Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
(Bottle: 75 cl) Very orange beer with visible impurities. Head is extremely thick, almost like whipped cream. First impression of the flavor is sour (like a gueuze) but underneath I definitely sense the added candi-sugar. Furhermore it has a distinct, dry bitterness. This beer has this musty, foxed way about it, which is quite typical for the small Belgians. 091102
TBone (30139) reviewed Lichtervelds Blond from De Dolle Brouwers 20 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Bottled (BB 07/2006)
Golden color with huge white head. Typical DDB sweet yeasty aroma is strong, already when you open a bottle, you can recognize the brewery. Otherwise only slight hops in the nose. Medium-bodied, strong acidy, citrusy hopping, a bit Orval-like. Hay and pepper also in the flavor. Long bitter aftertaste.
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 10 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 10
Bottle at the 4/17/2005 Montreal tasting, shared with Rastacouere, Muzzlehatch, Tiggmtl, MartinT, Beerbuzzmontreal, Olivier and Simon. Sipped while cooincidentally listening to the Beatles’ "I want you". Aroma bursts forth from the bottle a full, intense and divine creation of sensory stimulants. So good, the bottle was passed around and people waited in line to get "seconds" of smelling the bottle. I described the aroma as "just pure goodness" but I will try to elaborate on that. Fully rounded, never sharp notes of soft oak woodiness, red berries, soft grapes, caramel, toffee, sweet cherries, marzipan, maple, vanilla, subtle yet strong Belgian yeast, touches of light dough/honey and a bit of drying tannins for balance. Wow. Appearance is a thick-looking vibrant auburn-copper-amber color, with lacing as the small white head quickly recedes (no doubt 5 years in the cellar, oak aging, and a high alcohol). Can the flavor live up to the aroma? It’s possible, I dare to think. And to some extent, it does. The flavor of a beer, in my mind, is a much more difficult beast to control and perfect, having to meld balance, mouthfeel and actual taste altogether perfectly. Perhaps I am just an easier judge of aroma, but it seems easier to imagine a perfect aroma than a perfect flavor. That being said, there was a little less intensity to the flavor than the aroma, some very light oxidation, a touch of dryness where it dosent belong and maybe a slight receding of firm, thick maltiness. But this is criticism the beer brings upon itself. I think near-perfect beers are easier to find faults with, being so close to perfect. It is easy to hold them to a higher level, created by their sheer magnificence. The malt is nonetheless, thick, rich, creamy and filling. Candied apples, soft notes of smoked cinnamon, vanilla, syrupy cherry liqueur of the finest variety. Bits of dry barley, light maple, playful Bordeaux wine fruitiness and light oak, never overdone, on the finish. Distinct Belgian nuances from the yeast, light raisins, dates, plums and delicate brown sugar. Perfect mouthfeel, full and not thin ever, but yet so easily drinkable for me. Alcohol gives some warmth as it goes down, but does not show anywhere near 12%. A most treasured experience, drinking this beer, and hopefully, with some luck, one I will have again. Score is very difficult to give on this as far as flavor and overall, I could easily justify a perfect score, especially taking in to account the graceful way this has aged. But I will discount the flavor a point, and see what I think next time I have it.
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 10 | Flavor - 10 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 10
3/2011 - This is my Belgian beer obsession. If it is on the menu I am ordering it. My favorite of the Belgian dark strong ales. A phenomenally rich and fruity delight. ++++ Sampled from an 11.2 oz brown bottle this fine brew pours a cloudy caramel color with a large tan head. The aroma is marvelous with sweet cherry and apple elements. The texture is syrupy yet strongly carbonated at the same time. The flavor is sweet with loads of cherry and apple fruit flavors, a thick and sweet middle, and a hoppy and spicy finish. Incredible!
MiP (20366) reviewed Boskeun from De Dolle Brouwers 20 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5
Draught. Cloudy golden colour. Peppery flavour. Aftertaste has a hint of marcipan.
TBone (30139) reviewed Oeral from De Dolle Brouwers 20 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Bottled, labelled as Museumbier (BB 09/2005)
Very hazy orange, huge cloudy white head. De Dolle nose: yeast, banana, leather and lemon. Smooth, carbonated, medium-bodied. Lemony with late citric bitterness and spices, some funky horseplanket flavors. When warms, gets more sweet notes.
Boutip (9769) reviewed Dulle Teve from De Dolle Brouwers 20 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Bottle: Poured a murky brown color ale with a small off-white bubbly head with average retention. Aroma is spicy with some barnyard malt. Taste is somewhat spicy (honey, cloves?) with some notes of floral malt and light funky yeast. This is not bad but was expecting a bit more character and I’m wondering if something was not wrong with this bottle, will have to re-rate that one.
omhper (44752) reviewed Lichtervelds Blond from De Dolle Brouwers 20 years ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 7.5
Bottled. Cloudy golden, small creamy head. Flowery aroma. Medium sweet with soft, dense mouthfeel. Intensely hoppy, notes of pear and pine, and a perfectly modelled malty body. Damn good!
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
Bottle, thanks to Dorwart for the trade! Dang! Gushes upon opening, and I had to stop to clean up. Oh well. Pours like a big ol’ Coca-Cola, with a foamy head. There was a whiff of cherry when the gusher hit, but it wasn’t in the glass. I can’t get the Coke impression off my mind when I taste it. I do get some figs as I go along. Roasts are very delicate, and more than matched by the alcohol. Bottle fermentation has really given this a nice spumanti quality, or more like a Jack and Coke (there it is again). Well, being as it’s a Belgian, I wouldn’t have expected it to hew too closely to style, but damn if this isn’t one sweet brew! Additional note: Oooh, I had this rated at 3.7, but as I finish drinking the beer, it just gets more intense. That worth a few more notches! Yum!
MiP (20366) reviewed Special Extra Export Stout from De Dolle Brouwers 20 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
Bottle. Sweet, spicy liquorice aroma. Unclear, almost black colour. Very big, stable, creamy, light brown head. Very flavourful, roasted coffee. Also quite fruity and salty. Sweet coffeeish aftertaste, also very bitter. ABV is noticable in the finish, but not very clear before that. Very high carbonation.