490. De Dolle Bos Keun
I purchased this on my last trip to Downtown Wine & Spirits. This is a spring seasonal from De Dolle. The label describes it as a "Speciaal Paasbier," which I can't find a translation for. I let this warm to around 45º F and served it in one of my Duvel tulips.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers
Alcohol: 7.00%
Serving: Bottle, 11.6 oz.
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.5): Pours a cloudy golden-orange with chunks of yeast that are whipped around by the vigorous carbonation. The head is fucking ridiculous (I poured it as gently as I could). It's at least four fingers, probably more had the head not run out of glass to expand into. The head eventually overflowed the glass making a mess. I removed the top of the head only to have it rise another half-inch. The head itself is a fluffy, off-white meringue that slowly fades, coating the inside of the glass with lace. Honestly I couldn't decide whether to be impressed or annoyed, I eventually settled on the former.
Smell (4.5): The nose is very fruity with notes of banana, sour apple and pineapple. There's also a light medicinal phenolic character evident on swirling.
Taste (3.5): Lightly fruity and sweet initially. There are hints of banana and sour apple. The finish is peppery and lightly medicinal with a low herbal hop bitterness. There's a light residual sweetness in the finish along with some alcoholic warmth.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Light-bodied, low carbonation (surprising given the vigorous head). A touch watery.
Drinkability (4.5): Light-bodied and easy to drink with a noticeable, but not overpowering alcoholic spice.
Overall (4.0): A very nice Belgian Strong Pale Ale. It's not my favorite, but it's very good and very drinkable.
I purchased this on my last trip to Downtown Wine & Spirits. This is a spring seasonal from De Dolle. The label describes it as a "Speciaal Paasbier," which I can't find a translation for. I let this warm to around 45º F and served it in one of my Duvel tulips.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers
Alcohol: 7.00%
Serving: Bottle, 11.6 oz.
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.5): Pours a cloudy golden-orange with chunks of yeast that are whipped around by the vigorous carbonation. The head is fucking ridiculous (I poured it as gently as I could). It's at least four fingers, probably more had the head not run out of glass to expand into. The head eventually overflowed the glass making a mess. I removed the top of the head only to have it rise another half-inch. The head itself is a fluffy, off-white meringue that slowly fades, coating the inside of the glass with lace. Honestly I couldn't decide whether to be impressed or annoyed, I eventually settled on the former.
Smell (4.5): The nose is very fruity with notes of banana, sour apple and pineapple. There's also a light medicinal phenolic character evident on swirling.
Taste (3.5): Lightly fruity and sweet initially. There are hints of banana and sour apple. The finish is peppery and lightly medicinal with a low herbal hop bitterness. There's a light residual sweetness in the finish along with some alcoholic warmth.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Light-bodied, low carbonation (surprising given the vigorous head). A touch watery.
Drinkability (4.5): Light-bodied and easy to drink with a noticeable, but not overpowering alcoholic spice.
Overall (4.0): A very nice Belgian Strong Pale Ale. It's not my favorite, but it's very good and very drinkable.
Labels: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers, Reviews
351. De Dolle Ara Bier
I picked this up at Downtown Wine & Spirits. It came in an 11.2 oz. brown bottle with a picture of a yellow bird holding a glass of beer. I let it warm and served it in a Duvel tulip.
This is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale. Belgian Strong Pale Ales are typically high in alcohol, with fruity and spicy notes. This is one of my favorite styles. BJCP Style Guide.
Appearance (3.5): Pours a cloudy brownish amber, that borders on golden. A massive beige head tops the beer. The head sticks around well into the beer and leaves good lacing. A bit darker than I expected and a little too cloudy.
Smell (4.0): Nutty and sour apple aromas dominate, with a light yeastiness evident. As the beer warms the aroma really opens up.
Taste (4.0): Lightly sweet upfront with spicy, fruity and nutty flavors emerging in the center. The spiciness mellows as the beer warms. The finish is lightly bitter, with warming alcohol. The bitterness lingers quite a while and reminds me citrus zest. I initially had this as a 3.5, but once the beer warms and some of the carbonation dissipates the beer really improves.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Tingly carbonation seems to mask some of the better aspects of this beer. It's light bodied and smooth.
