The dark Kompel, from a 33 cl bottle found at Waasland Drinks in Sint-Niklaas (strangely, because as far as I know, this brand is Limburg through and through, but anyway). Irregular, thick, frothy, off-white, lightly lacing, stable, moussy head over a warm brownish-red copper coloured beer with deep ruby tinge, clear but ’muddy’ and completely clouded, a lot more brownish too with sediment. Aroma of hard butterscotch candy, light banana, damp earth, sweetened beetroot, iron, dried fig, very old raisins, candied cherries, moist toast, sugared tea, gingerbread, liquorish, red apple peel, jute, caramel, sage, cloves, strawberry, honey, hay, old straw, peach. Fruity onset, tad estery with some banana, hints of unripe peach, dried apricot and redcurrant, more sweetish than sourish, minerally side notes, quite spritzy carbo, supple, somewhat soapy mouthfeel, bit thinner than average for a dubbel of 6%, with a slight metallic edge to it. Caramelly, bit resinous malt middle, supporting the dried fruitiness from the onset as well as upcoming clove-like phenols, sweet in its core but with a mildly bitterish toasted edge in the end which actually establishes a bit more body than expected based on the first sip. Finish continues this caramelly malt sweetness with bittering toastedness along with the phenols (bit liquorish-like) and the metallic aspect, but adds further leafy, bit spicy, earthy but quite effective hop bitterness as well, more so than usual for a dubbel. Lacks a bit in body, a tad too metallic and thin for a dubbel, but well-restrained in terms of fruity esters; the phenols on the other hand are quite pronounced, without becoming obnoxious. Carries more hop bitterness in its tail than your average more ’industrial’ or commercial dubbel and the toasted malt bitterness is a nice touch as well. Not a bad effort.

330ml bottle from trade with Benzai. Pours hazed deep amber, large tan head. Aroma is ripe dark stewed fruits. Taste continues, with berries, liquorice, dark fruits. It’s flavoursome alright, but soon becomes a little thin and watered down.

Bottle shared. Near clear golden with a big white head. Aroma of light yeast, herbs, light fruits and light malt. Flavour is light moderate sweet and bitter. Light medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

33cl bottle shared with Kermis at the "Disaster, Trump will be president" tasting :-( Thick white head. Hazy golden pour. Slight bitterness Refreshing.

Bottle shared at the Make Tony The Tiger Grrrrrreat Again tasting. Hazy dark amber with a medium cream head. Aroma of caramel, toffee, light overripe dark fruit and malt. Flavour is moderate sweet and bitter. Medium bodied with soft carbonation.

33cl bottle shared with Kermis at the "Disaster, Trump will be president" tasting :-( Thin creamy off white head. Hazy amber pour. An average dubbel

Bottle from that other slijter in Best, shared by Benzai, small sample. Slight hazy copper color, medium frothy head. Aroma is spicy, caramel, toffee. Sweet in taste, caramel, bit cardboard. Lots of carbonation. Not my favorite style.

Bottle @ home shared with Caesar. Hazy red amber color, medium sized beige head. Smell and taste malts, sweet malts, candy sugar. Average body, medium carbonation. Meh.

Bottle at home. Slight hazy reddish brown with a bit fizzy beige head. Brown sugar, light apple, mineral water, paper, plum skins, light tart exotic berries. Under medium sweet and itter with soft tartness in the finish. Just medium bodied with a bit watery feel. It’s quite bland, not even just sweet like a lot of dubbels but just very plain. Meh.

Bottle at home. Hazy golden with a bit fizzy head. Sweet malts, apricots, honey, cinnamon, red apple, bready yeast, quote grassy, dried old herbs, light metallic finish. Under medium sweet and bitter. Medium bodied with fizzy carbonation.