Abbaye des Rocs Grand Cru

Brewed by Brasserie de l’Abbaye des Rocs
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Montignies-sur-Roc, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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Bottle @ Kerstbierfestival 2006 in Essen, BE. Unclear amber brown color with small white head. Aroma of spices, (cardemum) and alcohol. Flavor is sweet, warm alcoholic, bitter and spicey aftertast. Very good.

Bottled. A deep red beer with a long lasting brown head. The aroma is powerful with a strong spicy note, cloves and cinnamon amonst others, but also with strong notes of brown sugar, fruit both fresh and over ripe, oranges, peaches, as well as notes of cherries and raisins. The flavor is also very powerful with strong notes of brown sugar, caramel, a complex spice combination, including coriander, cloves, and cinnamon, and strong notes of fruits; fresh peaches and oranges, and dried apricot, prunes, and raisins. And the mouthfeel is very filling. The alcohol is only felt until You swallow, where it leaves a slight burn in the throat.

(Bottle 150 cl) Very hazy, dark amber with loads of floating impurities. Light off-white head. Lovely caramelly, malty nose. Complex, vinous and very soft in the malt with lots of dried fruit notes. A bit flat but very delicate nonetheless. 120805

From 1½ L bottle, Kerstbierfestival 2007 in Essen/Belgium. Pours deep brown and still golden with a light orange lacing head. Aroma is caramel malty with a nice light spice note. Flavour is mild spiced with a solid malt flavour. Lovely yeasty note lingering in between the malt flavours. Very mild note of dried fruit into the finish. Nice solid caramel malt note lingering far into the finish as well.

UPDATED: DEC 28, 2004 Bottled. Cloudy amber, small head. Dryish and almondy upfront, sweeter in the finish. Rich in flavour, lighter in mouthfeel then expected. Lightly yeasty, some caramel, very complex and well balanced.

Bottled (1500ml). Hazy brown colour, huge beige creamy head. Aroma is malts, caramel, some yeast and spices. Flavour is caramel, yeast, some spices and alcohol. Also quite much nuts and mild earthyness.

Bottled at RBESG 2005. Hazy orange coloured with an off white head. Sweet flavour of dried fruits and slightly acidic notes. Sweet flavour of dired fruits with notes of wood. Nice.

Magnum bottle. Spicy aniseed aroma. Dark red/brown colour, OK head. Malty aniseed flavour. Soft and full-flavoured. Pleasant. Tea-like aftertaste.

UPDATED: JAN 17, 2009
Name: Grand Cru (Noel)
Date: August 03, 2002
Mode: Bottle
Source: Bacchus, Chattanooga
Appearance: Burnt orange, fine tan head
Aroma: slightly sweet spicy fruity aroma
Flavor: rich malty flavor, lots of fruity character that intensifies as it warms into a rich mixture of figs and dates with a touch of plums, no hint of alcohol, simply amazing

Name: Grand Cru (Noel)
Date: July 09, 2005
Mode: draft
Source: brick store
Appearance: brown with a big frothy tan head
Aroma: fruity aroma with a touch of sweet orange and a hint of spices
Flavor: rich dark malt flavor with a nice fruity aspect that ripens as it warms, the fruit dries out a bit much upon warming and never reaches the depth seen in the bottle

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 17/20
Rating: 3.8/5.0
Score: ***4

The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.

Magnum bottle, 4 years old
Amber color. Wonderful beer, perfect maltiness and balance, a lovely Strong Ale, with harmony, no need to say more (caramel, spices, malt…).