Drinkability (3.5): Drinkable enough, high alcohol makes it dangerous (especially on an empty stomach).
Overall (3.8): This is a decent Belgian Strong Pale Ale, not one of my favorites though.
I picked this up at Downtown Wine & Spirits. It came in an 11.2 oz. brown bottle with a picture of a yellow bird holding a glass of beer. I let it warm and served it in a Duvel tulip.
This is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale. Belgian Strong Pale Ales are typically high in alcohol, with fruity and spicy notes. This is one of my favorite styles. BJCP Style Guide.
Appearance (3.5): Pours a cloudy brownish amber, that borders on golden. A massive beige head tops the beer. The head sticks around well into the beer and leaves good lacing. A bit darker than I expected and a little too cloudy.
Smell (4.0): Nutty and sour apple aromas dominate, with a light yeastiness evident. As the beer warms the aroma really opens up.
Taste (4.0): Lightly sweet upfront with spicy, fruity and nutty flavors emerging in the center. The spiciness mellows as the beer warms. The finish is lightly bitter, with warming alcohol. The bitterness lingers quite a while and reminds me citrus zest. I initially had this as a 3.5, but once the beer warms and some of the carbonation dissipates the beer really improves.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Tingly carbonation seems to mask some of the better aspects of this beer. It's light bodied and smooth.
Drinkability (3.5): Drinkable enough, high alcohol makes it dangerous (especially on an empty stomach).
Overall (3.8): This is a decent Belgian Strong Pale Ale, not one of my favorites though.
Labels: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers, Reviews
345. De Dolle Oerbier
I purchased this bottle where I buy most of my other beers, Downtown Wine & Spirits. The label on this one caught my eye. There's a chubby yellow man with a sash that says "Anno 1980." I let this warm to around 50 or 55ºF, and served it in one of my Duvel tulip glasses. This is a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. Belgian Strong Dark ales are high alcohol beers, with both fruity and spicy characteristics. BJCP Style Guide.
Appearance (5.0): Pours a dark cloudy amber-brown with an uncontrollably massive and persistent meringue-like beige head. Lace sticks very well to the glass. Really beautiful.
Smell (4.0): Sharp upfront, with an earthy, yeasty scent. Underlying hints of fruit and spice. Sour-apple, and black pepper. Fairly subtle overall.
Taste (4.5): Delicious. Sweet upfront, sour-apple and other fruity flavors in the center, along with peppery spices. Alcoholic warmth and a citrusy tartness through the finish. Bitterness is low throughout.
Mouthfeel (4.5): Incredibly smooth and silky, tingly carbonation. Medium bodied. Dry finish.
Drinkability (4.0): Very drinkable in spite of the high alcohol content. The tart sour-apple flavors make this deceptively drinkable.
Overall (4.45): This Belgian Strong Dark has a very nice balance between spicy and fruity flavors, with one not overpowering the other.
I purchased this bottle where I buy most of my other beers, Downtown Wine & Spirits. The label on this one caught my eye. There's a chubby yellow man with a sash that says "Anno 1980." I let this warm to around 50 or 55ºF, and served it in one of my Duvel tulip glasses. This is a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. Belgian Strong Dark ales are high alcohol beers, with both fruity and spicy characteristics. BJCP Style Guide.
Appearance (5.0): Pours a dark cloudy amber-brown with an uncontrollably massive and persistent meringue-like beige head. Lace sticks very well to the glass. Really beautiful.
Smell (4.0): Sharp upfront, with an earthy, yeasty scent. Underlying hints of fruit and spice. Sour-apple, and black pepper. Fairly subtle overall.
Taste (4.5): Delicious. Sweet upfront, sour-apple and other fruity flavors in the center, along with peppery spices. Alcoholic warmth and a citrusy tartness through the finish. Bitterness is low throughout.
Mouthfeel (4.5): Incredibly smooth and silky, tingly carbonation. Medium bodied. Dry finish.
Drinkability (4.0): Very drinkable in spite of the high alcohol content. The tart sour-apple flavors make this deceptively drinkable.
Overall (4.45): This Belgian Strong Dark has a very nice balance between spicy and fruity flavors, with one not overpowering the other.
Labels: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers, Reviews
