soggy brown bread, raw potato, dried thyme, green and unripe banana, some vanilla-like oak but only (too) subtly so, vague hints of raspberry vinegar, moldy nut shells, dry liquorish candy, faint ruby port, soap, damp tree leaves, old paper, moist wood. Lively fruity onset, sweet but not cloying and balanced with a basic sourishness, hints of pear, fig, some banana, peach and blackcurrant, medium carbo but perhaps still a tad sharp for this style, ’fresh’ and lean, full malt body, caramelly sweetish but also notably nutty from the start with a bittering toasted edge that grows ever stronger, while spicy yeasty notes develop on top, phenolic but in the gentle, clove-like way rather than becoming too obnoxious, herbal hoppiness in the end, softly bittering and drying, earthy, bit spicy, working well together with an equally softly drying woodiness which, unfortunately, yields not many tannin aromas retronasally and remains, in all, fairly limited; ends with ongoing nutty malt bittersweetness, very late but effective earthy and rather superficial hop bitterishness, drying yet only subtly ’old furniture’ woodiness and a dash of warming, rum-like alcohol. Quite alright to me, but given that I did like the other (stronger) versions quite a lot, I had higher expectations: in this one, the wood factor remains a background issue, clearly less outspoken than in the two others, and to my taste not outspoken enough. Yet, all things considered and regarded as a dubbel which it indeed claims to be (as "Bruin", which is more or less the same thing in Belgium), this is perfectly enjoyable, not showing any unforgivable technical flaws at all and at the same time creating some depth and richness in the mouth. More ’wood effect’ would probably have made this better but it does have subtle spicy and yeasty qualities which manifest themselves only at higher temperatures and under more detailed scrutiny. Doubtlessly a good one to cellar for some years, but I stick to my original opinion that it does not quite live up to the standard of the two stronger versions in this series (the tripel and the quadrupel towering over this dubbel, so to speak).

Bottle at Appellation Wines tasting. Muddy brown body with no head. Faint lacing. Aroma of fruit pudding, red wine and tomato juice. Flavour of brown sugar and stewed tea. Medium body with a powdery mouthfeel. Soft fizz. Far too sweet for my taste...

Bottle at appellation. Pours murky brown, nose is sugary, caramel, toffee, taste is sweet, sugary, toffee, light fruit.

bottle at home... dark brown .. thin lacing ... soft herbal yeast nose ... odd tofee .. swet malts .. but something very odd and gerbal

Bottle thanks to Stuu666. Appearance - muddy brown. Nae heid. Nose - orange and toffee. Taste - more of the same. Palate - medium bodied with a tangy texture and a long dry yet still fairly sweet finish. Overall - a bit too sweet.

Dark brown with thin head. There’s a vinous, woody tartness in aroma and taste. Flavour has some dark, sweet dried fruits and a dry finish.

bottle scurabuona schiuma ben maltata leggero miele poco amara leggere tosture morbida

Fonefan 300814. Brown colour with a beige head. Aroma is caramel, roasted malt, hop. Flavour is roasted malt, dried fruits, caramel, hop, oak, nuts, cellar notes. Medium body. Ordinary beer.

Bottle. Creamy off-white good mostly lasting head. Dark amber colour. Moderate malty and hoppy and yeasty aroma. Moderate bitter flavor. Striong dark fruity esters. Average moderate bitter finish. Oily palate.