7.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
A very explosive beer. The color is hazy red and it has huge fast disappearing orange head. The aroma is sweet with notes of wood, yeast, alcohol, and prunes, but also a sourness, as if it is too old. The flavor is acidic with notes of alcohol, red currant, grapefruit, and a dry hoppy end. The acidity draws out the mouthwater. It seems as if this beer is over the top - but it is still a very nice beer. Thanks to Mads Berg for sharing this.
Tried
on 20 Jun 2004
at 02:24
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8
I agree with Brian’s comments, this is kinda overrated, but still a good beer IMO. Liquid oak color, the nose is very complex of cherries, brandy, oranges, sugar candy and oak. The mouth is very tart and not rounded at all. Cherries and vinious traits come through with a bitter dry finish. The alcohol is relatively well hidden. I would say if you have a bottle wait a couple of years when things start to round out.
Tried
from Can
on 23 May 2004
at 00:33
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Once I removed the cap the cork immediately exploded from the bottle and the beer spewed forth. Pours with a large head and a cloudy yellow-orange body with abundant suspended material. Aroma is dry and sour, with pineapple, spices, earthy/musty notes, and a touch of white grape. Reminiscent of a Saison or lambic (and of course several Tripels). The flavor is neither too sweet nor too dry, with pineapple and orange notes delivering just enough citrus character to the otherwise dry, crackery, spicy, very estery body. Bitter finish with detectable alcohol. Tight carbonation leaves a nice mouthfeel. A bit rougher around the edges than some Tripels I've tried, but the main drawback is the steep price (I believe I paid $11.99/bottle). Perhaps the most "typical" offering I've tried from De Dolle. However, this is characteristically well-done.
Tried
from Bottle
on 19 Apr 2004
at 22:54
8.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
A hazy dark amber beer with a fine head. The aroma is sweet malty with hints of sourness. The flavor is sweet and sour, malty and very complex - with the alcohol completely hidden. A truly amazing beer. Thanks a lot to Jeppe (BierKöning) for sharing this one with me.
Tried
on 22 Mar 2004
at 13:29
8.4/10
—
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.
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.
Tried
from Bottle
on 22 Mar 2004
at 08:58
6.9/10
—
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.
Tried
on 21 Mar 2004
at 15:43
7.9/10
—
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.
Tried
on 21 Mar 2004
at 15:18
7.4/10
—
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
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
Tried
from Can
on 21 Mar 2004
at 14:39
7.8/10
—
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.
Tried
on 18 Mar 2004
at 16:54
8.1/10
—
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.
Tried
on 18 Mar 2004
at 10:26