Bottle from Prešporská pivotéka. Heavy airy beige head - most disappears pretty quickly, but a thin layer remains stable. Cloudy dark brown colour, some sediment. Aroma of roasted malt, fruity, alcohol, caramel, also minor whiskey-like notes, with smoke and wood. Mouthfeel is creamy, smooth, alcohol evident, but not annoying. Taste is expertly balanced medium to heavy sweet, medium bitter. The finish is rather sweet and sticky. It leaves that warm feeling in mouth and throat that I know from whiskey.

In May 2011 I wrote this: had this 33cl bottle for some time, but never opened it: I am now in possession of a 2007 Cuve’e one and a half litre bottle, so it’s time for this small one to go! Best before 8th Nov this year, I poured it slowly into a Westmalle chalice, ensuring no sediment left the bottle. The body was a deep amber brown colour, murky and moody looking, the thin head of small bubbles just about covered the whole glass, with stronger depth around the rim forming a collar. The smell was of old sweaty, yet sweet molasses and treacle. The taste is also old/sweet, a strange combination of flavours, difficult to differentiate or seperate without waffling. The rich maltiness from those sweaty molasses contains the alcohol content very well, I had real problems picking up the 9.2% ABV this beer has. To call it a classic is easy and almost unsporting, but it is exceptional in it’s simplicity and elegance: so a classic it is!

330 ml bottle into chalice, best by 7/27/2016. Pours very murky dark brown color with a nice 1 finger dense khaki head with good retention that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Spotty lacing on the glass, with a decent amount of carbonation streaming up. Aromas of big plum, raisin, caramel, banana, molasses, clove, pepper, biscuit, roasted malt, light chocolate, and yeast spices. Awesome aromas with great complexity. Taste of big molasses, caramel, plum, raisin, prune, pepper, clove, banana, candi sugar, and yeast spices. Lingering notes of dark fruit, banana, molasses, candi sugar, and yeast spices on the finish for a while. Fantastic balance of sweetness and spiciness; with no cloying at all. Medium carbonation and fairly full bodied; with a very creamy and slightly slick mouthfeel. Incredibly lush and smooth mouthfeel as well. This drinks way too smoothly for 11.3%, but is still definitely a sipper. Alcohol is practically invisible, with pretty much no warming noticed. Overall this is a beautiful Quadrupel. Big complexity, smoothness, and flavor balance. Amazing.

330 ml bottle into chalice, best by 5/11/2016. Pours super murky dark reddish brown color with a nice 1 finger dense khaki head that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Spotty lacing on the glass, with a good amount of carbonation streaming up. Aromas of huge raisin, plum, grape, banana, molasses, pepper, clove, biscuit, toasted grains, and huge yeast spices. Incredible aromas with a ton of complexity. Taste of big caramel, molasses, plum, raisin, biscuit, banana, clove, pepper, and yeast spices. Lingering notes of dark fruit, molasses, banana, pepper, and yeast spice on the finish for a good bit. Great flavor balance and complexity. Medium-high carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a fairly creamy and slightly slick mouthfeel with a bit of prickly carbonation. Quite smooth to drink at 9.2%, but is still a sipper. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming after the finish noticed. Overall this is a fantastic Dubbel. Big complexity and balance; and extremely enjoyable.

@ BierKultuur: Bier en Kaas 2012

Wicked earthy taste. Almost like sucking up a dirty old monk’s cellar through a straw. The cocktail seems to include some plum and the lightest sweet gloss that covers your mouth from teeth to tonsils. Bottle at Castro’s Lounge.