Clarkvv (16523) reviewed Oerbier Special Reserva from De Dolle Brouwers 21 years ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
2002 bottle 6-8 months after bottling
Wow, magnificent aroma of bordeaux wine, quite young smelling, with some definite oakiness. Also lurking in there is some alcohol, ripe berries, light citrus and plenty of yeast. Aroma is incredibly sniffable and full. Moderately hazy (bottle conditioned it says) with some light apricot oranges, some rose tinges and a lovely off-white head with some light reddish hues. Big vinous flavor immediately sets in, with tons of wood notes, a hint of cherry and then the beer comes on. Medium-full body, tremendously chewy yeast and ever so delicately lurking. The bordeaux certainly takes the show, but the beer adds a decidedly yeasty flavor, that works very well. Finish is chewy, some hints of caramel, with a hint of spice. A bit of orange fruit towards the end and some sweetness comes out. On the aftertaste is a lingering flavor of strawberries and grapes that is immensely pleasant. A beer that does so many things. I could easily sip this beer for hours on end. Deliciciously complex and brings the best of both worlds. Tons of leathery tannins, grape skin and on the finish a flavor that reminds me much of pomegranate. Exquisite with strong, ripe cheese. The only thing I wanted more of, was a bit more malt depth, to provide a more powerful beer flavor. But then, I think I need to appreciate the subtlety.
>2005 bottle drunk on 9/30/07
Extremely enticing aroma is much more apple-like and tart than expected. Juicy and tart red/pink apples, with a touch of grape enliven this fully fruity aroma, as a well-attenuated maltiness of raisins, light caramel and honey brace it. Light phenols and very soft wood notes that help soften the alcohol (which is, then, very well-concealed). Very strong aroma, with no flaws.
Delicious Belgian Dark Strong ale shows so much more interesting yeast character than almost all in its class, which is why De Dolle is so well set apart from other brewers.
2015 bottle drunk 12/12/15 at Festivus 2 (brewed 2013).
Not having had this one in over 8 years, but being very curious and having such strong memories, I urged my friend to get a bottle for $12 bucks. Not bad at all for a bar price.
Unfortunately, while I wasn’t disappointed in the beer overall, I was disappointed relative to how well I remember the beer. The integrity of the aroma and flavor was not so much the problem, as the very thin, bone dry, nearly astringent texture. Very, very light in body and though the carbonation was tight and natural, I was just left wondering where was the supple maltiness that I remembered? Incredibly dry, slightly chalky, heavily mineralesque wine and barrel notes greatly outdo the thinned-out body. Still, a pleasant drink and you could certainly do much, much worse. Will have to try some old bottles to see if my tastes have changed or this was just a subpar batch. Sounds like Ernest was unimpressed, as well, though. 8/4/8/3/15.
Rating is a mix of the 3 vintages I’ve rated.
Ungstrup (52110) reviewed Lichtervelds Blond from De Dolle Brouwers 21 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
The color is an unclear yellow and it has a beutiful head. The aroma is of corriander and yeast. The flavor is distictivly smoke - which is very unlikely for a Belgian Blond - but quite nice. Besides the smoke it also contains notes of malt and yeast before it ends on a dry corriander note. A lovely blonde.
Ungstrup (52110) reviewed Oerbier ( 2000 - ... ) from De Dolle Brouwers 21 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
The aroma is sweet malty with clear notes of yeast. The color is a hazy dark amber and it has a fine head. The flavor is malty and complex with caramel and yeast. The alcohol runs prickling over the tongue and gives it a good mouthfeel. A lovely beer.
Ungstrup (52110) reviewed Oeral from De Dolle Brouwers 21 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
A hazy dark orange beer with an enormous white lasting head (atleast when drunk from a tulip). The aroma is rather spicy - I can’t pick up that much, but yeast, corriander, and caraway. The flavor is sweet and rather complex containing notes of honey, oranges, corriander, and other for me unrecognizable spices. The end is both sweet and bitter combined with the alcohol tingling the tongue. The palate is good - especially considering it weighing in at only 6% ABV.
My rating for the Kavijaks edition: Hazy orange with a huge beige head. The aroma is sweet with strong notes of appricot and lighter notes of yeast. The flavor is sweet spicy with coriander standing out, but also with a light fruity touch. 6/3/7/3/13
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
A black beer with a fine light brown head. The aroma is sweet malty with notes of roasted bread. The flavor is rather complex on a background of alcohol it contains prunes, plums, roasted bread, and bitter coffee - before it ends on a dry bitter hop note. A very nice beer.
Dogbrick (24210) reviewed Stille Nacht from De Dolle Brouwers 21 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
Courtesy of Kahn's in Indy: This brew is a dark golden brown/orange color with a very thick off-white head. Thick and sticky lacing. Complex aroma of alcohol, sweet fruit, vanilla and malt. Medium-bodied and borderline cloying at times, but with a satisfying array of flavors. The different fruits like plum and apple are at the forefront. There is also a nice malt, spice and alcohol presence. The finish is very sweet with a lot of yeast. Taking your time with this one is the way to go. A very nice beer.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 9.5
[I had this one at the Kulminator in March 2004] The aroma is fantastic - dominated by sweet fruit notes; berries, cloves, and alcohol. The color is a slightly hazy amber with a small disappearing beige head. The flavor is very much like the aroma but combined with the alcohol prickling the tongue. This is truly a fantastic beer.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Dark brown, fully hazy; yellowish head, fast gone. Slightly smoked, faint chocolate nose. Very burnt taste, lots of restsweetness, but mainly burnt-bitter. Full bodied, chewy even. It's a stout on demand. I do not like Belgian stouts in general, so in its' style it's OK. The US may have it. Retry 17/02/2019 Completely different beer than remembered. Huge yellow-cream head, stable, over near-black beer. Yeasty nose, with roast, and lots of roasted, bitterish malts. Malty flavour, dry-ish with just a bit of diary. Medium to well-bodied. I did like it this time, definitely.
Ungstrup (52110) reviewed 21 3x7 Jong from De Dolle Brouwers 21 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
[Vintage 98, sampled February 2004] An unclear orange brown beer with a fine head. The aroma is sweet with notes of corriander, hops, fruit, and plums. The flavor is sweet with notes of spices and corriander. The end is dry and hoppy with notes of corriander. A very nice beer.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
Amber, foggy body. Off-white, homogeneous head, mostly diminishing and fairly lacing. Malty, coffee (branded) aroma. Moderately sweet, lightly bitter initial flavour. Coffee-flavours. Lightly bitter, ligthly sweet (long) finish. Overwelming malty finish. Very pleasant beer.